At home no one can see you blog.
POSTED AT 05:50 PM in work, rant, family

ubernerd

Currently in my browser, in the tab directly left to my tabulas one, is the WileyPLUS certification. WP is basically a ploy to get students to buy a new textbook every year—I mean, an online tool for students to get access to an electronic version of the book and extra practice questions, and for instructors to keep track of their students' progress, and to download course material like powerpoint slides. The WileyPLUS mission: helping teachers to teach and student to learn.

Like you know, whatever.

All new employees need to take the WileyPLUS 101 course and get a minimum of 75% to become certified. I read the first chapter and watched the video and was furiously taking notes ("WileyPLUS revenue accounted for $15 million and we expect it to reach $20 million this year" . . . I have no idea how old this information is) and the quiz at the end of chapter asked me things like what sort of things I can find in each chapter and who I would go to if I needed help with the course. What the . . . ? And if that isn't bad enough, I found I could click out of the quiz at any time, go back to the text, and then come back to the quiz.

Other than that, work is ok. I spent almost all of today proofreading an index. Brain explodeded. I'm glad no one tried to talk to me today. I don't know what it is about work that makes me feel so anti-social.

Yesterday was my 2-year-old cousin's birthday party. My grandma said she was sick so she was only going to shake our hands instead of giving us a hug. And as we were all leaving, she gave us all hugs! My mom said all we could really go is just wash our hands afterwards. Ah, family.

All these parties are the same: eat chinese food, make small talk with adults, watch younger cousins insist on playing the Wii even though they don't really know what they're doing, group picture around a mango mousse/fruit cream cake, eat cake, watch kids (whether they be the birthday child or not) rip open presents.

My mom bought a sort of updated speak 'n spell. I wanted to buy a bunch of books because I'm really hoping this cousin will be the intellectual reader type. My hope was fuelled when I saw a lot of "Baby Baroque", "Mozart for Minors" kind of cds around the house. I know my aunt and uncle are forcing these upon my cousin but my aunt told me the music helps him sleep. Baroque music helps me sleep too! Awesome. You better believe I have a copy of LotR ready and waiting.
Listening to: the tv (glorious tv)
Feeling: sleepy

a secret voice that gainsayeth
POSTED AT 02:15 PM in food

ubernerd

I'm coming to the end of a notepad. V. exciting to a ... well I don't know what we're called but it's exciting to someone who likes writing things in notepads. But I have some unfinished business with my notepad in the form of recipes. I tend to write down recipes while I'm bored in front of the computer (and should be doing work *cough*), but by the time I turn off my computer, I no longer have the will to make the thing I was so set on making a few hours before.

So, anway, then I made a quiche.



The more observant of you will notice that my quiche doesn't really match the one in the magazine. I don't like pie crusts in my quiche so I replaced it with potatoes. And even though we had broccoli in the house, my mom said I was to touch it. I ended up using "bak choy", which I like better, in general, and which desperately needed to be used (my mom loves to stock up on good deals, so it's not uncommon for us to have enough of one vegetable to last us for 3 months).

Next up: Cuba Libre cupcakes, on the second last page of my notepad. This may be my solution to having "alcohol" (it'll all burn off in the baking) at work.

New layout featuring my favourite scene of The Sil. Thanks to Tabulas's premade layout for filling in for me while I was going through design block. Hey, if Capt. Janeway can talk to Voyager, I can talk to blogging software.
Reading: Memory Alpha entry of Boothby
Feeling: nerdy

With help from The Simpsons
POSTED AT 04:07 PM in fandom, work, family

ubernerd

How I've been feeling lately and how I hope to be feeling can be summed up using three images from Eye On Springfield, the best thing since sliced bread (sliced bread having been invented the previous winter):

Middle of August to end of September:


Beginning of October to Beginning of November:


(Hopefully) Middle of November to end of December, but with a third less flame:


It all sort of happened like an episode of a sitcom. You do one crazy thing because it seems like the best thing to do given the situation at the time. But then it almost frightening escalates beyond your control until you're getting up at 6:30am; getting splashed by the sprinkles of the church you cut across to get to the bus stop; trying to think unnauseous thoughts on the hour and a half transit ride to work; coming home and forcing yourself to proofread 10 pages for the Oxford project before you sleep or you won't make the deadline, while trying to pretend you don't see that email from your editor at Wiley asking you to do something from home; all while doing all these interviews for a job you weren't sure you really wanted but only applied for because it seemed like the best thing to do to keep my editor happy and to make sure HR would keep me in mind in the future. Or you know, some other crazy shenanigans.

But now, it's over, and I can stop obsessing about this. (Yeah, that sounds like something I'll be able to do.) On Friday I had to tell my "contacts" at Oxford what was going on, but said I'd do the job in mid-November to early-December, since I promised in August that I would. It takes so long to tell everyone this one piece of news. Maybe I should get Twitter, argh! Did you know that Royd Tolkien has one? I find that so weird even though there's absolutely no reason to.

As always, thanks to you fine folksfor sticking with me though all my insanity. I know how maddening I can be, but since I have to live with me, I've likely developed some kind of immunity to it. If that sentence made sense to you, you really need to stop hanging out with me.

