So I actually did a day's work making jewellery on that co-op thing. Some surprise was expressed at my desire to add jewellery crafting to my resume. I have a feeling I'm... building a reputation. But, y'know, if I have the experience, I have options. I can put it on and take it off my resume at will. If I don't take the opportunity, I only have one option. I said I was open to any work opportunity, and I am. And it's not like I've got a whole lot to risk.
Also, I got a job callback for a position working as a cash clerk. I can't find my job tracking sheets right now, but apparently it's working for the city of Guelph. It doesn't look like it'll be many hours a week, but I'm still going to take a shot at this.
Today I finally got a stripe in karate. It's my white stripe, so it doesn't really show up on my white belt, but at least this means some people will have to stand at my left when we line up. Unless the other white belts have their white stripes, which I wouldn't know, because they're invisible... At least I got one before my attendance stripe!
Sensei Colin's birthday was last week. I'm going to have to figure out the day. If it was Monday, that's my birthday. If it was Tuesday or Wednesday, those are the astrologically most intelligent (and I just learned two people in my family were born on those days!). If it was Thursday or Friday, he loses.
Sensei Colin says he used to train almost all day, every day when he was 20 and 21. How can someone focus that much on combat without being inherently violent? He doesn't seem violent.
There are these brothers I take classes with. I think they're twins. At first I couldn't tell them apart, and now, I don't know how I could have had any trouble! It's strange.
Hmm... Another complaint I have about the Katimavik forms is that, when asking for your name in BackCheck (Okay, so this is BackCheck's fault, not Katimavik's), they give you so many digits to write in your first name, middle name(s), and surname. They give you more than twice as many digits for your surname than your other names. Now, they acknowledge that people can have more than one middle name, so why didn't they give the extra space to the middle name section? My middle names are W***** B*****. Both names are six letters. My first and last names are both seven letters. What would I do if my name were W***** Gryphon S****** B*****? ...Okay, so that would still have fit, but it would have used every single digit. Point is, it's not enough space to be safe!
I posted on that harmonica forum. I decided to just explain my issue as thoroughly as possible and see what they had to say. I'm... nervous. Really nervous. It's very rare, ever since I became dislocated, for me to feel this way. It's a bunch of text from people I don't know, who are communicating with a screenname that can't be traced back to me, and yet this is what puts me on edge.
If anyone is... reading this who I... may have canceled plans with, on account of my illness... And that person is wondering why I... was able to work and then go to karate.... Well, I'm... learning the disadvantages of keeping a blog!
No, but really, today was a horrible strain. Everything I did was sub-par, and I was in a terrible mood until I got my stripe. I put myself through my obligations, but was in no state to celebrate.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Katimavik Forms
I got the Katimavik pages printed out today. I had to go to the library, because our printer, as well as our scanner, is hooked up to the desktop, and our desktop still isn't working. Seems like I spend more time connecting things to things than using the services they're supposed to provide. I remember when I was younger, I had a philosophy not to do anything if the reward didn't last as long as the effort. For instance, if it would take me longer to prepare a meal than to eat it, I would deem that as a loss in profit, and not put in the effort. Nowadays, I don't see as much difference between effort and reward, so I've become considerably more relaxed, but in this case, I'm still somewhat irritated.
Anyway, these Katimavik forms are a real chore. They ask things like, have I ever been diagnosed with a learning disability. Since I have, they want all the papers associated with my learning disability. I don't have those! It's going to take some effort to get my hands on those, and it's all to prove something they'll hold against me. Also, they ask me for my SIN. You're not supposed to ask for that unless you're sure you're going to take the person!
And just to point out one of the things that doesn't effect me, but still seems unfair... If you've been hospitalized for anything, you've gotta put it down. So if you had your tonsils out...
Also, it wants dates, diagnoses, and proof for any meeting I've had with a professional, including a psychiatrist. I have a meeting with a psychiatrist. So... what do I do? Say I have one coming up, but I don't know what the result will be? I guess, but... I've got a feeling that's not something they want to hear.
Also, in this one section, they say all the answers to the questions they give are in the FAQ, but they ask what "billeting" means, and that's not in there!
