melaniemaryjane

For years people have been calling me Mel. My Dad called me Melly and my Husband has picked up that torch. It's a cute nick name, and should be limited to those 2 people for the rest of time.

I don't want to talk about why I don't like being called Mel, but I am going to do it today because the following has been happening a lot:

Co-workers and the like have been referring to me as "Mel + anie + oops I forgot you don't like to be called Mel" followed by, "why is that?"... as they struggle to come to grips with the fact that someone told them that they heard that I don't like to be called Mel. Let me tell you, it's much nicer to just have someone call me something, anything, rather than asking my why I don't like to be called Mel.

What's your name? Your name is something that your parents choose to call you, any variance of that that your parents come up with may or may not be acceptable. However, when the shortened version of your name is a man's name, it's just not acceptable. Again, think about it, what's your name? And I am not picking on people who have called me Mel recently, I am just thinking of names that I know. Is it "Dust" or "Dusty" or "Dustin"? "Em" or "Emily", "Jeff" or "Jeffrey", how about "Sam" or "Samantha"? Let's just start calling Pizza piz because we are all in so much of hurry that we don't have time to blurt out 1 extra syllable.

I'm not saying that I chose my name or that I prefer it over a different one, in fact you can tell from my twitter and blog names that I may or may not prefer mj over my own name. Is that a shame? What if I legally changed my name to mj, omg how long would it take for people to get used to that? Ridiculous.

All I am saying is that if you don't get it right, just don't ask, and continue calling me what you feel comfortable calling me without asking me why I prefer or don't prefer it because you know what, I don't want to talk about it anymore.

Some friends of ours who were dating/together/etc recently went away for a few days and came back married.  I am proud to know a couple like Curtis and Julia who felt strong enough about these 2 things to feel free to do them despite societal pressures about the norm for the celebration of marriage in the Saskatchewan culture: 

1. You CAN get married wherever and whenever you want on short notice without telling anyone...
   
2. You CAN ask people not to give you gifts and choose a much more meaningful and admirable way to celebrate your marriage.

What is more meaningful than a pile of gifts for you and your new spouse?  How about sacrificing your wants for the needs of others.  Curtis and Julia picked 3 charities (Oxfam, Light Up the World Foundation, and the local development fund for Station 20 West) and asked people to donate money instead of presenting them with gifts.

Bravo.

Ryan and I were happy to donate some of that carney money he made after my brother forced him into working asked him to work Admissions again this year at the Ex

Just yesterday I drove by a pool and thought to myself, "Oh, the pool is open already". Then I realized it's not the beginning of June, it is nearly the middle of July and that sort of thing should not surprise me [at all]. So it seems summer arrived without me noticing just in time for us to hit Ho Down in Calgary then take a short holiday to Waskesiu.   You can view some pics taken at Kapasiwin and on the lake here.

Our most memorable experience from our holiday ranks right up there with my most memorable experience from my wedding day.  Just plain strange.
Wedding Day Memory: Some guy comes up to me in the hall beside the church and asks me not to start without him because he has to go to the bathroom.
Waskesiu Memory: We're behind 2-3 families with small children waiting in line for ice cream.  There are only 1.5 people serving ice cream because one of them keeps going in and out of the room.  A middle-aged women arrives with what I assume to be her parents.  She tells her parents to take a seat and she will get in line.  There are 2 counters at the parlor, one with all the hard ice cream where the lineup is, and one in front of the blizzard making station.  Middle-aged woman (we'll call her MAW) peeps through the line after a couple of minutes of standing and heads for the 2nd counter, where the lineup obviously doesn't belong.  No one says a thing.  She stands there for about 5 minutes until .5 worker is returning one of her trips out of the room and serves MAW.  WTF people?  MAW gets her treats and returns to her table (through the line), Ryan and I both stared at her intently but she never looked up.  Ashamed?  I think so.  She would have had to wait at least an additional 5 minutes because she was just behind us in line originally.  What makes a person think that they are more important than anyone else and deserve to be served first?  Especially when there are families with children who have been waiting for several minutes ahead of you.  This kind of elitist attitude makes me want to throw up a little.  MAW, her horrible white denim skirt, and her parents departed before Ryan and I were finished our ice cream.  It's a good thing too because I was tempted to go ask her for a business card or her name so that I could post it here.

It occurred to me today that I would like to make a post because I have had a rather bothersome experience over the last couple of days with getting to and from the Kia dealership.  However, posts that are complaining about one thing or another are too common so if you want to hear that story you can ask me in person.  Expect a higher than usual amount of swearing though, you have been warned.

