YouGoogled

Ok, am officially not happy with the YouTube/Google Video collaboration.
I prefer Google Video as it allows me to download what I want to watch for future enjoyment. YouTube doesn't. But since the two joined forces and databases, you have to be uber careful about what you choose, or else you'll get redirected to YouTube and then you can't download the damn video!!!

But the joys of Google Video is that I found, hidden away, the Beatles Yellow Submarine movie. I heard about this absolutly trippy film from some mates of mine and now I can watch it! YAY!

Still doesn't make up for the YouTube intergration - fuckers.

We're all Thomas the Tank Engine

One thing I have discovered about the British workforce (well, corporate anyway) is that they take thier positive reinforcement very seriously. Everything is 'Well Done', 'Good Job', 'Excellent' etc etc.
Now, generally I'm really all for positive reinforcement - when earned. Conragtulating someone for masteringthe art of opening thier email account does not count. Niether does the occasion when I actually complete a to do list in one day. In fact, over used compliments sound contrived and even a little patronising.
And it sounds even more so when its PMS time in the office.

You see, the girls here in the office all seem to get PMS at the same time. One of the girls - let's name her Barbie (and I mean that in a nice way) has decided she wants to go on the Pill to relieve the PMS.

erm...why?

PMS is in a way rather liberating! Guys get to be all testosteroney and macho and get away with fighting and losing thier temper all month long. Well, to me, PMS is the best excuse for most of the 'unseemly' things we do. Like mooching, glaring at fellow tube passengers who stand on yoru toes, crying during a movie and other irrational behaviour.
Embrace the PMS! Enjoy the PMS!
And blame every bad purchase on it!

Onto more mundane things about the office -
Someone has been buying the lame ass organic strength 3 Sainsbury brand coffee. I'd like to find that person and kick thier butt!
Coffee is only worth is consumption if the strength is at least 6. I would like to be wired after one cup - not two pots! It wastes valuable blogging time having to get up to refill my cup with boring, instant strength brew.

As for Joyce -
Being Monday yesterday, I worked late and avoided the flat (her son comes on Mondays for supper). Had supper with P and Nats at the Pembroke until we were kicked out.
Due to closing, not behaviour.
Anyway, I get home and Joyce was going on about her dog. Again. So in my three beers induced mellow and good will mood, I sat and chatted to her about the dog and her latest family crisis until I nearly fell asleep on the floor. dragged my ass to bed. Had been lying there for a while when suddenly i hear the door open, and felt this weight on me. I nearly hit the roof! (jo'burg paranoia coming through).
Turns out, Joyce, in her madness and sweetness, brought me an extra duvet. She said it was because my room is so cold.
I thanked her and promptly fell asleep (if only to avoid talking more about that freakin dog). This morning i discovered the reason for the arctic conditions in my room - someone opened my windows and neglected to inform me!!!
Note - my windows are on the opposite end of the room to my bed and are small and hidden, so I hardly pay attention to them.

SO life with Joyce is one day going to result in a death through heart attack.
My heart, that is. Stopped by her scaring the bejesus out of me.

Crash and burn

So I'm officially laptop-less.

The mere thought is enough to make me want to cry. I have lost so many good things with the crash of '07!
Photo's from the MCR concert, music, stories, poetry, Terry Pratchett in .pdf. Oh, yes, and some work files too.
I have decided to take matters into my own hands and send it off for data retrieval. I'm desperate!

I didn't realise how much I miss my laptop, until yesterday afternoon. After Friday and Saturday nights working my ass off and getting in at 5am, I decided to mooch. There is nothing better than lying on the couch, a few beers next to you and a line up of the best 80's action flicks (Lethal Waepon 1-4 and Batman 1-4). But somewhere after my third beer, my creative drive kicked in (as it does) and I wanted to type out a lovely little ramble. But alas, not keyboard to do so. And don't even suggest that I use pen and paper! I can't read my own scrawl after a few cans!

