AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!

I am SOOOOO tired of moving piles of things from one place to another.
Is this to be my lot in life until I die?

If anyone knows of a good 'organizer'.......let me know.


until then.....grrrrrr

Getting that Disgruntled feeling...

Sure, many people think that my job is a dream, or a joke, depending on your view, and there are many misconceptions and Kafkaesque realities about working for Canada Post. Firstly, It IS a manual labour job, so accept it, and while it seemed hilarious to take it on initially as I paid off my student loan, I just ended up staying on, where the paid vacations were, and where I thought it might be possible to find some security since I one day wanted to own a home.

It's difficult to explain to people why posties become so grouchy, or why they seem to complain so much about a job that it seems a monkey could do.

I received this letter in the mail the other day, and it was a real downer. This might explain some of the reasons why postal workers tend to become bitter and disgruntled.
enjoy....



Canada Post Corporation,
PO Box 2110 Stn. Terminal,
Vancouver, BC
V613 4Z3

Dear Colleague,

As you know, improving Admail service performance is a high priority for Canada Post and is critically important to our future, as it currently accounts for 20% of our income.

To ensure we meet our customers' expectations and determine where we can improve our effort, Canada Post has engaged IBM to measure our performance for both Addressed and Unaddressed Admail.

While IBM's test methods have been questioned by some employees, please be assured that there is diligent and thorough checking of all deposits of test items, in order to confirm on-time deposit and receipt of sufficient volumes in depots. Your Supervisor can provide you with further details of the testing methods if you wish.

Based on these independent measurements, we are seeing modest improvements in Addressed Admail service -performance, though we still have a long way to go to meet our customers' expectations.

Unfortunately, Unaddressed Admail service performance has not improved, and the results tell us that non-delivery, rather than on-time performance, is the cause.

In an effort to understand these non-delivery issues, we have analyzed possible contributing factors. We have looked at Unaddressed Admail volumes, depot processes, employee satisfaction and absenteeism rates, but have found no connection to low performance- for this is -product-, The IBM test results also lead us to conclude that non- is occurring after the time the Letter Carrier receives the item for delivery.

From our testing, we know that Letter Carriers are receiving the right amount of mail, but it isn't being delivered in all instances. In addition to this, we are aware of many incidents of improper Unaddressed Admail disposal by Letter Carriers. This is a major misconduct for which disciplinary consequences have been, and continue to be, applied.

Despite the fact that low performance has been due almost exclusively to non-delivery, we do know those items that are delivered have a very high on-time performance rate.

In order to meet commitments to our customers, we must improve considerably and do so over the next few months. We must satisfy ALL of our customers by providing the same level of professionalism and accuracy we do for Lettermail!
I am asking for your support to help us meet our targets for 2006 by delivering all Admail Unaddressed and Addressed, on time, every time. Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

A. R. Burnett
General Manager, Pacific Region

Word on the Street

The annual Word On the Street Festival is happening! We're all heading down there to see one of our favourite bands, Duplex. If you haven't already heard me going on and on about them, you should really check them out! Go here!
They are all over the place: catchy and interesting and infectious to boot! Not just fare for kids, that's for sure. Though mine loves to sing along and at one point this summer there was an actual ban on the CD for awhile. Just to take a rest. It is just too good.

This year, the little one can watch Duplex instead of her favourite from last year, Mecca Normal.
That is so hilarious. It cracks me up.

On the mouse front, score another one for the wretched filthy vermin. I am getting closer to setting those traps!
I just wish that my cat would do his job and secure the damn fortress. Enough already.

Gorgeous fall weather is upon us!

It's shaping up to be a busy week. Sydney is one busy gal.....a book launch tomorrow, at the Charles H Scott gallery, then this show with Book of Lists and the Rodney Graham band on the 14'th, which just happens to be my 10 year wedding anniversary.
Earlier that day, I'll be taking in a show with my little E and seeing Fred Penner at the library.
Here is a tease of one of our favourite songs.... The Cat Came Back
Should be a hoot!

Get out there and see some art!

Did someone say Dance Party?

This looks like it could be good.
Anything that involves green, you can pretty much count me in!
Plus, 'going out' just blocks from my house is an added benefit!

It promises to de/evolve into a dance party later in the evening.

Be there, or be sqaure!!

Victory Square Block Party

Victory Square Block Party
on Monday, September 4th

They Shoot Horses
Hot Loins
The Battles
The Doers
The Nons
The Winks
No Feeling
Precious Fathers

Hosted by MC Babyduck.
DJ's provided by Vinyl Records.