Well, I'm going to be completely honest, and if they don't want me, well, maybe that means I don't want them, either!
I'm still filling these forms out...
My work got called off today because of thunderstorms. Good thing, too. I had a massive coughing fit today, which eventually triggered my gag reflex and I wound up coughing up a some stomach juice. Too much information? Well...
Anyway, these Katimavik forms are a real chore. They ask things like, have I ever been diagnosed with a learning disability. Since I have, they want all the papers associated with my learning disability. I don't have those! It's going to take some effort to get my hands on those, and it's all to prove something they'll hold against me. Also, they ask me for my SIN. You're not supposed to ask for that unless you're sure you're going to take the person!
And just to point out one of the things that doesn't effect me, but still seems unfair... If you've been hospitalized for anything, you've gotta put it down. So if you had your tonsils out...
Also, it wants dates, diagnoses, and proof for any meeting I've had with a professional, including a psychiatrist. I have a meeting with a psychiatrist. So... what do I do? Say I have one coming up, but I don't know what the result will be? I guess, but... I've got a feeling that's not something they want to hear.
Also, in this one section, they say all the answers to the questions they give are in the FAQ, but they ask what "billeting" means, and that's not in there!
Well, I'm going to be completely honest, and if they don't want me, well, maybe that means I don't want them, either!
I'm still filling these forms out...
My work got called off today because of thunderstorms. Good thing, too. I had a massive coughing fit today, which eventually triggered my gag reflex and I wound up coughing up a some stomach juice. Too much information? Well...
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Clothes Shopping, Welfare, Foodbank, Forum, Resume
Sorry I didn't update yesterday. The Internet was down.
On Saturday, Granddad came over, and we went clothes shopping in celebration of my birthday. Granddad makes visits on a weekly basis, usually on Saturdays.
Clothes shopping used to be one of my least favourite activities when I was a child, and I'm still not overly-fond of it, but my attitude has mellowed, I now see a greater necessity in it, and now that I'm collecting money on a semi-regular basis, I can more greatly appreciate getting something for free.
Looks like we'll have to go to the Welfare office tomorrow, though. Welfare is a humongous pain. I've been through a few meetings, and just looking at the requirements irks me. I know that it's kind of like getting something for nothing, but they sure do a good job of not making it seem that way! Even if the person you're dealing with is nice, and you're good enough to already be fulfilling the application requirements, even down to documenting them, before the start of your collecting it, and you have no qualms about the base concept of Welfare, there's something about it, that, once you get in there, just gets under your skin. That's my feelings on it, anyway.
I took a look at the document requirements to be accepted into Katimavik, and they're annoying, too. They ask you if anyone in your immediate family suffers from mental problems, including depression, and they ask if you have learning disabilities. These are only the issues that apply to me, but there's a ton of stuff they ask that doesn't, which doesn't seem fair, and which I wouldn't hold against a person for, too.
I started a new account at that chromatic harmonica forum. I had an account before, and I'd asked one question, but returning to it, I'd forgotten my password, and I couldn't remember it, so I had to start again new. I'm having difficulty phrasing my concerns specifically, so I haven't posted yet.
I'll probably be working tomorrow. Since I've got the Welfare thing to do, and also, we're planning on going to the food bank, and the food bank and the work have to be done in the morning, tomorrow's gonna be pretty cramped. Mom'll be working with me, going to the food bank with me, and doing Welfare with me. I'm going to guess the food bank will be put off until the next day.
It'll be good to see the food bank again. I used to volunteer there. I'd like to say I still do, but it's been awhile, since it seems like every day is something. Granted, I had a day or two this week, but I wasn't up to much, with the illness and birthday celebrations and all.
I'm still waiting on those two prospective pieces of work experience. So long as I get them before the end of 2009, I'm happy with that. Right now, on my resume, I have six categories for work experience. Three of them are 2008-exclusive, two of them span a long range, but begin much earlier in my life, and one has started in 2009. In 2008, I was in a huge slump. I was afraid of everything. It took me days to work up the nerve to do one application, and I'd be physically sick after. I expected the world to come to me, and was constantly resentful and depressed.
