Since I am leaving town tonight, I figured I'd go out and buy lunch.

I'm so friggin thirsty now! Darn that MSG! I also bought a gingerbread man for dessert. He was an ugly little man. His eyes were bigger than the size of human nipples. He wasn't very tasty, either. I hate when I decide to treat myself and it's disappointing.

But oh well. On to better things -- like a two week vacation!!!

Who knows if I will be able update while I am away, so have a great couple of weeks!  

I'll be back before you know it! 

Just a facebook update...It finally changed my name!

But there is a person on my list. I have him set so that I get fewer notifications about him, but I still see his status changes. (And those happen A LOT.) I met him several years ago through a Web site I helped out with. I didn't like him at all. He was always making himself out to be someone he was not. He just avoided it when I called him on all his stories...And he always showed photos of himself with beautiful girls, usually at some trade show. He tried way too hard to come across as someone cool, especially cool with the ladies. I wonder if he's ever had a girlfriend, even now.

One year, I went to Vegas to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) with him and the guy running the Web site, and we all had to share a hotel room.

He's now into photographing models and into creative and fashion photography. I don't know if he is liked or if he's changed. But he is always updating his statuses about photographing models, or doing some sort of project related to models.

To me, he will always be the guy who took a big shit in the middle if the night and didn't flush, leaving me to find the gift in the toilet in the morning.

I got my wish to start on the 10th! Woo!

Everything's a done deal now!

I had my followup with the dietitian today. It was a little disappointing, but I did learn that I should go back to eating 3 meals instead of 4. Well, I will do 3 meals and 2 snacks instead of 4 meals. And lo and behold, she thinks I am consuming too much protein. Apparently, I don't need my protein shakes.

I could cut down, but I kind of like them. I'm not so crazy about meat.

At least she confirmed my eating habits are pretty decent! She thinks if I cut down on the grains, I would be able to lose the pounds that I want easily! I am free to contact her for more services, should I desire. 

Oh, the director here knows of my departure now, and he said he wanted to have a talk! I hope it's not an exit interview type of thing. I already gave my boss a few tidbits. I would really like them to know what I think of working here, but I don't want to burn any bridges.

It hasn't been a horrible ride, but their lack of communication about anything was the most frustrating part about my job.

And now, I must think about learning about VB.NET. I guess when I get back from vacation, I'll get on that. I'll even give HR woman a call when I return so I can see about meeting up with my next manager before I officially start. 

I gave my notice to my boss today. I hadn't really thought about how I would do it. I figured I'd just tell him I was offered a job elsewhere, and he'd take the conversation from there. I guess he didn't really know what to say, so I handed him my letter and started blabbering on.

He seemed sad that I was going, which made me feel bad. He's a nice guy, after all. He just wasn't really a good manager. I also didn't tell him how I really felt about the company and everything else. And I even told him I liked doing the work I did (the truth) and that my leaving was nothing personal (well...). I just focused on the new opportunity being in a better location and that it was a bigger company (all truths).

I guess I will feel comfortable asking him to be a reference before I go.

But now I am excited about finding out what perks I get at the new job. I can get a discount bus pass. No way am I driving and paying a million dollars a day in parking every day!

So they've informally offered me the job...I am just waiting for the paperwork to come though.

From the phone call, my understanding was this:

They want me to start July 3, which is when I return to work from vacation.
The pay is what they told me over the phone.
The benefits sound pretty normal.
I will get travel perks.
I will get 2 weeks vacation. 

I don't want to start a new job during the mercury retrograde! But at least I have the excuse that my current  boss wants me 5 working days after I get back from vacation...allowing me to start work there on the 10th.

But two weeks of vacation does not sit well with me, nor does the pay. HR woman said I would be happy (? I think?) with the offer, but it was 10% less than what I suggested. And it would be less than what I am making now.

However, I'm currently working in a hell hole. No extra pay would make me stay here, but I don't want to move to another company where the pay and benefits are even worse.

Hurry up and email me the paperwork, already! BWAHAHAA 

The last time I was in London, I really wanted to see a show. Unfortunately, my traveling companion and I could barely agree on a show, and the one we did agree on had no tickets available for our only day.

I am hoping to see a show this time...There are tonnes of good big ones playing! Dirty Dancing is on the top of my list. The tickets seem pricey so far :( I don't think I could spend £150 on a show ticket (even though I probably wouldn't hesitate to spend that on some lingerie...). But it's DIRTY DANCING!

Second choice might be Avenue Q since I enjoyed the show so much the first time. I wonder if musicals are like movies to me...I am only entertained the first time I see it. Otherwise, it's just boring! 

I got an email yesterday informing me that there was going to be filming in dance class last night. My instructor was going to be featured in a video blog, and they were filming the class. I didn't think much of it, and figured it would be okay to be left in the background.

Their advice was that if you didn't want to be in the video to stay as far away from the instructor as possible. I think I succeeded. But at the end of the class, the blogger was looking for someone to say a few words about taking pole dancing classes.