A couple of weeks ago our new Toyota Prius arrived.  We've been nothing short of delighted with the options and design and are impressed with the technology and fuel efficiency so far.  So that means we are now selling the Kia. I am hoping we can get it sold before the end of the month so I can square up the outstanding loan before making another payment.  If you know anyone who you think would be interested in a roughly $6,000 car, please let me know.

Other than that this summer has started like every other summer, with a lot of Ultimate.  We're both playing Tue/Thu on different teams, so commuting to the fields is somewhat challenging but not over the top.  The nice thing this year is that our league doesn't start until 6:30pm so we have more time to get to the games.  Ryan has also made the team that is planning to play Regional play-offs against Winnipeg so they can go to Nationals this year in Calgary (which is in August).

Ryan's degree from the U of S arrived yesterday.  Now we both have pieces of paper that say we finished something.  I suppose that possibly makes it time to put them up somewhere.  I would have to locate mine first though...  I'm proud of the "with distinction" written in little text on his degree.  However, anyone who finishes something at the U of S in the department of Arts and Science should consider it an achievement because if you use their course counselors and actually end up having taken the right amount of credits it's nothing short of a miracle.

My work has recently taken a turn towards interesting as well.  Everything is new and shiny and more complicated than it was before.  I feel more like I am in college than I ever have since I left.  I purely enjoy the challenge of learning something new every day.

For those of you who haven't asked or are afraid to ask in person, news about the condo will be forthcoming by the end of the month.  We're supposed to get actual notification of a possession date by then so we should be able to look forward to moving in in the fall.  If not, well, I don't really care because there is nothing we can really do about when it gets finished :P

So this week I am on a partial holiday while I prepare to move from one job to another within the same company. I thought it would be good to take a few days off to get mentally out of my last position, and because Ryan doesn't have any holidays. I also have a couple of very large sewing projects planned so I decided to try doing a primer to see how that was on my arm.

I started with the cover I wanted to make for this cedar hope chest (which houses all our board games).




You may be asking what the problem is with said chest, well, it's medium brown. All the wood in our condo is planned to be dark brown, and it's just not going to look nice with the concrete floor. Hence I completed my first suit conversion:





The back and sides are made of the legs of the pant and the front is the jacket. The top is a remnant I picked up.






The cushion is made mostly of two more remnants, one is cotton shirt material and the other is a black striped wool, it can be flipped either way. The shiny piece that holds them together is the lining of the suit jacket. I managed to use most of the suit so that was pretty good.



If you leaf around in our flickr site you will notice that yesterday I upgraded to pro, created a bunch of sets and uploaded tonnes of photos. That actually took more time than the whole sewing project did anyway :)

For a while now I have been looking for an outlet for my relentless need to organize.  Since I am finally done with everything Ultimate Frisbee (other than just playing) I have teamed up with Dr. Julita Vassileva (NSERC/Cameco Chair of Women in Science and Engineering at the Prairies) to start Girl Geek Dinners in Saskatoon.  The concept is pretty simple.  Get a speaker or two, organize a meal, and get some people who are interested in seeing the speaker and socializing with one another.  With the catch, that it's meant to be at least 50% female attendees. 

Regardless of the the fact that I'm still surprised that I've spent the last few years of my career often being the only women on a team or in meetings, I am more interested in ensuring that there are female role models for young women who are interested in pursuing a career in science and technology.  I've seen the certain stigma of the geek leech into the culture of high school bullying, just in time to make it completely uncool for girls (and often guys for that matter) to choose a career that might retain the label.  [To be honest, I don't especially like the name but it's already established so I don't intend to change it.]  Anyway, in addition to asking local professionals to come speak or attend we'll be looking for corporate sponsors to sponsor students at Kelsey, the U of S, and possibly high school so that they can get an idea what type of career they could get in the field.

I don't know where this will end up taking me in my life journey, but I know that it will begin to fulfill a need that I have had for a long time to give back to the community in some way.  Additional I hope it will foster career growth, specifically for women who are not perhaps as interested in the traditional lifestyle that their parents [or in-laws] expect them to be.

So tell all your geeky girly friends to go subscribe to the rss feed for the blog, join the facebook group, or get in contact with me if they want to attend, recruit, sponsor, or speak.

Peace.

London's Girl Geek Dinner 20 featured talks on SEO.  Included in this post: 3 podcasts, one with a video.  I watched the video where Judith Lewis talks about SEO Basics: Keyword research, Tags, Image Optimization, On Page Text, Site architecture and internal links, Link Building, SEO Tools.  Message me if you would like a copy of the notes I took.

