...and I feel fine. Probably because, oh I don't know, the world DIDN'T end? *L0L* Pity no one fell for it and gave me all their stuff as a birthday gift  

So for my birthday I somehow managed to sleep through my alarm, thus not waking until noon. My mum was at work and my dad was christmas shopping, so I decided to check how many people wished my a happy birthday. First was the answering machine (zip), then twitter (also nada), a glance at my blog (3), and finally facebook (around 50). I am so loved

After my shower both the parentals were at home and Da made me an egg mcmuffin... after much whining and whinging since he totally forgot that he said he would. Needless to say, at 3pm, I was frikken starving! When I finished my really late brunch, the parentals and I went out Christmas shopping before going out to dinner. I lurve Swiss Chalet and we had rather awesome service (chances of a good server are sometimes iffy). I swear some old guy there with (I presume) his wife kept staring at our table, he did look familiar but I couldn't place him so I'm going to go with the assumption that we know them rather than the guy being a creepy stalker. 

After eating we stopped at a couple more stores to pick up gifts, and even swung around to Tim Hortons to visit my cousin who was just starting to work there. Just before pulling into the coffee shop we were at a red light and the most adorable guy was in the turning lane next to us. Figures it's when my parents are in the car or I may have smiled and waved Apparently my cos was not having a good time of it, and neither were some other newbies. I have no idea why they always train new employees at the same time, especially when training is pretty much being thrown into the deep end. 

We then came home for cake (a nummy homemade lemon angel-food cake) and the opening of gifts. I got a card from my aunt with a McD's giftcard in it, a card from my grandparents with twenty bucks, and a birthday/christmas card from Marmie T with a cheque for $50! My Nana called and will be taking me out to eat next week (probably also Swiss Chalet as we do pretty much every year), My Papa and Donna bought me an adorable teddy bear from Chapters with a gift card -I named him Indigo for obvious reasons. My parents got me a movie, Snow White and the Huntsman, and a lunch bag that totally looks like a purse as it is purple quilted material but the inside is that silver insulated stuff. Because my lunch bag doesn't fit into my book bag, the parentals then took me to the mall to buy a new bag as part of my prezzie. The only one I liked wasn't on sale, so if I don't find something I like more I'll be pitching in some my birthday funds towards that. 

Buttercup totally bailed on me after saying he had no plans this week and we'd totally do something on my birthday. *harumph* I text him yesterday asking if he wanted to hang out in the afternoon, but he said he might have to work that night and wouldn't be awake to hang out. Then today I asked if he wanted to get together later in the day and he said he couldn't because he had to catch up on some things. Seriously? "Catch up on things" vs celebrating my birthday with me? You suck! 

Thankfully, Sunnie invited me over to hang out with her and the BF. Sadly no one else was able to come, but it was still fun. We played Sequence and chatted and ate way too much junk food. I couldn't stay very late due to it being pouring rain so my dad dropped me off and would be picking me up again. It worked out though as Sunnie got called into to work and would be leaving around the same time. But she got me this lovely green charm necklace that looks practically like a shamrock, so it's totally awesome! 

All in all, not a shabby birthday!

SUMR

Well, since the world is apparently going to end tomorrow, you can give all your things to me...

CUZ IT'S MY BERFDAY!!!

SUMR

Work is stressing me out, so I haven't felt like looking at a computer after work. Well, with the exception of my freelance editing though I did as much as I could of that at the studio during my lunch breaks... and the reason why I was doing it on my lunch break is because I wasn't actually getting one  as it seems no one can cover reception for a half-hour each day for me to have a break *grrr*.

The reason why I am stressing out is because I was given two "request for proposals" to write within a two-and-a-half week period. I had never written one before, so the first RFP took me a fair bit of time --though a lot of that time was correcting the designer's messing about (she takes the word doc and formats it to InDesign so it has a nice layout, but often screws up the text somehow). The second one is aggravating because we're doing it in a partnership with another company and they did not give me any information that I need from them; you'd think since they asked for the partnership they would have preemptively provided the necessary facts, but not so. I asked my Rboss (different from previous boss-lady who is now on mat leave) for their contact info or for her to pass on the email I sent to her regarding what I still need, and asked to have it for this past Monday. Rboss didn't even send the thing until Tuesday (I hope she sent it by then!) and I still didn't have it when I left work this evening. 

