Just to update anyone who cares, this is my schedule for this week:
Tonight @ 6:30 I will be leaving for the Altamira concert, which starts at 8pm at Harbourfront (at the outdoor stage) and is free, if anyone is interested in tagging along.
Tomorrow I am meeting Bubbles for dim sum at 1pm, and my mom is taking me shopping after work.
Thursday I am meeting Jon for lunch at 1pm at City Hall, after work I am running errands in the early evening, and I am probably packing in the late evening.
Friday I am... ummm... not meeting anyone for lunch, I don't think, and in the evening I might be meeting people for dessert at 6:15 or I might be meeting them after 8pm.

So, if anyone wants to meet up with me between now and when I leave for K-town (going to the Capitol on Saturday to pick up my stuff, and moving into rez on Sunday), leave a comment here for a time other than those already mentioned (except Friday is kind of up in the air at the moment, so consider it fair game), and I'll see what I can do. Phew. I know I love being busy, but this might be overdoing it a bit. haha
  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 3:05 p.m. @ 

 
I had quite the adventure last weekend! It started with a seemingly perfect weekend trip to Ottawa. Bubbles's mom drove us up via Smith Falls and M-ville. We stopped off to see the locks (hand operated) and got there just in time to see a boat go through. The lock operator let us sit on the lock while they swung it around, and we learned all about the lock system between T-Dot and K-town (of which there are 49). We avoided the Hershey factory (I know it sounds weird, since I kill for chocolate, but I had a bad experience the last time I went... they didn't even give out free chocolate!) and went on to M-ville, where we went to a hand-made chocolate store and bought fudge and listened to the bagpiper on the corner and then went down to see the blockhouse, which had a museum filled with Victorian stuff and old pistols and swords and maps and even a family bible from the 1860s! I picked up a free postcard from that for my scrapbook. From there it was on to the Capitol, and we didn't even miss the turn-off or get lost, which was good, because I was navigating and I hate getting other people lost.

Ottawa was fun. We stayed at an apartment right on the Rideau Canal and spent some time up on the roof looking at the view and the sunset and the boats on the canal. The wind was fabulous! The evening was wonderful, with good food and great company, and we were all in bed after 12. We slept in yesterday, went for a late morning swim, played on the swing set, had tirimisu for lunch, and left early to make sure we'd get back in time for me to go to work in the morning. So, we left at 5pm and made it to T-dot at 10:30.... AM!! It took us 17 1/2 hours to get from the Capitol to T-dot! The explanation for that is even better then the actual fact itself. First, there was a car accident which stopped traffic for 5 hours -- we couldn't even get to a detour. We finally made it to a service station, where we stopped for lunch. We left the service station when the traffic cleared up, only to get stuck behind ANOTHER accident. By the time that cleared up enough for us to get to Army-town, it was 3am. Bubbles's mom seriously needed coffee at this point, so we stopped in at the service station there... and the car wouldn't start. This necessitated a call to my dad, who drove up to pick me up from Army-town so that I would make it to work on time. He makes it up to C-burg, and HIS car breaks down. So, I spent the morning being towed to Pretty-ville and waiting for repairs on Bubble's mom's car, and my dad spent the morning in C-burg getting our car repaired. My wonderful boss gave me the day off, since when I called to say I was coming in I was so tired that I forgot my home phone number when she asked for it. haha. Well, as I said. It was quite the adventure, and overall the weekend was great, but I have to say that I'm glad finally to be home.
  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 9:42 p.m. @ 

 
And the computer problems continue. We had tech staff in today to clean the viruses... and they worked. Sort of. Now we can log onto windows, but five computers in the office are not logging onto the Justice domain, so we can't actually use our computers. Also, the printer is connected to the server, but our machines can't access the printer. The only frustrating part is that in order to get the things fixed that got fixed, I had to follow the tech support staff person around and tell him what to do. Also, I had to walk him through the steps to diagnose the remaining problems with the five computers which are not working. After today, I don't see why they don't just grant me admin rights -- I wouldn't mind having the larger paycheck, either!

