12 posts tagged “blue”

My fears have been alleviated some what when I learned yesterday that we (the Union employees) weren't the only ones having less work coming our way. This doesn't mean I don't expect a nefarious trick coming, but at least it's not the complicated, multi-faceted conspiracy I was expecting.

Which is a bit of a downer, I might add. As a matter of fact, I've been ask to workto oversee post-mortem on a couple of Web projects,  a tortuous way of recognizing my expertise and a veiled admittance that they may have erred barring from working on something at the beginning only to have to pick up the pieces afterwards. I've had worse gigs

Allergies and lack of sleep have made my throat raw and I know I'm just a couple of coughs away my nasal, whiny voice turn to a sound akin to a rock polisher.

Plans for the week-end are still in flux, I do hope to havr time to start my data gathering, Cloud City or not.

At least the heat wave is subsiding somewhat, hopefully I will get a full night's sleep tonight.

My MtG Tarot Weather forecst is SHIFTING SKY.

Of course, it could only be about the weather or maybe there's a change for the better on the BigMediaCo front.

Here's to hope!

 

Ever since I stopped surfing at work, I have developed this huge need to "hang loose" as it were. The "in" pile is as filled as before, I do the same amount of job during the regular work hours and I benefit the masses with my keen insight and brillant wit (sarcasm too, but not as enjoyed as the other 2).

 

Here's a few miscellaneous tidbits, I don't know what they mean but they are beginning to form a much tangled web

 

 

There's a power vaccuum, one I like to think I might be a symptom of where the head PHB of the QA department as been AWOL for almost a month.

Point 1 Now her heir apparent seems to have been pegged to handle half of her responsabilities while the head of another department takes the other. I don't know how this works out, but it's either a good thing or a very bad thing as she shares much of the idisyncracies as her "mentor".

Speaking of her, there's has been a job opening of roughly the same title in the mirror universe department, as I called the people who were once working along side but splitted and put under the gentle guidance of the 2-drinks-minimum crew (AKA Marketing). Now this would be a nice position for her as she fits more this role instead of the one she currently holds.

The only negative point for her would be that she would stand out less and I think that she craves the attention of being the alpha, especially over men. I could be wrong with this, but counting all the departures in our department since the strike ended, almost 75% of the male employees under her either quit the company or left for another job inside BigMediaCo.

Point 2 For some weird reasons, I have received feelers from the radioactive Polynesia project. Weird, because, while the project plods on. it feels always on the verge of collapsing of a black hole. But I have been asked to make presentations on the web development that are currently online. Weird, because it seems by attrition I know more (not from a programming side, mind you) than the department in charge of developing all the web applications, and over analysts, people who are ACTUALLY supposed to know about its stuff.

The final decision whether or not I'll work on that is not in my hands and my soon-to-be vacation will probably me a nuisance, but it's nice to feel wanted and have its expertise recognized.

Point 3 With the power sructure in shambles, it brings really out-of-the-blue initiatives. Take our ditzy superior which has decided to reinstate the comp-time policy that had been cancelled by the now-absent PHB. In one way, it does placate the growing frustations that my colleagues and I felt that we were asked to give, give, give and receive nothing in return.

The fact that she has decided to offer that, when before all such demands from us were quashed, is "interesting", to say the least. I will probably not partake to this, as I was burned so many times before planning and replanning days off. I will still use it on a "virtual" basis to simulate days off when I get back from Mexico. It will throw a little more randomness in my schedle without having to wring my heads with trying to set up days off, crossing my fingers that I won't hae to change it.

Still, ch-ch-changes are coming!!! I have an idea that I can only describe it as such

OVER / UNDER CB replaces MG

 

 

Which spins into today's MtG's Tarot draw. I got EVACUATION. I have a sense that it represents rather the scene at the end of 24:Redemption (buy the DVD, now! LOL). Whether or not Captain "Jack Bauer" Random will be on that chopper stands to be determined...

 

Off to Ottawa next week-end!

Having established that it is possible for me to swing by Bytown in the same day while retaining some shred of sanity, I volunteered to drop over there next week-end.