Now this probably doesn't sound too bad, cuz there's still time right? WRONG! I am not scheduled to work again until the 31st and the RFP is due in paper copy by January 2nd. And BTW, it's not a local address nor to a town that even has express courier services. So now I will have to go in on my freaking vacation to finish a friggen project that should have been already fracken-well done had everyone else flippin' cooperated! 

Can someone please send a gorgeous, irish-accented, uniform-wearing, puppy-owning guy as a prezzie for me tomorrow? It would certainly brighten my day *hopeful face*

SUMR

I was hired to work three days a week, but have been working four to five days per week for the past month or so --essentially ever since I was moved to reception from formatting. At first I was asked nicely if I could please come in an extra day or two to work on a project until finished; now I'm just given so much work I have no choice BUT to come in every day in an attempt to get things done on time. I was eventually told that I should come in the extra days when work had to be done, but not to go over 40 hours per week... I sometimes struggle with that, and have hit up to 45 a couple times. 

Today the owner came in and asked me why I was in today. He said there shouldn't be two receptionists and there isn't enough work for us both to be doing. I looked at him like he was nuts and started listing the things I had to do that day to explain why I was in, but he cut me off and said we'd talk about it later as a client came in. We never did talk about it, but he actually asked two or three other co-workers why I was working instead. It is like he doesn't comprehend how much I am doing, how much work I am given. 

Before there was one girl coming in five days a week to do reception, but she quit to start her own company. She was focusing on the things she liked doing, and let much of what didn't interest her slide by with the least amount of effort she could put in it. After she left, the owner then asked if I'd take over for three days, and another girl was hired to do the other three days. Because there is now two of us working front desk, the owner seems to think everything can get done between us... Not so much.

Cassie was told her focus is the Gallery, to get it up and running in a way that it will pay for itself --and hopefully make a profit. There had been no art shows, no lessons, no community gatherings, nothing to cause a buzz about the place and that has to change. My focus is to be social media, not only for our company but for other companies. I have to say, being a social media consultant is something a TEAM should be doing and not a single person as a side-line responsibility. Our own social media is such a mess that I'm still trying to organize it and create a kickin' strategy for it, but I haven't had much time to do it with everything else I'm given... stuff I'm not even sure is within my job description!

It doesn't help that I am the ONLY person at the company who has the education and training for editorial and writing --everyone else there has design, formatting, sales, or art history backgrounds-- which essentially leaves anything with words in it for me to deal with. What doesn't help is that anything I have written and/or editing to perfection becomes a big ol' mess after one of the designer/formatters gets ahold of it. I don't know how she does it, but I have to make many corrections to work after she touches it that did not have any mistakes textually before it was put in her hands. 

So because the owner seems a bit clueless, I've decided to start a list of all the responsibilities I have been given. I intend to show the owner this list and ask if there is anything I should or should not be doing. Technically, I am the part-time receptionist in a studio that houses three companies (publishing, marketing & branding, art gallery) and I earn $11 per hour for it. I am going to include my list here for you, so if you could let me know what you think about my duties --if there is something I should be doing that I don't, or if there is something that shouldn't be my responsibility-- I would appreciate it. 

Front Desk

-        Greet people entering the building

-       Answer phone, screen and direct calls

-       Answer emails or forward to appropriate person

-       Schedule appointments/meetings

-       Accept and sort deliveries

-       Care for plants

-       Dust and sweep

 

Publishing Company

-       Scoping from physical book to ipad app (as needed)

-       Proofreading (as needed)

 

Marketing & Branding Company

-       Attend meetings (weekly & as requested)

-       Assist walk-in clients, or directing to appropriate persons

-       Call clients to ensure received emailed proofs and confirm orders

-       Set up Google Places (as needed)

-       Content Editing, Line Editing, Copyediting (daily)

-       Proofreading (daily)

-       Copywriting, Proposal Writing (daily)

-       Social Media consultant (as needed)