In happier news, I rented dvds yesterday. I was in a not-serious-at-all mood, so I got Piglet's Big Movie and Willow (a George Lucas produced fairy tale), and for dinner I had a bag of popcorn and a plate of fudge brownies. Just what I needed to relax. This weekend is also looking up, as I am going to sleep over at Thea's house tonight, and we're going to Ottawa for a relaxing weekend. Even work on Monday won't be so terrible, since I have a half-day off. Then it's four more days of work, and I'm free! Maybe I should make a list of all the things I'm looking forward to when I get back to school (feel free to help me out and add to the list)... having a room with a door on it again, the QP, GW, more TNG marathons, going to Windmills...   - posted by Purple Mangos @ 3:33 p.m. @ 

 
Thanks for the birthday wishes, everybody! It seems like every birthday gets better... I wonder if I'll be saying that when I'm 30? haha

So today was interesting. I had court this morning with the best judge ever! He's everybody's favourite judge, and now I know why. Even better, the courtrooms were air conditioned (they have to be, since everybody has to wear robes -- it would probably be bad if all the court staff passed out) and we finished really early (I told you he was the best judge) so I had time to organize my files and chat with the registrar and generally have a good time. Then, when I got back to work, they decided to shut down all the computers.

Which brings us to another example of governmental office management. Originally, they were going to leave one computer on, and have everyone work off of that one computer. All ten of us. 'Cause that was really going to work well. Fortunately, we talked our manager's manager (our manager is on vacation) into rethinking that one, so she sent everyone who couldn't get any more work done without a computer and had their essential work done home. I was finished what little I could do manually by 12, but then I took lunch at 12 and came back so that the two people who were going to stay to answer calls ("Civil Trial office... no i'm sorry, I can't help you. Call back when the computers are fixed... No, we don't know when that's going to be. Have a nice day!") could take their lunch. Then I went home and had a nap and generally goofed off. I haven't heard yet whether or not I'm getting paid for all of this not working, but I think I'll bring a deck of cards and a book to the office just in case, because if I'm there answering phones (see above) then they have to pay me for the full time.

I love computers, and I love tech support staff, so I think I'll just blame all the stress of the past two weeks on the government, instead. Or maybe Americans. Either one works for me. ;)  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 9:45 p.m. @ 

 
Ah, the brilliance of Ernie Eves. I'm still not on my computer, because the Worm hasn't been fixed BECAUSE tech support is not an essential service. Now, ordinarily, I might agree. However, when the courts (an essential service) cannot function because more than half of their computers are useless because of a virus, then tech support darn well IS an essential service! So, tech support is still not coming in tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow I will not be able to use the computer that I am on because the person whose computer it is will be back from vacation. That means that as of Wednesday I will get to sit in front of a completely useless computer and tell the people who call that I can't help them for an indeterminate period of time. Too bad if their matter is urgent (like, say, their trial starts Thursday). Similarly, I will have to say the same thing to the judges, and the court staff, and everyone else. However, I will be paid to do this, because I am an essential worker. Nice plan, Mr. Eves.

On a happier note, I had dim sum today, and I get it again tomorrow because tomorrow is my birthday.  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 3:29 p.m. @ 

 
Man, Thursday was great. First, the car breaks, so I have to take the bus to work. Fortunately I had company for lunch, because I hate eating out alone and I didn't have time to make lunch. I got back expecting the computers to be fixed... theoretically speaking, because they were going to fix the Worm (which we all have because we're on the government network and which we can't fix ourselves because of the security protocols on our machines) by lunchtime. No one in sight by 4pm, when, of course, the power goes out, directly after which someone starts a FIRE on the roof of the building (yeay for running down 19 flights of stairs).

The best part was watching one of the judges going down the stairs with her staff and all her documents in her arms, being upset because she was fifteen minutes away from finishing her trial -- she was going to make the staff and lawyers continue in the dark!!

Anyway, then was the fun walk home. It was a two-stage walk, actually. I walked to where I usually catch the bus (3 subway stops), just in time to see the LAST bus pull out, after which they annouce that they are not running anymore buses in that direction. Seven more stops to get home.

I was going to wonder if anything else could go wrong, but then I thought I had better not push my luck any further.

Having Friday off was nice, having power back on at home was even better. (I have a new computer game that I got from my early birthday party, and I've been playing it all weekend.)

Here's hoping everyone else had a fun enforced long-weekend. Except for you poor people who still have to work (how's that going, Phalse?).