Having reconstructed my behaviour to such an extreme, I find it highly disappointing that my resume has me down as having done three times worse this year. We're past the halfway point for this year, too. If both these opportunities go through, I'll at least bring last year to a draw, which I'd be satisfied with.
On Saturday, Granddad came over, and we went clothes shopping in celebration of my birthday. Granddad makes visits on a weekly basis, usually on Saturdays.
Clothes shopping used to be one of my least favourite activities when I was a child, and I'm still not overly-fond of it, but my attitude has mellowed, I now see a greater necessity in it, and now that I'm collecting money on a semi-regular basis, I can more greatly appreciate getting something for free.
Looks like we'll have to go to the Welfare office tomorrow, though. Welfare is a humongous pain. I've been through a few meetings, and just looking at the requirements irks me. I know that it's kind of like getting something for nothing, but they sure do a good job of not making it seem that way! Even if the person you're dealing with is nice, and you're good enough to already be fulfilling the application requirements, even down to documenting them, before the start of your collecting it, and you have no qualms about the base concept of Welfare, there's something about it, that, once you get in there, just gets under your skin. That's my feelings on it, anyway.
I took a look at the document requirements to be accepted into Katimavik, and they're annoying, too. They ask you if anyone in your immediate family suffers from mental problems, including depression, and they ask if you have learning disabilities. These are only the issues that apply to me, but there's a ton of stuff they ask that doesn't, which doesn't seem fair, and which I wouldn't hold against a person for, too.
I started a new account at that chromatic harmonica forum. I had an account before, and I'd asked one question, but returning to it, I'd forgotten my password, and I couldn't remember it, so I had to start again new. I'm having difficulty phrasing my concerns specifically, so I haven't posted yet.
I'll probably be working tomorrow. Since I've got the Welfare thing to do, and also, we're planning on going to the food bank, and the food bank and the work have to be done in the morning, tomorrow's gonna be pretty cramped. Mom'll be working with me, going to the food bank with me, and doing Welfare with me. I'm going to guess the food bank will be put off until the next day.
It'll be good to see the food bank again. I used to volunteer there. I'd like to say I still do, but it's been awhile, since it seems like every day is something. Granted, I had a day or two this week, but I wasn't up to much, with the illness and birthday celebrations and all.
I'm still waiting on those two prospective pieces of work experience. So long as I get them before the end of 2009, I'm happy with that. Right now, on my resume, I have six categories for work experience. Three of them are 2008-exclusive, two of them span a long range, but begin much earlier in my life, and one has started in 2009. In 2008, I was in a huge slump. I was afraid of everything. It took me days to work up the nerve to do one application, and I'd be physically sick after. I expected the world to come to me, and was constantly resentful and depressed.
Having reconstructed my behaviour to such an extreme, I find it highly disappointing that my resume has me down as having done three times worse this year. We're past the halfway point for this year, too. If both these opportunities go through, I'll at least bring last year to a draw, which I'd be satisfied with.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Life Planning and Video Games
Today, I looked up Katimavik's online application form again to confirm that they did, indeed, fill up seven months ahead of schedule. I was doing this because I wanted to complain about it via this blog. In the process, I found out that I was totally wrong. Both of the courses I thought of taking are still accepting people. The one's that... left on September 3rd have filled up. Oops!
So I signed up. I still need to have a criminal record check done, and I need to get a medical examination. That shouldn't be a problem.
I'd be coming back a month before colleges and universities started, but it turns out you have to be 21 by the start of the school year to apply as a mature student, and my birthday comes right after, so I'd have to wait another year.
I can get my G2 in four months. Driver's training lasts about a month. This has the potential to work together.
I'm gonna use this weekend for planning, and put my plans in action on Monday!
...I'm using Open Office as my word processor for this laptop. Today, I copied my resume onto it, and there's two lines that go onto the next page. Since all the formatting still fits side-to-side, it seems like the page is just smaller, like, up-and-down-wise. It's got me a bit perplexed.