I said a few words. I hope they don't use my footage. BWAHAHAA

It's Wednesday today. Please let the employer gods send me a formal offer, so I can sign something by tomorrow. 

Okay, so this job prospect is looking a little better :) I got an email yesterday saying that they were checking my references now.

I can hear Tyra Banks saying to me, "Congratulations, Rosie. You are still in the running to becoming Company XYZ's newest tech writer." BWAHAHA

So...they said I should hear back by Wednesday -- the sooner the better! I leave on Friday, and I'd have to give notice! I was hoping they'd offer me the job last week, so I could give 2 weeks notice on top of my holidays.

I wonder how I am supposed to get around these things...give my last day as 2 weeks after I return from vacation?  What if I want to negotiate?? How does one do it?? Through letters?? Casual correspondence?

And my ankle pain is back. It's those darned heel ripping shoes. My socks and bandaids haven't been saying on, so the back of the shoe is back to scraping my heel. However, if I walk on my tippytoes, the shoes don't both my heels. But now my ankle is sore!! 

I think I got about 35 hours of sleep last week and none of it was all that restful. For some reason, I woke up at 5:30 this morning, and I went to bed after midnight last night! I am exhausted! I do want to be exhausted for my flight over to London, but I want to be somewhat mentally alert right now!

I worked late busting my ass to finish some work that was asked me of extremely last minute. And I don't even know what it was such a top priority. At least my boss thanked me for my hard work even if I don't think he understood just how hard it really was!!

I started packing clothes last night for the trip. It'd better not rain because I've packed for warm weather. I found 5 bottoms and have 2 - 3 tops for each. I don't plan on doing any laundry while I'm away, either. The biggest problem is still the shoes! I am going to bring the shoes that got my heels all bloody. Two weeks later, and my heels still aren't healed completely. BWAHAHA I MUST figure out how to ease the comfort levels.

I could wear band-aids, but i think I will look for those things you can stick to the inside of your shoe. I have a preferred brand, but I don't know where to buy them anymore. Any recommendations? Anyone? Anyone? This scraping against the heel is killing me! I tried wearing socks, but they all slide down to the arch of my foot.  

When I went to that reading with the woman, she also used playing cards as tarot cards. She asked about my career and said she didn't see me getting that job I last applied for.

I was thinking, "well, I pretty much have it in the bag!" I told her they had already asked me for my references and was likely going to get the job. Then she said, "well, then I don't see you working there very long."

So yesterday I sent an email to HR asking the status of the position, and she replied, telling me they were interviewing someone this coming Monday. I am hoping what the woman said doesn't come true, but at least I won't be surprised if I get some bad news.

:( 

I think better communication would be great for my company.

We have a code cutoff deadline coming up. The last I heard it was June 15, which is also the day I leave for vacation. But yesterday, we had a meeting, and my boss started with "as some of you know [which also means "as some of you don't know"] our deadline is now June 25." I don't know when this was decided, but it would have been nice to know as soon as it was decided.

I decided to remind my boss about my upcoming vacation because we talked about this months ago. He looked a little panicked when I brought this up. The director looked a little panicked, too. "When are you back? And this is June?"

Employees going on vacation is inevitable. I thought I was doing them a favour by giving plenty of notice, so my boss -- a manager -- could be prepared and plan ahead.

I'm a little pleased that he forgot. "Oh right. We'll have to talk about this tomorrow."

Of course we didn't talk about it! (What is there to say?)

And during today's design meeting, it seemed like there was more work coming up for me that had to be done prior to my departure. And the director said "well! Guess you just can't take that vacation!"

His jokes always fall flat. They sound serious!

One time I joked that I didn't get the Starbucks treatment for my interview (like every one else), and he said, "we'll be sure to take you there when we let you go." Inappropriate and dumb? Yes.

I wish I would get a job offer already!! 

Nobody, but that's what I asked myself. Then I realised the "aroma" was coming from my roast turkey.

Roast turkey smells like farts! 

I hate overcooked chicken. My chicken's a little dry, but still quite tasty!

I used Ina Garten's grilled shrimp marinade for the chicken. It's a concoction of lemon juice, olive oil, onion, dijon mustard, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper.  

I'm dead tired, but at least I watched 2 hours of TV last night! Only 7 more to go until I'm caught up?

I was hoping to do that on Friday night, but there is a gathering. I thought it was going to be a birthday one, but instead a bunch of us are just going to a pub for dinner. The only upside is seeing my friends. The downside? Unhealthy food choices and plans gone awry.

I was hoping to go shopping, and hang out alone Friday night -- catch up on TV and give myself a pedicure so I can be fresh for the weekend. I'm meeting a set of Mr. Nick's grandparents this weekend, and the two of us will probably hang out all weekend. I still need to see if my dad is up for having dinner on Sunday.

It doesn't look like I will be able to make it to the gym this weekend, but I came up with the idea of having Mr. Nick and me finding something active to do at least one day on the weekends. I'll squeeze in some shopping during my lunch breaks at work since I don't have to worry about losing my parking spot anymore!