I'm also missing my music. I am totally music-less. Except for whats on my cellphone. *more sighing*

Oh, also met a nice Aussie guy on the way home on Friday night. Totally random. Not holding my breath, though. If he calls me - I'll buy everyone that reads this a drink.

On a totally obssessive fan note, did anyone see how scrumptious Gerard Way looks with his locks back to black? I had heard about the return, but i only saw pics this morning (thanks NME). The blonde ambition look was ok, but the natural black hair just works way better.
Ok, enough stalker obsessiveness.

Best get back to work. Still need to put my Best of 2007 list together. Any suggestions?

Snowballing...

I'm currently covertedly typing this from a colleagues computer, as from 9:30pm last night, my little ol' laptop died.
That's right. I am now computer-less. Which means I can't get any work done.
But that's not what concerns me. What i'm worried about is all my personal files that were on my laptop are now lost. All my pics, photos, bad poetry, everything - gone.
I'm beyond freaking out. I'm beyond stressing. In fact, I feel the giddy, lightheaded-ness of someone who has left thier body and thier minds are floating somewhere...else.
See, this week has been such a convaluted build up of bad luck, bad timing, and bad karma, that should i actually sit still long enough to contemplate its ripples affecting the galaxy and time continuum, as consequences tend to do, my head would promptly explode.
So i'm playing the ostrich today.
cluck, cluck...

Productiveness and other myths

For the past two days, I have been, through a very wrong twist of fate, being working from home.
This is ok, seeing as how I’ve got a cold and travelling would just aggravate it, but on the flipside, the pressure to perform, while sitting at home is overwhelming.
How do the freelancers do it?

Obviously self discipline is a key factor. Something I lack. Desperately.

Working from home has its benefits. I can sit in my PJs, feet up and not have to worry about what I’ll wear to the office. I can’t get distracted by the mindless conversations that happen when a bunch of girls sit in an office together. Just me and my music – no phones!!!!

However, it does suck when your desk is the size of a penny and the internet connection you leach from the neighbours is unreliable. But it does beat having o get up at the crack of dawn to commute. I think I could do pretty well.
I just need to prove to my boss that I can work productively from a satellite location. Maybe this is what he needs to help me get my holiday through for April!

So you’re probably wondering what the twist of fate was that got me here. Money. Or lack thereof.

See, I had a plan, all worked out. I pre ordered this amazing external hard drive from Play.com. It was supposed to be deducted from my account once I got paid – at the end of the month.
So my wages from the pub come through and before I could say ‘7 day travelcard, please’ Play.com took the money and posted the hard drive to me.
I emailed them the same morning (this being Monday) stating that they must keep the hard drive, I want my money back and I’ll re order it at a later stage. Tuesday comes with more calls and emails – their system is down.
I get home Tuesday night to find they delivered the package!!!

Now, even if I returned the package or kept it, I’m still cashless until Monday! So I’m screwed. Very screwed. Have meetings to attend tomorrow!

So I’m going to have to beg Paul to loan me a little money, just to get to work and back (both jobs) and I’ll pay him back on Monday.

So what have I learnt from this whole expedition?
1) Get a job walking distance from home.
2) Make sure that when I order something from play.com I send them a note saying when they can have payment.
3) Just don’t order stuff off the internet.
4) Get a better paying job.
5) Get a credit card.

Also planning to go flat hunting on Saturday. Closer to the office. Good rent. ALONE!!
And, yes, I’ll be far more budget conscious from now on.
Wish me luck.

Motion City Soundtrack - Hold Me Down

Its all about the snow...

Let it snow!

So yesterday had to be one of the coldest days, ever. I was sick, sniffling in the office, trying to get some work done.
This morning I woke up to find this it had snowed overnight. Yay! Snow Day! I'm planning to go play in it later, but for now, i'm enjoying the warmth of my bed.

But, to celebrate this momentous occasion in my little S'Affer life, check out my Motion City Soundtrack vid at teh bottom of the blog - It has sow in it.

Will post more later..gonna go build a snowman. or something.