...I didn't get my other post checked to see if it was suitable for publication. If you're dying of curiosity, just know that I was going to explain the video game I was playing, and why I think it has perverted undertones. When I said I was going to edit out the controversial part, I meant I was going to edit out those undertones. But I really thought that that was the most entertaining part of the update, and as a writer, I make it a matter of pride not to edit out the most ingenious part.
I guess I'll swallow my pride, though. The game is called Rune Factory: Frontier. It's the sequel to the original Rune Factory. If you don't know what that is, it's a spinoff series of Harvest Moon. If you don't know what that is, it's a series where you live the life of a farmer in a small town. You expand your house, get married, raise a child, become beloved by the town, and live a good, simple life. Rune Factory is the same, except instead of a just being a farmer, you play a farmer, fisherman, lumberjack, miner, blacksmith, artisan, chef, alchemist, warrior, and wizard. Also, it takes place in a fantastical alternate universe plagued by monsters.
It still feels like you're playing out a series of daily chores, but it beats Harvest Moon in that it doesn't make you feel pathetic for playing a game about reality instead of, you know, living it.
Also, it gets rid of that disgustingly wholesome aspect of the Harvest Moon series. That's the real reason I couldn't get into any of those other games. I don't mind being pathetic, but wholesomeness just isn't fun. The only Harvest Moon game I ever got into was Harvest Moon 64, back in grade 4, and that one contained alcoholism, child abuse, and domestic violence.
Rune Factory: Frontier isn't as frightening as Harvest Moon 64, but it's more perverted, so it balances out.
My mom and my brother are playing it, too. Me and my brother are neck-in-neck regarding timeline, but he's far surpassed me in content. We started playing when we didn't have the Internet, and I purposely neglected to look up strategy guides because I felt that relying on each others' discoveries created a sense of unity, and that it made the competition tighter. Now that we have the Internet back, Duncan's surpassed me, so I've got no real goals anymore (there's no way to lose the game), and leaked information has lessened the fun of discovery.
Even though it's not just a life-simulator, I won't hide the fact that, in some ways, it can be enjoyable as a form of escapism as an improved reflection on reality. For instance, one year is four months, every hour is a minute, and you'll make more progress in that timeframe, than you will in a real year of your own life. Also, if you work hard, you're guaanteed results, unlike in real life.
HEY! Don't look at me like I'm some kind of escapist game-junky that looks at a cartoon world with perverted eyes out of creepy depravity! This is a minor aspect of my life that I've made a quirky observation about!
...But regarding this small, sub-category of my life, it seems that I'm partial to games with a larger female audience. I usually like ones where I have to plan and puzzle my way through things, which generally appeal more to females, whereas more reflex-based one, like fighting games, generally attract a stronger male audience.
So I signed up. I still need to have a criminal record check done, and I need to get a medical examination. That shouldn't be a problem.
I'd be coming back a month before colleges and universities started, but it turns out you have to be 21 by the start of the school year to apply as a mature student, and my birthday comes right after, so I'd have to wait another year.
I can get my G2 in four months. Driver's training lasts about a month. This has the potential to work together.
I'm gonna use this weekend for planning, and put my plans in action on Monday!
...I'm using Open Office as my word processor for this laptop. Today, I copied my resume onto it, and there's two lines that go onto the next page. Since all the formatting still fits side-to-side, it seems like the page is just smaller, like, up-and-down-wise. It's got me a bit perplexed.
...I didn't get my other post checked to see if it was suitable for publication. If you're dying of curiosity, just know that I was going to explain the video game I was playing, and why I think it has perverted undertones. When I said I was going to edit out the controversial part, I meant I was going to edit out those undertones. But I really thought that that was the most entertaining part of the update, and as a writer, I make it a matter of pride not to edit out the most ingenious part.
I guess I'll swallow my pride, though. The game is called Rune Factory: Frontier. It's the sequel to the original Rune Factory. If you don't know what that is, it's a spinoff series of Harvest Moon. If you don't know what that is, it's a series where you live the life of a farmer in a small town. You expand your house, get married, raise a child, become beloved by the town, and live a good, simple life. Rune Factory is the same, except instead of a just being a farmer, you play a farmer, fisherman, lumberjack, miner, blacksmith, artisan, chef, alchemist, warrior, and wizard. Also, it takes place in a fantastical alternate universe plagued by monsters.