Monday, Sept. 4th
Victory Square (Cambie and Hastings)
2-9pm


*thanks to myvirtual friend theonly for the info and cool poster!!

Art gallery madness...

The Battles at the art gallery on Friday night were great. It was good to get out and catch up with some folks and hear some great music and see some art.The set up at the gallery was for an outdoor concert, but drinks were forbidden down where the band played, so we were forced to swill atop the pyramid stairs that would became the stairs of death later in the evening, or so I imagined.
I can't believe how many people you can reconnect with at the Art Gallery. Becoming a member was well worth the investment!
So we were forced to listen to Sinoa Caves, as we tried to get a couple of drinks into us, and then we descended to the stage to check out the band. Les did a great job with the visuals!

Surreal was the fact that the show backed onto the Robson Square skating rink/ballroom dancing extravaganza. So between songs, you were able to listen to either the Rumba band playing upstairs in the Fuse part of the VAG or you could check out the dancing below street level. It was packed down there. People sure do love their ballroom dancing.
As usual, the battles took us all over hells half acre with their awesome music. They are tight, and fun, and great to watch.
Book of Lists also played and I liked what I heard, until I had to vacate the premises to head over to some art opening which turned out to be great!! I really must get out a bit more. Now that we have a sitter, mebbe it will happen.

Go and see some great music at Victory Square party on Labour Day. It is always a good time. I'm still cursing myself that I missed the damn Unicorns that one year.
arrrrrrgggghhhhhhhh!!!!

Art Show in the 'hood

This looks like it could be good, and I wouldn't even have to leave the neighbourhood.
It conflicts with the Battles show at the Art Gallery though, but since I just cancelled my sitter...

For Sale

100 year old house in Vancouver's downtown ghetto.
Asking price $299,000.00.
It's going to go fast, so get on it!!!

I'll be waiting to see the weekend feeding frenzy!

Goodbye Bo

Yesterday our good friend Bo, or Baby Bear as he was also affectionately known, passed away. It happened at the beach. Still a sad place to go, but I can't think of a better place really, since he loved to be there.

Bo enjoyed two wonderful lives on this planet. One with an old fella named Ed who spoiled him until he himself passed away. Then with a couple of wonderful people who nursed him back to a healthy weight, and exposed him to the finer things in life such as daily trips to the beach, and weekends on Saltspring Island.
Bo will be missed by friends and neighbours, and cats alike.

RIP Bo, you were one of the good ones!!
I hope we call all gather to remember Bo over some drinks and stories.

Happy Birthday Yoshi man!!

Born August 18, 1999, in Langley BC

puppy of
San Jo Shomano' Forever
Hitomi Midori O' Forever

forever My Yoshi is today 7 years old.

I love my Shiba Inu. They are so unlike any other dog that I've ever met. Not just lapping at your face, but really remaining aloof, unless you're family. I love this trait about them. Yoshi is such an independent little man, and has survived one harrowing "runner" away from me, where I imagined seeing his little body flung up into the air by some passing car. It was a nightmare. He survived crossing 2 pretty major streets in Vancouver and I nearly killed him when I finally caught up to him on the Drive.

Carnage at the Bus Stop

It has been another crappy day where I feel like hiding under the bed, or running to the hills for some solitude. As I was waiting at the bus stop to begin my job, I heard a thud, and then saw a gang of birds flying away. They had been in pursuit of a Peregrine Falcon which now lay stunned on the sidewalk beside the glass bus shelter.
It was such a bummer.
I picked it up in my hands, and saw the tell tale lolling of the head. I wanted to believe though, and refused to just leave it on the sidewalk, so I took it indoors, and we called the Wildlife Rescue. They tried to tell us on the phone that it was probably just a juvenile Seagull, or Shithawk as I like to call them. Why do people insist on doing that? Telling you that you're probably not right, but anyhoo...

It died, before I even left the station, and I felt so bummed, but it was an incredible thing to enjoy up close even for a fleeting minute or too. It's a shame when nature clashes with the city. I have to cheer on the wildlife I have enjoyed out there when I've been working. I've seen coyotes, raccoons, rats, mice, a mama skunk and her kitten, and legions of spiders that I usually de-web with my face. eeeek!
I don't know what planet is in retrograde, but it has been challenging the past few days that's for sure. Strangely It's like I'm
watching it on reality tv or something. Is this what they call a disconnect?

oh well, big ups to the guys whose pics I stole, and if anyone could tell my why things are so crazy cosmically right now, I would really appreciate it!