We managed to agree on the fact that the "free" elliptical trainer (Pro-Form 485e Low Impact Elliptical Trainer) has to go.  I have listed it as a free item in the Facebook Marketplace.  All I want is someone to come and take it away.  I don't even care if they come and take it and then sell it to someone else.  I got it for free so I am giving it away for free.  It would be great if it disappeared before Thursday because Ryan's bro Brent is coming and we'll probably move the futon into the spare room for him.

I recently purchased a book called Scaling Down - Living Large in a Smaller Space.  I originally thought it was a book that was going to tell me how to cram lots of stuff into all kinds of new age storage or something like that.  However, it is not.  The book is focused mainly on bringing attention to the fact that a lot of the stuff we have just isn't that useful.  There is information and advice on everything from how to help elderly loved ones move from their home to a smaller apartment or assisted living without making them feel like they have left their lives behind... to just cleaning out your own closet.

If you know me, you know that I share a very tight closet space with Ryan.  He HATES it when I make him take things to Value Village.  I don't feel the same connection to clothes that I did 5 years ago.  I used to hang on to things and not wear them for months.  It all started really simple for me.  Put it in a box, if you don't miss it, you don't need it, and it can be given away next year.  I don't mind that Ryan likes to keep more things than I do, but we often have to come up with compromises about what is acceptable...   You may hear us haggling over closet space and me saying things like... "5 farm work outfits"  "7 Ultimate Costumes" "15 pairs of socks".  I have plans to do the same for my kitchen when it's time to pack it this time "16 place settings" "8 serving bowls" and NOT the ones I don't like that were given to me as a gift.

There in lies a whole OTHER topic.  What do you do with gifts when people give them to you and they expect you to put it in your house or wear it, etc.  There is some advice for gifts in this book too.  Basics apply, they need to see you in it a couple times... or you can really just say that it doesn't suit your taste.  Or you can throw a re-gift party or have a straight giveaway party.  Chances are that someone else will want at least a couple things that you don't and you can give the rest to charity.  This is of course coming from someone who is not at all interested in having a garage sale - those work too, but they are a lot of work.

Heirlooms?  Take photos of them.  Ask other family members if they want them if you just don't think they should be in your space.  It's ok to let it go if you really don't like it... it is not your grandmother re-incarnated, it's just a picture from her house.

Today I unloaded a heavy burden.  After owning my digital piano for just a couple of months I started to experience wrist, shoulder and elbow pain from too much typing at work.  I had learned a couple of songs but nothing serious.  It sat there, pretty much dormant for over a year.  I considered selling it to a colleague last Christmas but I just couldn't let it go.  Reality set in about 3 weeks ago, it just had to go.  I can do a lot more with the money than have a silly piano around all the time that just reminds me that it's not something I have the patience, time, or strength to play anymore. 

Now, if I could only get rid of that elliptical machine that Ryan insists on keeping... it's been used less than 10 times in a year.  "0 pieces of exercise equipment!".

Who would have thought that an innocent sign like this:



which I did not put on the mailbox of the house.

Would end up getting us something like this:




from Canada Post.

The mail carrier doesn't even DELIVER fliers. Either way, in case you cannot read it:
"Please remove your rude sign and replace with a respectable sign and we will deliver your mail."

We had to call and say that we had taped a new sign overtop removed the sign and then they will delivery our mail... look at the other LEGITIMATE reasons for not delivering mail:
- Unlocked compartment
- Dangerous mail box (shouldn't we be THERE)
- Unrestrained dog (wait until you see me 20 lb cat)
- Unsafe access
- Blocked access
- No mail box
- Mail box too small
- Mal box too far from entrance
- some shit about the address not being right
- Other (mail carrier is scared of landlord's brother's threat to fight him/her and refuses to deliver mail)

Don't they know how impossible it is to get things to STICK to other things in -30 weather?

These are your tax dollars at work people.

I got some nice pics of Peter the other night by placing the camera on the floor and just waiting for him to lie still.

He's soooo squooshy and cute :)

So in the last few days I started doing some research on investment diversification.  I have to be honest.  When it comes to this kind of thing I am totally lazy and I was getting confused reading about the different taxation rates on dividends, capital gains and straight interest.   All I know is that I am happy with the new budget for one simple reason.  I won't feel so bad saving money in a low risk, marginal interest savings account because I won't be taxed so bad on the interest anymore if it is a registered TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account).  