Thea, I hope you're feeling better!! No promises on the Ottawa thing, but it's looking good. :)  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 9:37 p.m. @ 

 
I think this is the longest time between posts ever. I'm too lazy to check back, so we'll just say that it is and I'll hang my head in shame and go on from there. *hangs head in shame* There. That's better.

We'll start with camping, which is what I did from the 2nd to the 4th. Camping in the rain. The final group was Phalse (our DD, who did a very good job of driving back with only one eye -- stupid bug), Jon (who reportedly wore the flowered toga at the toga party), Bubbles (burn those oranges!!), and me (burn everything else!!). Harold was up at the other campsite, and Chris and M were up at the house. Oh, and there were some other weird people there, who threw the toga party that I didn't go to. The main events for the weekend were burning things (not the food, though... the food was great, if I do say so myself), playing Nurtz in the tent while listening to the rain, hiking through the mud (great scenery), hanging with M in the store (and listening to the rain), playing the cup game from Kilcoo, listening to the loons, watching the fireworks across the lake (while burning things and eating s'mores), and being eaten alive by bugs. Overall, I rate the weekend as a great success.

The rest of the week was busy, since I had to do the work of 5 days in 4 (darn vacation day). However, there was still time for socializing, since Phalse dropped in to pick up some stuff on Wed night (thanks for the chocolate, it was much appreciated, and Bubbles likes the cd -- although she will probably make me learn all the songs on it now, so maybe I shouldn't say thanks for that). Thursday was lunch at the Pickle Barrel with M and Chris, who came down from the lodge, and Comm04, Freida, and Athar. Commie madness by some of the least-commie-ish people I know, so that was fun. Of course, I got back to work 1/2 hour late, but it's not like they've been paying all the overtime I've been doing, so who really cares? Other than my boss. Shhh, don't tell! After work Thursday, Bubbles dropped by and we went to the mall for juice and cookies. Friday I got a walk home with MT, although we stopped off at ActiveSurplus to get stuff first.

Saturday was girls night out for my sis and me. We watched Pirates of the Caribean (GREAT special effects, and funny enough to keep me amused in between explosions and sword fights), and then went out for dinner. One of my favourite things that happened there was hearing a piece in the restaurant that I know she plays, and knowing also that she plays it better. My sis the famous musician, who bought a red Fender this weekend to experiment on. Unfortunately, she's leaving for LA before my b-day again. I miss her already. :(

Yesterday was movie day with my bro. Agent Cody Banks (LOVE the car, but the best gadget in the movie is definately the gameboy with all the special features -- gotta get me one of those!) and Daredevil, which didn't mess up the story too badly *phew* and also had some decent special effects.

So, I hope that catches everyone up. If I've left something out, please feel free to add it to the comments.
  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 11:15 a.m. @ 

 
Good news first. I went to the orthodontist yesterday (no, that's not the good news -- it wasn't fun) and he said that my braces are coming off by the end of September! I don't have to go to job or school interviews with braces on! Yeay! Unfortunately, while I was at the orthodontist, I heard my jaw pop when I opened it, and now it pops every time I try to chew. *sigh* This is not going to be good when I go camping...

... which is where I'm going tomorrow! Bubbles, SuperSis, Jon, Phalse, and I are going camping. Of course, it is supposed to rain all weekend, but I like camping in the rain, so that's not a big deal. Except maybe it will be hard to make s'mores. Which is sad. But I'm sure I'll work something out. (Do you think, since I'm expecting rain, that the weather will be uncooperative and decide to be sunny instead?) I do have to say that the prep for camping has been almost as fun as camping itself, thanks to wild and wacky shopping trips with Phalse, MotivatedTea, and Bubbles, and last night again with Bubbles and Jon. Not to mention the Nurtz games. All of which I won. Even backwards Nurtz. *brag*

I even made a new Nurtz rule, for those people who like challenges. Nurtz must now be played forward for the first round, and backward for the second, alternating throughout the game, just to be extra confusing.

And that, with the exception of not feeling very well at the beginning of the week, missing some work, and not being able to go to court, was my week. All's well that ends well. (Kudos to Shakespeare for that one.)
  - posted by Purple Mangos @ 9:28 a.m. @