This will give an opportunity to pick up something from over there instead of the South Shore Comics Store.

With me going to Mexico soon, it would nice to have another frame of reference for away-from-home locale, even if I'm pretty sure this week-end will be all about RPGs.

 

Funny that today's draw is UNNATURAL SELECTION. With the 100th of Charles Darwin's coming soon, it's either a swipe at evolutionary theory (work-related?) or a warning to expect the unexpected either in the Capital...

...or in sunny Ixtapa, mayhaps?

 

Finally, the NaNo widgets are up and running! I was able to pick up the pace somewhat, even with my busy week-end.

Of course, I will have to set some time for me to actually type on the computer, but still it's doable, I hope...

Vaguely intrigued by the offer to receive said work in printed form free of charge.

In the mean time, I have been busy also pruning some of the stuff that just won't make the cut for this year's or any others. The latest stuff I have decided taken out, a whole shopping list of thrashy Hollywood scandal-type stories I had compiled because with the direction this work is taking, the last thing I want is to copy-paste the likes of Amy Winehouse or Britney. About the only think I kept from the list was a anti-paparazzi law that I will probably bundle with the treatment of stalkers. That is, if I ever decided to (or allow my story) go Hollywood.

As for looking towards new sources, I found the latest entry to the Mage The Awakening line with "Keys To The Supernal Tarot". A great way to look at the cosomology of this world using Tarot archetypes.

With the may the new World Of Darkness is set up, I greatly like how they managed to add all these alternate "modes" as sources of inspiration.

Still pines for the Virtual Adepts and the Men in Black, though.

My MtG draw of the day is VEX. Somehow, it fits my current mindset towards Work, NaNoWriMo, my so-called Social Life and pretty much everything.

So it begins, November is upon us and this means, another month of NaNoWriMo madness (for me, at least).

Right now, I'm at 3489 words and counting. A little behind, maybe, but no that much, given how busy my week-end was.

The folks at my Starbucks haven't kicked me out yet for passing my lunch hours over there. All these times of being a good customer are finally paying off. :-)

 

 

Writer's block-induced sleepless nights aside, I will probably stay up to watch tonight's election returns. Even though, it doesn't really concern me, this election has all the markings of being one singular event.

On the right, I went and made a small prediction on how the diffrent states will vote, using the election map tool on the CNN website.

Bottom line, a relatively easy Obama victory, and adding insult to injury, he manages to take Arizona.

Unfortunately, this only implifies the "Red State-Blue State" divide.

It would almost be an interesting model to use for my stories, instead of the alt-Bush military dictatorship I currently use.

 

 

It seems even the MtG Tarot fates are favouring the Barack one, as I've drawn a blue card. Of course,the fact that it is DEFLECTION, lends a mixed message to it, and raises a lot of speculation as to its hidden meaning...

"Woke up this morning. got myself a..." boopin' headache.

It figures that my day off would be the one day that I finally fall prey to the viruses from the office. Ugh! At least, I can only hope it will clear up for tommorow. Made myself so me instant chicken noodle soup with extra noodles, some fresh lime-ade and I whittled my ever-increasing amount of DVR-stored programs to a relatively urbane 50%

Aside from the usual series (Heroes, Torchwood, Mi-5 comes to mind), I kind of caught up with both the sports world (ESPN's The Reporters, PTI) and the political/media sphere (CNN's Reliable Sources). I have to admit that watching back-to-back-to-back description of the problems for the Republican campaign is almost comedic. In a tragic way.

 

My MtG draw of the day is INTRUDER ALARM. Well, I was home all day, let's hope it's not an indication that my beloved cubby in BigMediaCo has been burglarized...

My week-end could have started on such a good note as I got a call this afternoon from the Raven, inviting me for supper. Unfortunately, I had some super secret agent stuff and had to offer a rain check. Sigh, being an agent for the Illuminati sure is trying for one's soul...