It still feels like you're playing out a series of daily chores, but it beats Harvest Moon in that it doesn't make you feel pathetic for playing a game about reality instead of, you know, living it.
Also, it gets rid of that disgustingly wholesome aspect of the Harvest Moon series. That's the real reason I couldn't get into any of those other games. I don't mind being pathetic, but wholesomeness just isn't fun. The only Harvest Moon game I ever got into was Harvest Moon 64, back in grade 4, and that one contained alcoholism, child abuse, and domestic violence.
Rune Factory: Frontier isn't as frightening as Harvest Moon 64, but it's more perverted, so it balances out.
My mom and my brother are playing it, too. Me and my brother are neck-in-neck regarding timeline, but he's far surpassed me in content. We started playing when we didn't have the Internet, and I purposely neglected to look up strategy guides because I felt that relying on each others' discoveries created a sense of unity, and that it made the competition tighter. Now that we have the Internet back, Duncan's surpassed me, so I've got no real goals anymore (there's no way to lose the game), and leaked information has lessened the fun of discovery.
Even though it's not just a life-simulator, I won't hide the fact that, in some ways, it can be enjoyable as a form of escapism as an improved reflection on reality. For instance, one year is four months, every hour is a minute, and you'll make more progress in that timeframe, than you will in a real year of your own life. Also, if you work hard, you're guaanteed results, unlike in real life.
HEY! Don't look at me like I'm some kind of escapist game-junky that looks at a cartoon world with perverted eyes out of creepy depravity! This is a minor aspect of my life that I've made a quirky observation about!
...But regarding this small, sub-category of my life, it seems that I'm partial to games with a larger female audience. I usually like ones where I have to plan and puzzle my way through things, which generally appeal more to females, whereas more reflex-based one, like fighting games, generally attract a stronger male audience.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Autumn
...I just got halfway through a rather thorough post, but it was going in a direction I was uncertain on whether or not should be shared publicly. I think it's fine, but I'm still going to... get a second opinion first.
Anyway, I feel ill. I fought off the traditional birthday sickness during my actual birthday, which I'm quite proud of, but I still got sick beforehand and afterward.
So I didn't get much done. Kinda wasted it away. I was going to post about how I wasted it, but that's what I'm not sure I want to get into. Don't let your imaginations run too wild, though. It's really not that bad.
I talked to my old Big Sister from my old Big Brother Couple from the Big Brother association today. We're talking about getting together next week to celebrate my birthday, which should be cool.
Otherwise... I like this season. Autumn. The sun is warm, the air is cold, the leaves are all different colours. I love the smell of rotting leaves on the air. It's a melancholic season. It's the season of death, and the season for preparing for hard times. That melancholic Fall scent can even still surprise me once in a while with pinpricks of nostalgia, and even unity, on the remnants of my shattered soul. It's a season of reflection and anticipation. Of sad, but beautiful truths. There's no other time when being depressed feels so sweet.
Apparently, it used to last longer. There used to be like, four seasons. Nowadays, it feels like there's two months... Summer and Winter, and Fall and Spring are short transitional periods between them.
Autumn is my favourite season. Even if it doesn't last long, when it is around, it feels like I've spent most of my life in it.
Anyway, I feel ill. I fought off the traditional birthday sickness during my actual birthday, which I'm quite proud of, but I still got sick beforehand and afterward.
So I didn't get much done. Kinda wasted it away. I was going to post about how I wasted it, but that's what I'm not sure I want to get into. Don't let your imaginations run too wild, though. It's really not that bad.
I talked to my old Big Sister from my old Big Brother Couple from the Big Brother association today. We're talking about getting together next week to celebrate my birthday, which should be cool.
Otherwise... I like this season. Autumn. The sun is warm, the air is cold, the leaves are all different colours. I love the smell of rotting leaves on the air. It's a melancholic season. It's the season of death, and the season for preparing for hard times. That melancholic Fall scent can even still surprise me once in a while with pinpricks of nostalgia, and even unity, on the remnants of my shattered soul. It's a season of reflection and anticipation. Of sad, but beautiful truths. There's no other time when being depressed feels so sweet.