-       Social Media for our company (daily) -> twitter and facebook

 

Gallery

-       Correspond with artists (as needed)

-       Fill and file forms (as needed)

-       Update console (as needed)

-       Salesperson (as needed)

-       Assist Cassie (as needed)

-       Social Media for our company (daily) -> twitter, facebook, blog, newsletter

 

Other

-       Research (as requested)

-       Data entry (as requested)

-       Attend webinars (as requested)

-       Brainstorm ways to gain more business, how to best optimize space, how to involve community in company, etc.  (as requested)

 

SUMR

 

 

I wasn't tagged, but I'm doing it anyways... 

Your Xanga Name and Meaning
My xanga name is the nickname I was given in grade school. Long story short, I once said "I want to be a summer daisy!" and, though I meant the flower, my friends started calling me that. 

How long you've been here?
I've been a Xangan since my first year of university, as my friends thought it would be a great way to keep up to date on each other's lives. That was in 2002.

Do you have more than one account?
Yes, I have another for poetry (all horrible, but it was a phase) and another for a play I've been writing off and on. 

How many times have you changed your name?
Never. I didn't know you could, but I wouldn't want to. .

Name and tag 10 people that keep you here and why, not just bloggers that you like to read/etc, but people who really and truly MEAN something to you (no, it doesn't have to be limited to 10, but let's start there). Tell us what they've done for you, how they've inspired you, how they've been a friend/cheered you up, say something nice about them.

• @Garistotle - He was one of my first followers as we both came on to the site around the same time. If G wasn't so awesome, I may not have stuck with this site. He also introduced me to:
• @PersianKitty - She came online due to her now-husband. She would be fab-fun to hang out with, as we have definitely bonded over crochet and books
• @Karoline1982 - another part of this little group, Karo is now one of my closest friends. When I moved to a town near her, she and I were always doing stuff together. Thanks for being a fabulous friend! 
• @the_fur_pimp - he's hardly ever on anymore, but who couldn't love Court? He has renewed my love of nature, and he's just amusing as all get out. If I could adopt him to be my brother, I so totally would. 
• @happyworld_ofharibo  - I am so glad she's coming back, because she's frigging awesome. She's from the UK, and you can't get much more fab than that. 

• @skylar_rose - She is a fantastic writer, and I am in awe of anyone who can write. This girl is incredibly friendly and witty, plus her baby is utterly adorable.  
• @MrAngelicGuy - He has some of the most amazing poetry I have every read. He is rarely on nowadays, which I think is a tragedy. 
• @SayntCinn - Another of my good friends, but one I convinced to come onto Xanga rather than one I met via online. I wouldn't have survived work if it wasn't for this girl. And if I didn't survive work, then I wouldn't have paid off my school loan, and if I didn't pay that off, then I wouldn't have been able to save to go back to school, and... you get the picture. 
• @SeptemberChild - The reason I came onto Xanga, she was my best friend at my second high school. She got me through that year, and this is how we stayed in touch after graduation. She stopped xanga the year i graduated uni, which might explain how we lost touch. 
• @MyxlDove - He is by far a favourite. I've never met him in person, but he and his family are wonderful, and give me faith that there is such a thing as "family". 

If you ever leave, will you say goodbye first? 
I don't plan to leave, though I sometimes take long unplanned breaks. If I do decide to stop writing, I would say goodbye. 

Do you have any xanga crushes?
Yep, I sure did. Then he got engaged and quit Xanga... obviously not the boy for me  

Are there people on xanga that you actively avoid?
No, I'm not popular enough to have haters, so there is no need to avoid anyone. in fact, I need more friends. 

Do you troll-(if yes) Are you good at it?
I don't think I troll. I never really bothered to find out what that meant exactly... other than an ugly old ogre that makes you pay a fee to go over a bridge.  

Has the community been there for you in times of trouble/pain?
Yes, from moving away from home, unfathomable homework, crazy parents, boy-troubles... I think my Xangan friends know more about me than anyone else in the world. 

Post to your own site, tag @LKJSlain and myself somewhere! I wanna see results!

