Happy Halloween!

There are something which seem to always been in my memory every Halloween. So I figured I should share them with you.

1) Thriller- Michael Jackson

This video and the song is exactly how I picture Halloween. There is something about growing up, hearing the record (yes I did say record) and the association with this fine day. No matter what has been going on in MJ’s life.. all the bad press and law suites no one can disagree that he’s music was amazing. Moreover that he’s video concepts were out of this world. If you have been living under a rock and have not seen this video it is a definite MUST SEE.

2) Candy Talk

Halloween = free candy for all kids and people who are short enough to pass as kids. Today on the radio they did a celebrity candy status, where they went to some famous people who live in Calgary and found out what they are giving away. They rated these celebs on the candy choices and the over all Halloween spirit. I remember my trick or treat system and how we’d always know the “good” houses. Also the ranks of candy which are

i. Full Size chocolate bars (doesn’t really matter which one, but the bigger the better)
ii. Large bags of chips (cheetos or cheese puffs are the best then hickory sticks… and so on)
iii. Small chocolate bars (mars, , rease, kit kat, crunchie, … and the least best crispy crunch)
iv. Small bags of chips
v. Big Candy (usually the Popeye sticks, Fuzzy Peaches, Berries, Sour Patch Kids, tootsie rolls)
vi. Gum Balls (though the flavor last all of 1min they always seem good)
vii. Small Candy
viii. Random candy
ix. Healthy stuff (yes I got some apples and even a toothbrush before…. I know some of u ppl are dentists but u cant write of trick or treat as a biz expensive… and you should want kids to have bad teeth because it means more $$ pour vous

3) The noises and colors

There are always these noises, which I associate with this day. The screams, hallows, evil laughs. There is also some colors which are Halloween, black, orange, green, red, purple… I find that its always brighter colors as we’re younger and darker as we grow up…. Also the difference’s in age is best said in a line from the mean girls movie… for older kids, Halloween is an excuse to dress slutty and no one can say anything. hahaha happy halloween :)

Randomness on the roads.... a rant

I’ve been driving for a while now and across Canada and I must say that every place has their share of crazy drives. I always wonder how certain people get their license, and if maybe they were good drivers then but because they don’t drive much or imitate bad drivers that they become that way.

Some highlights (or should I saw lowlights) of my driving experience include an asian lady going the wrong way up the 427 exit ramp onto the 401 in GTA. Now for those of you who don’t know where this is let me explain…. The 401 is the biggest most traffic highway in Canada. It has at least 8 lanes each way in GTA. So the setup is 4 collectors, barrier, 4 express, big barrier, 4 express and 4 collectors. So for anyone to go the wrong way…. its just ridiculous. Now the 427 is another large highway with 4 lanes in each direct. The average speed on the roads that day I would say is 120km//hr. By now you should all be as stunned and shocked how that chick ever got her license. I guess everything has a price…..

Another fun experience (this has actually happen a couple of times) is when there is 2 lanes on a highway, in the middle of nowhere between two large cities such as (Ottawa/Montreal, Toronto/Niagara, Toronto/Ottawa….) and two friends think its normal to drive side by side and talk while traffic is backing up behind them. Whoever does this I say should automatically get their license removed and fined. When I say fined, I mean they should pay every person in every car behind them for wasting their time at the rate of their worth. So if you held up a CEO for 1hr and they make $700/hr then you should pay them $700. A friend of mine suggested that stupid accidents, which tie up the roads and cause major delays should be handled the same way. I think she’s really onto something. I also would charge all the rubber-neckers who end up backing up traffic in the opposite direction because they can’t mind their own bee’s wax!

I said BRRRR is cold in here

Today I am sitting at my desk shivering because its freezing cold for some reason and we don’t know why. So I figured I should blog about fun things to do when its cold/snowy. Yes, those of you who are enjoying the summer conditions of Ontario should know that its snowed here at least 3 times (and some parts of the city more).