I have begun working on a new art project at home.  I will be combining my artistic skills with my sewing skills to create something funky (and quite large) for our loft.  I think it will take several weekends to complete.  The project consists mainly of pinstripe suits.  If you have a pinstripe suit that you don't need/want anymore, or you know someone else who may have one please let me know.  I'll be trolling the thrift shops soon and visiting garage sales when the season begins but I thought I would ask in case anyone has one I could have/buy from them.  Basically I am looking for pinstripe suits, pants, or jackets in navy, black, or dark grey.

My Niece at Christmas

Last night after we finished watching Stardust on SaskTel Front Row we thought we found a dead pixel on our TV.  It was black most of the time, except when changing channels, then it turned blue.  I thought it was totally dead but tonight it came back to life so it must have been stuck.  So at least I don't have to try to get it fixed anymore... not yet anyway.  Awesome!

Downstairs dudes are partying tonight... hopefully they pass out before 10:30pm because that's my bed time :)

I have been recording every penny I spent since a few weeks after I moved out of my parents house.  In the past week something very strange occurred to me.  I had a job in high school when I was 16.  I can't, for the life of me, recall what I spent my money on in high school.  I know, I know, drug, booze, and the guys right?  But seriously, my parents also gave me money for things.  The *only* thing I can specifically recall buying after I started my job is a couple tires for my camaro.  That's only because I recall getting in trouble from my Dad for paying the bill because he could write it off, and I couldn't.  Hmm, camaro, that brings a couple things back.  Maybe a ticket I got when I was racing.  Yeah, I definitely paid for that.

But what else?  Clothes?  CDs?  I don't remember.   I don't remember buying any of those things.  That begs the question.  You know how all the people in their 20's are like "I don't remember being under 10 years old except for this event and that event."  Does that happen every 10 years?  Am I forgetting what I did before I was 20?  WTF.  Now I am freaked out.  Either way, good thing I started tracking that finance crap when I was 18 or I might go insane RIGHT NOW.

Just for those of you who have forgotten.

Sticks and stones, may break our bones, but words will never hurt us.

This week started with a blizzard.  I was glad Ryan started work at 6:30am yesterday so that I was able to miss the majority of the traffic on my way to work.  Today, well, today is just a different story.  It's just bitterly cold outside.  All that is in my news feed is information about the weather.  I knew it was supposed to be cold today, so in order to prepare myself to get on the bus this morning I just didn't turn on the radio or television.  Bad idea, how do you know that your bus ISN'T RUNNING if you don't listen to the radio?  You don't.  I waited for about 10 mins at my bus stop then decided to start walking.  No, bad idea.  I remembered that the 2 is scheduled to go down 8th street about this time so I managed to catch that one.  Good thing, I was going to have to turn back to the house.  

Yesterday after work I picked up some new litter for the cats.  It's pricey, that is the first thing that comes to mind.  However, Skittles stupid neurotic scratching problem is not going away and I am still unimpressed with the amount of dust and poor odour control we seem to get from the costco litter so I am going to give it a try.  If they use it, that will be a bonus.  I got a $10 off coupon last weekend when we bought them the massive cat condo so I decided to put it towards the trial of this very expensive litter and see how it goes.  I hope to post some pics of the condo soon, we've just been really lazy and not got the photos off the camera since Dec 26th.

Dad repaired and attached a sleigh to one of the tractors this year. Check it out:

I know that I still have a few readers who are wondering what the mitch I have been doing.  I have to say, honestly, the reason that I have not been posting is that I have had too much to deal with in the last 6 weeks to even consider it.

I am not going to run through all of this stuff for everyone because some of it is private or not appropriate to discuss in public domain.  However, I can tell you that I am doing better than ever emotionally with respect to most areas of my life including my career.

We recently moved from the [dingy hole of a ] basement suite into a house on Main St.  It's bigger, brighter, and happier.  We bought the cats a big condo/tree thing (it's about 5 feet tall).  We purged more of our stored items.  We also got MAX HD hooked up so that the purchase of our 42 inch Sharp Aquos wasn't a total waste.   Ryan will be starting a new job in February with Clear Tech as a customer support representative.  He will continue to work for Starbucks part time on his EDOs and maybe Sundays.  (Free coffee still flowing)

I am still experiencing ridiculous pain in my wrists and shoulders from my day to day computer work.  This is also a reason that I have not posted in a long time.  I am experimenting with a new setup at work as well as massage right now.  I am contemplating acupuncture seriously to the point where I have started seeking local referrals.

In the interim, I hope that we don't lose anymore folks to The Dark Side so I am working hard to make sure that doesn't happen.