Apparently, it used to last longer. There used to be like, four seasons. Nowadays, it feels like there's two months... Summer and Winter, and Fall and Spring are short transitional periods between them.
Autumn is my favourite season. Even if it doesn't last long, when it is around, it feels like I've spent most of my life in it.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Doctor's Appointment
I saw my doctor today. Before, I think I referenced having had a full medical examination before resorting to counseling, and that everything came back normal. Well, the truth is that, while I'd had a bunch of tests taken, I hadn't actually gotten the results until today. Turns out I was right.
I don't really trust her, though. I mean, she asked me if I'd had any heart palpitations while I was wearing the holter. She said there were no abnormalities on the record. This would mean that my heart palpatations are panic-induced. Problem is, the holter came off three times when I was wearing it, which I would think would cause an abnormality in it's recording my heart rate!
She's a bit worried about my sense of dislocation, and another complaint I've had, because of my family background of mental illness, and because these are often precursers to schizophrenia.
I think this might be a valid worry. I think I have the makings of a schizophrenic. Back when I was younger, I showed some signs of it. But last I checked, the average was, three out of four times, schizophrenia was triggered by substance abuse. So... even if I have the makings, if I avoid triggering it, I think I'll be okay.
But just because I don't go off the deep end, doesn't mean I can't show a few symptoms. I think the emotional strain of the breakup caused a few dormant symptoms to rise up, and even after recovering from the crisis, the symptoms haven't gone away. I don't think I've reached the point of no return, though.
She brought up the idea of antidepressants. I don't have a whole lot of qualifiers for serious depression, since it hasn't come to impact my ability to function, but she said she could get me on something small.
I... want to see how the counseling goes, first. I've got no problem with people taking antidepressants. My mom does, and it works well for her. But... I don't like the idea of taking them myself.
It can be a little tough around here, when I shoot down the idea of my taking antidepressants, and having no real reason for it. I think it gives the impression that I'm morally opposed to antidepressants, and when my mom's on them, I worry that I come off as insulting.
Anyway, I've had an appointment set up with a psychiatrist at the medical clinic. Event though I'm taking counseling, this is less life-planning, and more diagnosing whether or not I should be medicated for depression, and probably whether or not I might have oncoming schizophrenia.
I got my blood taken for the... fourth time. This time for zinc and vitamin D. It must be tough being a blood-taking person. The senior workers always seem somewhat sullen, and in the three months I've been going here, I've seen morale drop steadily in the younger workers at a steady rate.
The person who took my blood today took twice as long as the people who usually do it, and afterward, I was bleeding, and I had a bruise. That's never happened before.
Oh well, everybody makes mistakes, and she was probably new. I won't fault her for it.
On the way over today, I saw a muskrat in a culvert. Also, two frogs. I've seen the muskrat before, but I took it for a beaver. A stocky, brown, furry mammal with a long, black, leathery tail. I had thought the first time that my seeing it's tail as being thin and rat-like was a trick of perspective, but this time I got a better view, did a bit of research, and I do believe that it is a muskrat.
I don't really trust her, though. I mean, she asked me if I'd had any heart palpitations while I was wearing the holter. She said there were no abnormalities on the record. This would mean that my heart palpatations are panic-induced. Problem is, the holter came off three times when I was wearing it, which I would think would cause an abnormality in it's recording my heart rate!
She's a bit worried about my sense of dislocation, and another complaint I've had, because of my family background of mental illness, and because these are often precursers to schizophrenia.
I think this might be a valid worry. I think I have the makings of a schizophrenic. Back when I was younger, I showed some signs of it. But last I checked, the average was, three out of four times, schizophrenia was triggered by substance abuse. So... even if I have the makings, if I avoid triggering it, I think I'll be okay.
But just because I don't go off the deep end, doesn't mean I can't show a few symptoms. I think the emotional strain of the breakup caused a few dormant symptoms to rise up, and even after recovering from the crisis, the symptoms haven't gone away. I don't think I've reached the point of no return, though.