I have started a facebook page for the things I crochet with the intent to start selling my crafts. I plan to begin locally, but eventually will consider shipping it to other places if it is worth it. Do you think anyone would want to buy my stuff? I've only ever given it away as gifts...

If you want to, you can "like" it here: https://www.facebook.com/SumrsSumthings

SUMR

I'm sure you've all been waiting to hear about how my dad is doing. That is, if I mentioned it before, and I don't recall whether I actually did write about it or not... Hmmmm. So I shall start from the beginning: About three months ago my dad was having some serious pain and had to take time off work. It turned out to be an infection of some kind, but even after two rounds of meds the pain didn't go away though the infection did. For a month and a half he was put through a bunch of tests, and it was suspected he had cancer. This was a big scare because, hello it's cancer! But also because it does seem to happen a lot in our family, some survive it and others didn't. 

A lot of this was occurring during the play last month, which thankfully kept me fairly distracted from what was going on with my dad. I only had one freak out during the run of the show, but I managed to deal before curtain-call and was able to go onstage. With every test they did on him that month the chances of his having cancer lowered, because they kept finding other things wrong with him. In fact, they found FIVE. One they did the surgery immediately because they were already there from doing the test, but another surgery was scheduled just this week to deal with two more. The remaining two issues didn't require surgery thankfully. 

Both mum and I had to work the day of dad's surgery, she couldn't get it off as she thought and I didn't ask because I already had to take a day off the previous time to take him to surgery. It was arranged that my Nana would take him, but she just dropped him off instead of staying there. If that was the intent either mum and I could have done that! So there is angry issue number one. Angry issue number two is that she did not keep in contact with mum or myself to let us know what was going on -when dad was called in, when he finished, nothing. So basically both mum and I were nervous wrecks most of the day waiting to hear something. Angry issue number three is the fact while taking dad to the pharmacy to pick up his meds, she left him in the car alone. He is NOT supposed to be by himself for 24-48 hours, and she stayed inside the mall for an hour and had tea while waiting. WHAT THE FRIG?!?!

Anyways, my dad came through the surgery all right. He is actually having more trouble with the catheter he has to wear for a week, than the surgery itself. It's kind of gross to see him lugging the bag around, but he's alive. That is the important thing. I think he will be taking the rest of the month, and possibly the rest of the year off, in order to finish recuperating. Dad says we have enough money saved to get by that long, but that may partially be due to the fact that he can't go anywhere in order to spend money we don't have as he quite often does. I'm having to pitch in a bit more than I was previously, thus affecting my budget and savings, but c'est la vie. 

Work is going well. Half the time I get called in for an extra day or two, or even three the one day! I had to work for six days -love the money, hated the lack of weekend. I get along great with the new gallery administrator, Cassie. She and I even went to the Festival of Trees together yesterday. I got some great photographs, and I'll have to put them up soon! She and I plan to start a writing group event at the gallery next month for people to get together and write letters or draw pictures to send to soldiers over seas. She did that once before with her church and thought it was a great idea to do again. 

I'm still going to bible study, and the ladies have decided to start a monthly knit/crochet get-togther. Mum was invited too, but I think she is going to bail because she made other plans even though she already indicated she wanted to come when I told her on Monday. I'm not sure I want to go by myself since all the ladies are my mum's age. I'm not overly comfortable with the fact I know they will want me to talk, and I don't know that I have anything else in common with them. Yet because of this idea, I came up with the thought that Gwen, Miss Prism, and I should do the same thing every month so we all stay in touch now that the play is done, also inviting our friend's mum "Marmie" and my coworker Cassie and whomever else wants to come. 

Well, I have some baking to do in case I do go to today's crochet-a-long! 

SUMR

Well, I have to say that I am a bit shocked. I have had more people come onto my blog than have in a while, but only ONE person actually answered my previous post. What does that say? Is it just that religion is one of those taboo topics that may cause debate, or is it that no one wants to share their faith? It is a bit disconcerting and more than a little disheartening. As I had mentioned, I started going to a bible study in hope that I can become a stronger Christian. I was raised in a Christian household and, even though I have researched other religions, I was happy with being a believer of Christ. But this lack of response does prove something to me, even though no one was willing to answer my questions...