5. Sitting in warm clothes and watching the fireplace channel
4. Go snowboarding/Skiing
3. Drink hot chocolate, Coffee or warm soup
2. The maple syrup shacks caban a sucre
1. Traybogganing aka taboozing, sliding down a hill with a magic carpet


I think as a kid it was always more fun to enjoy the cold weather. As I’ve aged I seem to like it less every year. Maybe its because I have to scrape the car when I’m running late for work, or maybe its because I actually feel so cold and I wonder why I have to suffer when there is heat indoors and warmer places. As children we are better able to judge the moment and the things we have around us and not really compare to what is possible and what we could have. I think that as adults this ruins a lot of things and makes us less happy. I know kids can be fussy but its more about what they like and don’t like. While the issues with the adults is what I have and what I don’t have. What I have to do and what others don’t. The added responsibility and the fact that you are in charge of getting things you want makes life less enjoyable because if you want something then you have to work for it and even then you aren’t guaranteed to get it. Just because you work hard and are a good person doesn’t mean you will ever be able to afford the life you want or get to see and do the things you want. As a kid, if you’re good then you can usually get away with whatever. So how is it as adults that we can let of the pressures and stress and comparisons so we can enjoy what we have?

Some things just make you wonder....

It would so awesome to have a concert here, with the band on that middle suspended island.

Though I'm sure that not why they built it.

What is the purpose of that triangle thing suspended on top of the road?

Interesting concept. I guess at the end of the hoop is where they make you pay the tole or something?
Whoa, now this civil eng was definately into rollercoasters.
Kinda reminds me of MTL for some reason :P

Why are there random tipis on the bridge?

Come on ppl, no camping on the bridge!

Must be some hick town with no other attractions?

Let call it the double bridge arc?

If you can't go over, or under, or around...

I guess you go through it?

Again someone who likes rollercoasters.

At least you don't have to blast through a mountain

Paper Cuts – the white collar work place hazard

I’m currently at job number 5 of my career and luckily all of my jobs have been white collar. God knows how horrible I would be if I had to make things or fix things. Most people associate work place hazards with construction, chemicals, and other similar things. Don’t get me wrong, they are really dangerous but it doesn’t mean that white-collar jobs don’t also have many risks and hazards.

Paper cuts are not the only things, which affect the office worker. Don’t get me wrong, paper cuts are bad, you end up having a tiny gash, which ends up bleeding so much, and stinging. Other office hazards are usually long term, things like stress, wrist issues from typing, sight issues from constantly looking at computer screens, back pains from sitting on bad chairs, and so on. What are preventive measures that companies and governments doing for the increasing number of office workers?

There are laws where an employer must provide adequate office environment enhancements for disable employees to the point until it would take them out of business. But what laws are in place that assures healthy employees also get reasonable working conditions in order to stay healthy and not to burden the employer and the health system in the future.

There are so many things out there for after issues therapy but nothing really in place for prevention. Even for terminal illnesses the focus is always on treatment, never on prevention. Why does everything have to be about money? If things were prevented then corporations would not make money from of selling us stuff to treat our problems. I think in the coming years we need to stand up for ourselves in order to assure that white collar work places hazards are prevented. There needs to be more laws and public exposure to the real hazards of the office.

Love and Pain

Love and Pain,
Sunshine and Rain.

The question on my mind today is, what hurts more. Being hurt by someone you love, or hurting someone you love. Does the receiver or the giver have the larger burden? We all are humans and we all make mistakes in life. Sometimes these mistakes or oversights hurt the ppl we care about the most. Is it a harder burden to forgive someone who has caused you pain or is it harder to be the one who ended up hurting someone and having to wait for them to forgive you?

In the movie sisterhood of the traveling pants (or something like that), there was a part in the movie where this chick ended up getting mad at her friend instead of dealing with the real issue. But her friend instead of hating her supported her and urged her to see what the real problem was. In the end the girl realized that we end up hurting the ones we love and can depend on because we are unable to face the real problems. In some sense we create tension with people who we know will still love us and forgive us in order to hide from the real situation. In relation to the question above, is it harder to be the one that has to be latched out at as the friend or is it harder to be the one with the troubles? Is there really one role that is worst? Or do we end up playing both sides in different situations?

a little bit of this and a little bit of that = bs

Halloween, which this year might as well be called Halo-ween with all the crazy sales of Halo 3. But anyway… every October 31 I am faced with the question, to trick- or-treat or to not trick-or-treat. Being a great 5’3 I can usually get away with going door to door with all the kids and getting free candy. For me free is good. I see no difference in pretending to be waterloo staff to enjoy a nice bbq my tuition paid for and for pretending to be a taller JR high kid for free candy. There are few things I get an advantage for while being short, but this happens to be one of them… so why is it frowned on?

