What the hell was THAT?!

Last night after my man returned home from a night out with the boys, we heard a loud, high pitched SQUEEEEEEEEEEAK that sounded like someone was coming through the front door with an axe or something. I nearly jumped out of my skin, as I had just been discussing ghosts and my potentially haunted house with my brother.
After checking that all was well, I awoke this morning to find some carnage under our upstairs sink. A mouse.
The sound was that last dying gasp as the air was squeezed out of the poor little critter. No wonder it scared us so much.


Total mouse count to date: 2

Parade Of Lost Souls tonight

Don't forget about the annual Parade Of Lost Souls on Commercial Drive tonight between 6 and 10 pm. It should be a good, spooky time for all! It would have been my Grandmother's birthday on the 31'st, and I remember every year. I like that board where you post messages to the dead. I'll be looking for it tonight.

2-4-6-8 we will not deliver hate!!!

If you live in Canada, you may be familiar with this story as it's been all over the local and national news.
Here in Vancouver, we were asked to deliver this piece of admail, and after viewing only the first page of this 27 page document, we were so horrified and disgusted, that our entire postal station walked out in protest. It couldn't be considered an actual "walk out", as most of us would have been suspended, so we called it a coffee break en masse, and it made a difference.

You don't even need half a brain to determine that this piece of admail is inappropriate. It is SO offensive on so many levels, but my employer takes the stand that it cannot censor their admail business, and are obliged to carry through with delivering this zealot's personal views! For once I wish they would grow some balls, or at least get some standards.
Check out but one of a series of news stories here.
It makes me so ashamed to work for a Corporation that would deem this as just another way to make a buck.
As you can imagine, this story has spread like crazy across the country, and a good thing too, because the general public needs to be aware of this nasty bit of business. I also heard our MP starting to mix it up at the House, so we'll see where this goes.

Apparently there is video footage of me floating around out there, but as of yet, I haven't found it!
stay tuned.......


FIGHT THE POWER!!!!

No Yo La Tengo

Sadly, I won't be attending the rock show tonight, and by the looks of things on Craig's list, it's sold out! Too bad too, as they are one of my favourite long time running bands. Te Amo Yo La Tengo.
The babysitter cancelled at the last minute. Arrrrgh! It's legit, and she's a kid and all, but in the bigger scheme of things, it feels like Karmic payback for the time I jammed on her. Oh well. I am a true homebody, so I won't miss the going out part, but I will miss the music.

Yo La Tengo are champs live. I still remember them busting out "The Kids are Alright" at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England. That was back in 2001. The room went crazy!! Especially after hearing dead Princess Diana jokes from Neil Hambuger. They would NEVER be a disappointment musically. I haven't really explored the new record, "I Am Not Afraid Of You And Will Beat Your Ass" too much, but the few tracks I have heard sound like the real McCoy and not just a band cranking out yet another mediocre album. But like I said, I haven't delved into it too much. But you have to love a band that will open a record with an 11 minute song.

Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Goodkind.


Besides, if I went out tonight, I'd have to put down the kitten.

Mouse Outing

Oh My God!!!!

I just saw the mouse!!!!! It was totally chowing down at Yoshi's food dish. I don't know why, but those little buggers really scare you for a moment. It jumped, I jumped, and then It scurried to exacly where we suspected he comes from; a big gaping hole under the sick where the pipes disappear into the floor. UGH.
I hadn't seen any evidence of him in the pantry, so optimistically thought that he'd moved on to our neighbour's house, but there he was this morning. And now my pulse is really racing.

He's going to be evicted. I hate to kill anything really.
Until then....eeeeeeeSH!

Score another one for the mouse.

Shanty town

One man's shanty town is another man's half a million dollar home!

Read all about the insanity!!

When is enough enough?

If ever I was going to rob a bank or commit some other crime, now would be the time. I have sanded all distinguishing marks off of my finger tips. This bloody door has taken over for the time being, and I am determined to get that thing hanging again by the end of the weekend. I have no idea what I'm doing though, so I might still be sanding then. I have gotten really fastidious about the whole thing though, so it's going to look awesome in the end.

I have heat gunned the thing, and stripped it, and now I'm debating as to whether or not I should fill the holes. I think that I might skip that part, as who wants to look at a bunch of filled holes? Maybe it will be more interesting with scars. I mean, it's a 100 year old door, so it's never going to look immaculate. Should I stop now? Then what? Christ. Feel free to send tips, though it's nothing a google search wouldn't solve. Maybe after one more coffee.

at least the place doesn't look like this anymore, with tagging everywhere.....jeepers!

Let the vacation begin now...

So I had a half empty carton of eggs that had been rotting for sometime in my fridge. I'd decided to keep them for hurling purposes, as sometimes there is an annoying "john" on the block. I would never hurl at the ladies. Though I talk a big game, I am an empathetic person at heart. So there they are, hidden yet present, and more than likely pretty lethal if injested.

I decided to make brownies yesterday, because I had a box of baking chocolate and I didn't want to see that damned mouse get any of it. I melted it with some unsalted butter in a bowl over a pan of hot water, and mixed in a sinfully large cup of white sugar. mmmMMMMmmm!
I even added some vanilla though it was uncalled for.
So it was time for the eggs. I grabbed a carton from the fridge and cracked away into the thick, brown, glossy mixture. The first one was ok, maybe somewhat dodgy, 'cause I could spy some red veiny wisps in the yolk. But ok, I decided to let that go because I am a food freak, and mostly phobic, so I decided to let that one slide. It would be baked, and all would be well. The second egg was seemingly ok too, 'cept that when I put the shells into the compost bowl, I saw something out of the corner of my eye that froze me still. I'd grabbed the wrong carton of eggs!!!!!

UUUGHKKKKKKKKKK! There was a small cluster of black beads, quite large living on the inside of the shell of the egg. IT was the most disgusting thing I had seen in a while, and it was SO sad, to have to dump the entire mixture into the bin. Wahhhhhh.
Of course I made another batch, and I pitched the rotten eggs that once held so much promise. The brownies were overcooked, but they still tasted wonderfully. Sadly, I can still conjure up perfectly the image of that dark, beady colony. *shudder

I have been checking out the new Chad VanGaalen album. It's not as immediately likeable as his previous, but there are at least one or two songs that have wormed their way into my head. Check out graveyard.

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!