It's going to be ... I don't want to be petty but, IT'S A-GONNA BE FREAKING SWEET to tell my numerous relations about the goings on on the career front at this year's holiday party. I don't think anyone (some more than others of course) really believed I could find a career in publishing. I'll likely being doing work over the holiday "break" (my editor told me we don't many days off) so I'll bring it to the party and save myself having to make small talk, it'll give me something to do, and it'll answer my relatives' "so what does an editorial assistant do?". Win-win-win!

It's now time for the random email portion of the entry. I got the message this morning:

Dear Student,

Due to your academic excellence in ADMS 3530, you have been identified as someone who may be ideal for this exciting opportunity! In January 2008, STARS launched a student success initiative called Peers Assisting Student Success (PASS). The program targets historically challenging courses and provides students with weekly study sessions facilitated by a PASS leader.

ADMS 3530 is 'Introduction to Finance'. It was a course in which I initially struggled but somehow came out with an A (and without a having to buy a financial calculator!! ... which probably made me study harder now that I think about it). York U has become increasingly pathetic in my eyes since the strike in the beginning of this year. This email really is the cherry on the lamewade sundae.

The PASS Leader acts as a model student, and supports the learning and development of study skills of the learners who attend their PASS sessions. The PASS Leader attends all lectures of their assigned section so that they are up to date with what is going on in class and then facilitates 2 two-hour sessions each week. [...] PASS sessions are different from a tutorial session as the focus is on fostering independent thinkers and incorporating what to learn with how to learn.

So you're offering me the chance to attend lecture, re-learn everything along with the students, and then teach the students how to be independent thinkers?? Of course, no compensation at all was mentioned in the email beyond "wonderful opportunity for an ambitious student like you to develop your skill set professionally while gaining a stronger command over the course materials and building upon your leadership and communication skills." I mean, I do want to help people, but I don't want to be a guidance counsellor with a finance students specialization.
Reading: Emma - Jane Austen
Listening to: Show 15 - Cape Breton Live
Feeling: mellow

[409] Lightnings and thunderstorms
POSTED AT 12:04 AM in Daily Dose

chenyeng2706

I wonder if anyone knows or if anyone notices, I like being here, at times. Despite the sudden waves of homesickness occasionally, this distance gives me a sense of tranquillity. 

Here, I am left to defend for myself. So I feel in control of everything, from those little things like managing the house chores, and managing people in any tasks, to big things like making sure I am on the right track to my bright future. I feel grown up and nothing else can stand in my way - even if there is, I can easily sweep them off with a trusty ol' broom. 

I never liked having people telling me I am wrong, because I don't like to lose (including losing face). Instead, I would prefer if I were to discover my mistakes on my own because I like solitary learning. And one more thing, I don't like people telling me what to do, neither do I like telling others what to do. I can only have the elders whom I respect to give me orders. 

Subconsciously, I have built my own comfort zone and shut myself in there, not wanting to change anything or even to budge. Getting out makes me feel threatened, and I might just lose the sense of security that I perpetually give myself.

I admit - I am a control freak. I like being in an arm's length to everything. To control is my nature, and letting myself to be controlled is a form of submission which not many could recognise. This is the way I have been for a long time, and it took me too much time to realise this. 

When I sense that I am losing control, I will lose my composure and I cannot gather my thoughts. I feel helpless, and would just eventually end up quiet, just too quiet. 

And that is when you see a hiatus here. 

Life paced too quickly of late, and it is only these few days, everything has taken a breather and slowed down, giving me much room to pick up the pieces. Everything in my head is a huge mess and I no longer know how to sort it out. 

And oh, this semester, I shut myself out of all the matters regarding the heart. I took everything lightly, not wanting to think so much. I don't want to build anything today when I know it will not sustain tomorrow.  

If you think this update is not juicy enough, it's time for you to keep a lookout for me at Facebook - I frequently update there, through wall posts. 

Listening to: Goodnight and Goodbye - Metro Station
Feeling: awake

the great disease
POSTED AT 04:21 AM

GraYHaveN

..i walked inside a record bar,the first time in almost a year..i saw a compilation/singles release from Joy Division and i just saw a 2008 album release from the Verve..it seems i missed out a lot..

..downloadable songs/tracks can never replace hardcopies!! all i need is a job and lots of money.

..grey clouds up above,the sky seems so still..

..three weeks ago i was at my friends house practicing what he called "social drinking"..the evening news was showing a report 'bout a damaged dam in Pangasinan if i'm not mistaken,i told them why not build a reservoir instead of releasing tons of water on the people..makes sense to me..they say the dam is cracked/damaged and fucked so why wait for it to break into bits???then someone said(i really don't want to call him a dumbass,i'll just call him mr. shitty for some apparent reason).."mahirap gumawa ng reservoir,nakita mo ba ang taas ng lugar"his tone was pure contradiction to what i said as if i suggested something really absurd..i just kept my mouth shut..so that's it "mahirap kasi",we're just gonna enjoy the instant swimming pool on the streets,i remember during the downpour a frog was at our doorstep as if trying to get away from the flood and get himself at higher ground meanwhile the people-"HUMAN BEINGS" are frolicking in the water..seems to me mr.frog has a better brain than most humans.. 

..i really don't want to see mr.shitty again.

Listening to: Rockstar:Voodoo Hawaiians