My night tonight is free since Mr. Nick is busy until after dinner. Actually, he wanted to see me, but he is giving me a chance to have some me time. And the other makeup consultation is canceled tomorrow night!! More free time! But I think Mr. Nick will go see a movie. He said we definitely had to get together tomorrow night. I guess I haven't seen him since Sunday. This could be the longest time we've spent apart while being in the same country.

Rumour also has it that bridezilla will be paying for our hair and makeup on the day off. That would be swell. 

Now, what is taking so long for the company to offer me a job?? I hope nothing goes wrong. At first the woman giving me the consultation said I wasn't going to get the job, and after I told her I was likely going to get it, she told me that she didn't see me there long-term. 

I had a consultation with a woman who interpreted my Chinese birth date for me. Due to the language barrier, there was a lot I didn't understand. My mom was there, too, but she said she didn't understand either!

I didn't leave the session feeling good. There seems a lot of bleakness ahead of me until I'm 35 (34 with the Gregorian calendar). My happiness comes from the ages of 35 - 44. Overall, she said I was a pretty lucky person.

She said a lot, and I took a few pages of notes, but I won't reiterate too much here.

Or any thing at this time. 

I also went for my ICBC car match-up appointment. I think I saw the car I "rear-ended". It was missing a big chunk of a paint, and from my experience with hitting things, I would be really surprised if my car took off that much paint. It looked deep!

It doesn't sound like I will be paying anything because there was no absolute guarantee that I caused any/all of the damage. The victim's adjuster agreed with my adjuster, and she apologised for having me go in. But the reason was to put her client's mind to rest even though she thought her client was going to dispute the matchup.

So yay! I think. 

And now I just got another e-mail about a possible late birthday thing for a friend's birthday.

Did I ever post about it? A couple of us already took this friend out for dinner. All this placed served was cold cuts and cheese and condiments. Talk about low costs and high profits.

All I want to do is sit at home alone and get ready for my trip. I will be out of this country in 2 weeks. I haven't even scheduled any packing time. This weekend was going to be the start.  

Oh, and I came in to work with a photo of my boss inserted into my blank picture frame on my desk.

So my friend who's getting married...her wedding and everything surrounding it is becoming freaking huge. I already knew that about the wedding itself.

But she's going to Vegas for one stagette (one that I declined going). And now there's another stagette "weekend" in the works? How long does a stagette need to friggin' last?? Do we really need more than one night out? And the friend who is organising this particular stagette wants it to be a weekend away. Ugh. At least it will be inexpensive because we'd be just going to her parents' trailer just across the border.

But seriously...I am going crazy with all these commitments to other people and a whole weekend is just too much for me to even think about. I really need some time for myself. ALONE.

Tonight I am going bridezilla's makeup consultation. And there is another one scheduled for Wednesday. I hope she isn't expecting me to chip in for her makeup consultations! In an email, she told me that tonight's would have a fee if she came out to us, and she asked me if that would be okay. If nobody is doing anything to my face, I don't think I should have to pay any frickin' fees.

I wish I wasn't involved with this wedding at all. 

I am still getting stressed out even though I had a *really* relaxing weekend visiting my cousin. I hadn't been to Victoria in about 10 years, and he has been living there there for the last 4?? And he's only a ferry ride away!

Anyway, it was good to hang with him. Growing up, he was sort of the mysterious cousin living in the States. Of all my relatives, I guess he's the only one. And I guess you could him an archaeologist. How cool is that?

But once we got back, it was non-stop activity for me. I was hoping to be able to unwind for an hour and watch TV. But no...I got home around 5:30, went grocery shopping, made dinner, returned phone calls, made lunches for the week, did laundry, did the dishes, and washed some clothes by hand; by the time I was done, it was midnight :( I couldn't even return all my phone calls.

It took me a while to fall asleep because I hadn't unwinded. And then less than 6 hours later (mere 8 minutes before my alarm clock was to go off), I woke up...having to pee really badly. I even woke up in the middle of a dream. I'm glad my body knows to wake me up. 

I am already stressed out thinking about the rest of this week. I have too much going on. I think when I get back from my trip, I am going to take one week where I do not make any plans except with me. Maybe I will include Mr. Nick. I stress out because I haven't really made time for him. I'm not sure I have for the last month. I wonder if he's noticed?

I really need some sleep right now :( 

Even though I don't realise it, my hair probably helps define who I am. My friends think if I was on any show like America's Next Top Model and got my hair chopped off, I'd cry. I'm not sure. I think I would be quite sad.

I went for a "trim" yesterday at a new salon. I told him "one inch", but I think he cut off more than that. Maybe when I style my own hair the next time I wash it, it won't seem so short. The results of his blow drying also reminded me of a bad wig.

However, my hair looks nice and shiny and healthy. He also told me I had nice hair. It was kind of weird; I felt like he was judging my hair (as a professional, of course.) I think he took off a lot of weight by shortening my layers.

And for his price, I think I am going to have to find out for sure how much my old hair dresser costs. I am definitely not going back to the salon. I'm not sure I clicked with the hair dresser, and I wasn't very crazy about the unfriendly feel of the salon either...the cold walls and the cold people!!