What do you do?

when someone you know pops out of an alley and you freeze because they look half dead?

when things go poorly with said person, so you try harder next time to be "open" and they just smack you down anyway?

when you're riding the bus home from work and you see someone you know working as a prostitute?

when drugs destroy your friends?

Freezies:

preferred food of drug addicted people on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Self Inflicted Neck Injury

I'm suffering from that thing where you are doing nothing in particular, then you turn your head a certain way and "sproinggGGGg"...you feel some big elastic band in your neck snap.
Ouch!
Now I'm unable to turn my head to the right without turning my entire upper body.
I am a gimp. Good thing I didn't go to work today and aggravate it!

So here's the story

There used to be this cute little garage that this old man started to fix up and do odd jobs from. He was a nice enough guy.
It was mostly bicycle repairs, and scrap metal stuff, and he even stabilized a small antique chair that I got at "the sexy sale" for a mere $2. This guy didn't really bother me much, and even when I saw the odd cracked out looking woman hanging about, I just thought, at least it's indoors, and that's a good thing, non?

So anyhoo, this guy eventually moved in, and maybe some of the neighbours were bothered by this, 'cause a few fights started up, and a garden war ensued, and city hall was called, and restraining orders were issued, and eventually, this guy, feeling bitter and defeated, went ahead and just pulled the supports out from under the thing.I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this. It is unbelievable. The extent to which this bitter spiteful man would go is astonishing. I just don't know what good can come of it.
It's sad to see any heritage building destroyed like this, and though I have it on good authority that this guy was obviously nuts, it's still a shame to see the depths of his spite. I don't know where he's gone, but he's left quite the mess for the landlords who I'm sure are baffled by the whole thing. It's a lame example of people meddling too much in other peoples business. This neighbourhood is changing...and not necessarily for the better. I wonder what other changes we'll be seeing in the lead up to the Olympics in 2010.

With an Attitude like that?

I just got this weird call from some group calling themselves "BC Organization of Police Officers" or some such charity.
I don't really know. But they did tell me that "our" call would be recorded for quality purposes.

Then he launched into his pitch, and I was truly too tired to protest, so I listened as he used my name loudly, often, and with force.
".....blah blah.........your donation...........to underprivileged families.......AND TO KEEP VIOLENT CRIMINALS LOCKED UP BEHIND BARS WHERE THEY BELONG......."


huh? It was weird, but I let him go on. Saying my name and then repeating his rant about violent criminals again.
It stuck out like a sore thumb, so when he finally stopped to take a breath, and say, "what's best for you... $45?"
I said, "um, it sounds too political, but thanks for calling"....
he interrupts me and goes on about not understanding what I mean, and he was sure that I believed that violent non rehabilitated criminals should be behind bars.
It left such a bad taste in my mouth.
I didn't really want to hang up, but the dude was seriously not taking no for an answer, and he seemed genuinely flabbergasted that I thought he was coming on too conservative like and scary.

Perhaps I was speaking to one of these said violent criminals working inside the pen?

whatever. It's over, and I'll be continuing to screen my calls.

The most awesome John Fahey is helping me stay calm with his gorgeous guitar playing.
tell her to come back home.

Blown Fuse

Today I discovered that I cannot operate my heat gun in conjunction with the oven preheating and my strategically placed fan.
Everything whirrred to a halt, and I discovered the greatest tragedy that was my coffee stopped in mid drip.
I didn't panic though, as there are usually a few extension cords about. I've got the coffee on the mend and going to try another extension cord to another outlet.
Hopefully I won't start a fire or blow up the house by doing all this stuff.

If you don't hear from me again...

It's always better on holiday

Some things I did on my vacation:

-drank beer, too much beer, and now I will pay to work off the belly
-went to the beach. almost everyday
-swam and floated in the pool. almost everyday
-watched reality television
-went to the beach.
-reconnected with an old, dear friend.
-drove around on dirt roads at high speed.
-listened to the red winged black birds every morning.
-gardened until the sun went down, or it was time to drink beer.
-went to a family wedding which played mostly new country. bleh.
-went to the beach.
-burned stuff.


The question I am asking myself now that I have returned to the ghetto:

-what am I doing here?

Did I forget to mention Ladyfest?

Go to Ladyfest and check out the ladies.

Get in touch with your inner lady.

Support the lovely ladies of this town!