Life and school always teach us to make the most out of everything; to find weaknesses of rules and profit from them. So why is this any different? I say if there is something free it is our duty to take advantage of it.

So… now that I’ve convinced myself of that…..what should a dress up as?

Snacking

Recently I started my first non coop job. Though its not really any different than a coop job, except for the fact that it won’t end after 4 months unless I don’t like it and or they don’t like me. While working I realized that I seem to always have the urge to snack while at work. I’m not really sure if this is appropriate, I never remember seeing any Sr staff members doing it, but I really enjoy it. I remember my past co-op days where a co-worker (turned friend) and I used to go on snack hunts as every floor at different snack you could buy. We also had our snack stash, so whenever we were bored, or hungry or just had a certain craving we could grab it from a convenient desk drawer and eat it while still working away.

I really think that businesses should encourage more of this. It reduces the need to go on a coffee break, if you already have a snack near you and it also allows a delay in the lunchtime hunger call. It would be nice for businesses to even offer snacks at a reduced price, or even just healthy snacks. A healthier work force is more productive. I can understand how a desk full of snacks can seem awkward if you are about to speak with a client, or that if you happen to take a bite of your snack just as your phone rings it might not be very professional. But I do believe that the overall positive of snacking should have companies encourage it.

My Top 5 Snacks:
-Nibs and Twizzlers: they are small, sugary but not too much, have no crumbs, and in general are less fat than other sweats).

-Chocolate covered raisins or nuts: (they are semi healthy and also have the same benefits as nibs, but hits that chocolate craving)

-Grapes and Nuts: very healthy and tasty, though watch out for people who might be allergic

-Pringals or Pretzels: (for those of us who get the salt craving, these work well because they aren’t very messy or too loud when you crunch)

-Cheese Strings: I know that its suppose to be a childish snack, but it does hit that cheesy craving well and its very portable and potentially even nutritious

What are your favorite snacks?

D

You’d pull out the picture album, to show others as we grew.
You’d kiss our cheeks, and tell us that we were cute.
Annoying that this may sound, I miss all of that
I would give everything, to have it all back.

The last time I saw you, you told me to stay here
But in my heart, I know you just wanted me near.
I wish you were here, to see me smile
If you were I know you 2 would smile.

You've always had a gift, to make us all feel loved
And your remembrance to me, is of unconditional love.
You were happy, peaceful, beautiful and serene
Never once did I think you were mean.

I wish I had you here with me now
I know you will always be with me somehow.
I never fully appreciate all that you gave
Now I'm alone taking flowers to your grave.

Its so hard to stop the tears from falling, I really don't want to cry
But what I miss most of all is the twinkle in your eye
It saddens me that the Dude has taken you away
But he decided that today was your day.

Traditional Food

Over the past couple weeks it has been both Canadian Thanksgiving as well as Eid. Both these holidays have traditional food associated with it along with various other customs. For example, thanksgiving is all about giving thanks, as the name would suggest. It started with giving thanks for the harvest but it has moved to a much larger north American scale. Eid on the other hand is a celebration for all Muslims who have finished their month of fasting. For thanksgiving the traditional food is Turkey, I’m not really sure why this is but I’m sure it has some symbolic value. Eid has the tradition of eating sweets along with other specific foods.

If one has always been observing a holiday in a specific way, eating traditional foods, why would one want to change what you eat? How can one appreciate thanksgiving without the turkey if you’ve had it all your life. What is eid without the sweets? Sure the point of the holiday is to celebrate something else, but traditional foods set the mood and atmosphere for these holidays. Yes I do realize that sometimes people forget the true meanings of the holidays and just concentrate on the traditions of gifts or food. But I still think its wrong for someone to take away the turkey or the jelabi.
To the mothers, institutions and whoever else seems to want to take away traditions, especially food traditions I highly urge them to leave the traditions as they are. We like our turkeys and jelabies so don’t take them away.