Faith is dropping in North America, even as it flourishes in third-world countries. Why? Because we are all far to selfish to really care about anyone's well-being but ourselves. If I sound a bit disgruntled, I have reason beyond a lack of comments. I had also recently asked some people if they wanted to pitch in to make a donation to World Vision to help people who have far less than we do, and was told no. I suppose this wouldnt' have angered me half so much if I wasn't told "I'm pretty broke" and then seen some of them shortly thereafter go out for coffee or buy cigarettes or purchase a movie... The money spent on the video alone would have been enough to give some family three blankets; the coffee and cigs could have given another child school supplies. Too broke to help someone in need, but not too broke to buy something for themself. 

My friend works for World Vision, and she wrote this. Sometimes, children are far more amazing than we give them credit for. 

* * * * *

Last week I came across this old article about a woman who has written to thousands of soldiers over the years, and this one about students doing the same. I had thought about doing something like this before when I read the book "Christmas Letters" probably about ten years ago now, but didn't have the nerve to write to a stranger and, to be honest, I was putting most my focus on getting through uni. Once I saw the article, it brought the idea back into my mind.  I know I love getting letters in the mail --in fact, I got one today!-- and I'm sure it would brighten up someone's Christmas so far from home. I was going to ask if anyone on here was interested in starting a writing campaign to send letters or christmas cards to soldiers overseas... but I wonder if there would be any point. If anyone is willing to give up some time and stamps, please let me know. 

* * * * *

Now, time for the happy part of things for those who've actually kept reading after my angered rant and hopeful plea. Okay, so it's probably nothing to you, but it sure made my day! I was texting with BB (for those who haven't been keeping up these past few months, he is one of the guys involved with the play) and we were talking about how some of us have decided to get together once a month. BB cannot because he moved the week after the show's run was finished, but myself, Gwen, Algy, and maybe Jack plan to. I was filling him in on our get-together last week and he said: "I always thought you and Algy were going to have an off-stage romance. It seemed like you had some feelings for him and that maybe he was reciprocating." 

I told him it was just an overflow of stage stuff (I'm still a bit iffy whether I actually had a crush on him or whether it was just playing opposite each other with our characters falling in love). I mentioned that I was actually under the impression than both Algy and Jack had a thing for Gwen since they started a mutual admiration society, always gushing about how beautiful and talented she was whenever we went out for drinks. Yes, she is both and I'm proud of her abilities, but it made me feel invisible, gauche, and talentless because they didn't say anything like that to me. Am I being vain? Quite probably, but they wouldn't even let me participate in the conversation. It felt like the boys were competing for her notice...  even though she has a boyfriend already! I wouldn't want a guy who prefers some other girl to me, but I wouldn't have minded a more balanced conversation or a change of topic... like books, or movies, or plans after the play. 

Anyways, after telling BB about the fan club he said: "Gwen is very cool and very good looking, but she's not someone I would pursue personally. If it's not too weird to say, you are more my type. You're beautiful in a special, quiet way that I find attractive. It's more appealing when beautiful girls don't flaunt their looks as much. You're small, and cute, and artsy, and all that. That's really more my type." Which was absolutely, unbelievably sweet of him! More often than not I feel eclipsed by sophisticated, gorgeous girls and wonder how anyone will notice me when my stunning friends are around... but now I know that there are people out there who just might prefer my company, and not just use me to get closer to my friends.  

SUMR

 

 

I started attending a Bible Study last week, and we are reading the book "Called and Committed" by David Watson. In this book it says that a quarter of the world's population professes to be Christian, so I started wondering what the ratio of xangians is for various religions (or agnostic or atheist). I would like everyone who happens to read this post to answer the three questions below, BUT you must not make any comments against other people's beliefs. If you would like to rec this so a larger group of people answer these questions, feel free to do so.  

(1) What belief system do you hold to? (If a denomination, include that in your answer)

(2) How long have you believed this way?

(3) Why did you choose that religion or non-religious belief? 

 

SUMR

On November 9th, I had my TEN-year xangaversary.

SUMR