With November approaching, I have already begun looking forward for my vacations for the next 6 months. I have to tweak a few days here and there so I don't have to come in at work as I stepped from the plane. Usaully that means that I make 2 vacation days become "virtual" to be considered as such only for data gathering purposes. I had one set up for October 27th, but besides giving me a 3-day week-end, I'd rather use it to consolidate my vacation block.

That means, that aside from holidays, I don't have any time off until February (unless my PHB decides to finally allow comp time, not holding my breath though). Not optimal, if the workload keeps up, but I can live with it... Besides, sick days are a legitimate use when one is "sick of it".

In other news, was a bit disappointed to see that the Old Navy store at my favourite mall has closed without so much of a notice. While, I may purchase my ON stuff elsewhere, I find it sad to see what had become the defacto flagship store in the mall disapper almost without a trace. I'm beginning to think that I will have to write off this location (and its various data opportunities) to look for other options. Sigh.

 

 

 

My MtG Tarot draw of the day is GLAMERDYE. The symbolism is kind of lost on me but I suppose it's yet another sign to expect the unexpected and be on the look-out for wolf-in-sheep's-clothing.

Work has plenty of those, lately, I'm afraid.

The long Labour week-end is over and, with the warm and sunny temperature, I was able to go out and ride for most of the 3-day period. There's nothing more peaceful and relaxing than biking while feeling almost not a care. Nothing better to cleanse the system of all the crud I have accumulated in the past weeks.

Too bad my next day off falls on a Tuesday (smack dab between 2 implementations, let's hear it for the process of randomly selecting your vacation days).

I said "almost" because even when I tried my best to find peace, entropy lurks and is ready to stab in the back. I am still reeling from reading what I consider to be the second most frightening blog entry (sorry, f-locked) I have ever come across.

To be truthful were it not that I felt more responsible for the first, I would feel much more than the relative unease brought by the helplessness I feel. Words can only do so much, I understand that, but it's really the shocking turn of events. It helps put my own setbacks in perspective.

 Yes, I am cynical and bitter, and I admit freely dipping my pen in an inkpot full of sarcastic and caustic writings, and yet I try to feel true to who I am. I have walked to the event horizon only once and were it for one of those stupid random encounters one cannot plan his life around, I probably would be here today.

My mouth tastes of Coke and ashes.

 

The Universe (and by that, I mean the MtG Tarot Fates) has a twisted sense of humour. My card of the day is COUNTERBALANCE. Is that supposed to mean that I should be a force to fight the darkness that sourronds me.

Or that no good deed goes unpunished.

3 days of relaxation up in smoke...

 

Sigh

It seems that once again my efforts to plan a return visit to Bytown have been thwarted by the Illuminati. It's almost a running gag at this point and, while I'm not that desperate into returning there (or, for that matter, just hop on the train and visit) , the fact that all my visit since the start of Spring have all been postponed makes me wonder why I should bother consider this place as a vantage point.

Now that my long week-end plans are scuttled, I'm at a loss to decide what I'll do.

Can't wait for my new bike to arrive.

 

MtG-tarot wise, I've got a trope-like BLUE ELEMENTAL BLAST.

It reminds of the days when Magic was closer to 500 cards than to 10,000.

Those where the days!

Enjoying the last day off my vacation for the BigMediaCo business year and I have to admit I am getting restless as I'm not used to being idle for so long.

I guess the fact that I cancel my planned visit to Bytown, also put in me in a funk...

Hopefully, returning to work will help me return to a semblance of normalcy.

 

The week-end was not a total waste, as I managed to find out a new flavour of Jolt! at my local Long-Eye pâtisserie. 

Never been a great fan of orange drinks (except the odd glass of Swamp Water, now and then) so I can't say it will become my favourite.

Still it's nice to find that, not only are there new flavours available but we don't have to wait eons for them to travel from Rochester, NY to our fair city (near-record levels of snow notwhitstanding). Looking at the site of Jolt! Cola, I see there's a Grape flavour too. Haven't seen it yet but Im not waiting for it with baited breath.

Today's MtG tarot pick is SLEIGHT OF MIND, which is something I should aspire to for the coming week. Unless, it refers to the ever expanding colour-wheel of hyper-carbonated beverages...