She brought up the idea of antidepressants. I don't have a whole lot of qualifiers for serious depression, since it hasn't come to impact my ability to function, but she said she could get me on something small.
I... want to see how the counseling goes, first. I've got no problem with people taking antidepressants. My mom does, and it works well for her. But... I don't like the idea of taking them myself.
It can be a little tough around here, when I shoot down the idea of my taking antidepressants, and having no real reason for it. I think it gives the impression that I'm morally opposed to antidepressants, and when my mom's on them, I worry that I come off as insulting.
Anyway, I've had an appointment set up with a psychiatrist at the medical clinic. Event though I'm taking counseling, this is less life-planning, and more diagnosing whether or not I should be medicated for depression, and probably whether or not I might have oncoming schizophrenia.
I got my blood taken for the... fourth time. This time for zinc and vitamin D. It must be tough being a blood-taking person. The senior workers always seem somewhat sullen, and in the three months I've been going here, I've seen morale drop steadily in the younger workers at a steady rate.
The person who took my blood today took twice as long as the people who usually do it, and afterward, I was bleeding, and I had a bruise. That's never happened before.
Oh well, everybody makes mistakes, and she was probably new. I won't fault her for it.
On the way over today, I saw a muskrat in a culvert. Also, two frogs. I've seen the muskrat before, but I took it for a beaver. A stocky, brown, furry mammal with a long, black, leathery tail. I had thought the first time that my seeing it's tail as being thin and rat-like was a trick of perspective, but this time I got a better view, did a bit of research, and I do believe that it is a muskrat.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Kings Buffet
That woman that I've been working for most regularly, and who is trying to open a business, took me and my family out to lunch today at the Kings Buffet, which is a Chinese restaurant near our apartment, in celebration of my birthday today. The Kings Buffet is the most notable landmark for our home, and so, whenever I have had to explain where I lived, I would say "behind the Kings Buffet". Despite this, I remained one of the few people who had not eaten there, even after a year and a half of using it for descriptive means.
This was, however, not the first time I'd eaten there, as last Saturday, Granddad took us. Louise, who is the person that treated me today, offered to take me to a Chinese restaurant. Duncan missed his opportunity to go to it last Saturday, and he, having the same reason as I for wanting to see it on the inside, showed remorse for having missed the opportunity. Therefor, I selected it again.
I can understand how it's survived. I think all the Chinese restaurants in Guelph have, to an extent, adopted some measure of North American style. But this place has taken it the furthest that I've seen. They even employ white people! And not just hidden in the kitchen, either. They're waiting tables and greeting people. I know this sounds pretty racist, but as someone who applies for every available position, I have come to notice that there are places that will only employ people of a certain race. This is the first exception I've seen in a major restaurant revolving around a specific culture.
Anyway, the buffet selection is massive. It's difficult to judge the quality of the food, because it's been so long since I've eaten at a buffet-styled Chinese restaurant that I've got nothing to compare it with.
...Otherwise... Something embarrassing happened to me today, which I don't feel keen on sharing.
This was, however, not the first time I'd eaten there, as last Saturday, Granddad took us. Louise, who is the person that treated me today, offered to take me to a Chinese restaurant. Duncan missed his opportunity to go to it last Saturday, and he, having the same reason as I for wanting to see it on the inside, showed remorse for having missed the opportunity. Therefor, I selected it again.
I can understand how it's survived. I think all the Chinese restaurants in Guelph have, to an extent, adopted some measure of North American style. But this place has taken it the furthest that I've seen. They even employ white people! And not just hidden in the kitchen, either. They're waiting tables and greeting people. I know this sounds pretty racist, but as someone who applies for every available position, I have come to notice that there are places that will only employ people of a certain race. This is the first exception I've seen in a major restaurant revolving around a specific culture.
Anyway, the buffet selection is massive. It's difficult to judge the quality of the food, because it's been so long since I've eaten at a buffet-styled Chinese restaurant that I've got nothing to compare it with.
...Otherwise... Something embarrassing happened to me today, which I don't feel keen on sharing.
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