Oh heart of mine, why must you stray?
From one so fair you run away
And one more time you have to pay
The heaviness of needless shame
Oh heart of mine, come back home
You've been too long out on your own
And He's been there all along
Watching for you down the road
So come home running
His arms are open wide
His name is Jesus
He understands
He is the answer
You are looking for
So come home running
Just as you are
Oh child of God so dearly loved
And ransomed by the Savior's blood
And called by name, "daughter" and "son"
Wrapped in the robe of righteousness
Monday, February 25, 2008
Friday, February 15, 2008
... break out the cheese...
i'm sitting at an almost empty SLC 3rd floor study room... feeling slightly unhappy.
too many things to think about...
but i proceed to open my lunch, and i remember that my dad gave me grapes. i have a few... they're not that great. Open my bagel with ham... and several slices of Brie Cheese.
I then get the best idea ever. If cheese and wine tastes so good....
Grapes + cheese = fusion of flavour. I now understand how remy must've felt when he mixed flavours with all the swirly lines and stuff.
When life gives you sour grapes... break out the cheese.
Maybe it's not about what you're given... but what you choose to do with it.
too many things to think about...
but i proceed to open my lunch, and i remember that my dad gave me grapes. i have a few... they're not that great. Open my bagel with ham... and several slices of Brie Cheese.
I then get the best idea ever. If cheese and wine tastes so good....
Grapes + cheese = fusion of flavour. I now understand how remy must've felt when he mixed flavours with all the swirly lines and stuff.
When life gives you sour grapes... break out the cheese.
Maybe it's not about what you're given... but what you choose to do with it.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Friends
so as people are declaring they are going to give up MSN/Gchat/Facebook for lent.. i'm thinking about the thing that sucks up the most of my time... and i've discovered what it is.
Friends.
no, not real life friends. I'm talking about Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, Monica, Rachel and Ross. These 6 have occupied my time and attention a little bit every day, and i feel, that it's adding up. They are too demanding. And i can't stop myself. I think I'm addicted.
for those who know me, they know i am obsessed with this show... and even for those that know me, you may not know that i watch this show every day. On my computer. and it plays on the background as i go to sleep.
so, i've officially decided to give up Friends for lent
Friends.
no, not real life friends. I'm talking about Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, Monica, Rachel and Ross. These 6 have occupied my time and attention a little bit every day, and i feel, that it's adding up. They are too demanding. And i can't stop myself. I think I'm addicted.
for those who know me, they know i am obsessed with this show... and even for those that know me, you may not know that i watch this show every day. On my computer. and it plays on the background as i go to sleep.
so, i've officially decided to give up Friends for lent
Monday, February 04, 2008
Left my fear by the side of the road
Hear You speak
Won't let go
Fall to my knees as I lift my hands to pray
Got every reason to be here again
Father's love that draws me in
And all my eyes wanna see is a glimpse of You
All I need is You
All I need is You Lord
Is you Lord
One more day and it's not the same
Your spirit calls my heart to sing
Drawn to the voice of my Saviour once again
Where would my soul be without Your Son
Gave His life to save the earth
Rest in the thought that You're watching over me
All I need is You
All I need is You Lord
Is You Lord
....
You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me
(taken from All i Need is You - Hillsongs United and You found me - Kelly Clarkson)
Hear You speak
Won't let go
Fall to my knees as I lift my hands to pray
Got every reason to be here again
Father's love that draws me in
And all my eyes wanna see is a glimpse of You
All I need is You
All I need is You Lord
Is you Lord
One more day and it's not the same
Your spirit calls my heart to sing
Drawn to the voice of my Saviour once again
Where would my soul be without Your Son
Gave His life to save the earth
Rest in the thought that You're watching over me
All I need is You
All I need is You Lord
Is You Lord
....
You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me
(taken from All i Need is You - Hillsongs United and You found me - Kelly Clarkson)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Thursday, December 06, 2007
integrity
I remember having many conversations on this topic in first year... what (would) make me a person on integrity? what do i have to change in order to be someone that has integrity?
After the William's ordeal, my parents had stories on stories that they told that show how much the new people seemed to hate on my parents. In my own head i was wracking my brain trying to figure out what we could maybe do to make amends, to try and make them not so angry at us. It's my nature to do something like that. I am a people pleaser. If anyone doesn't like me, i can't stand it. But then i realized something. My search for integrity had reached its first stepping stone.
There's a common quote that says: "integrity is who you are, how you act when no one is watching". Though i've heard it many times, its never really meant anything to me until that moment. It's not just the idea of what you do when you're alone in your room. It's what would you do if there was no one else in the world who paid attention to you.
In my world, where what people think matter SO much, i think i would've done ANYTHING to change the mind of these people; that our family was a good family who ran a good business for 10 years. But as i came to the slow realization that doing anything doesn't make me have integrity. It makes me someone who is willing to even do the wrong thing to make someone like me, think highly of me. What people choose to think of us, I have no control over. It's as simple as that.
In the end, i told my parents "don't worry... in the end, no matter what they think of us, it doesn't matter. If we can look back on this ordeal and KNOW we did the right thing, did it with as much humility, and as much grace as we could muster, then whatever they think, that is their misconception, not our wrongdoing."
Still after telling my parents that, i haven't been able to grasp that concept in my own life. I still parade around living for other people, acting like i would to ensure that people would like me for what i do. It's gotten to the point where i've allowed myself to be a puppet; the puppeteers are my peers and my family, because i LET them be. I hang onto their every word, do what everyone tells me to do because i don't want to step on any toes. In a sense, i don't think there would be much of 'me' that would exist without the presence of other people.
You can tell who a person is, by who they have as their 'enemies'. What happens with a person who doesn't really have any enemies? Living a life where you have no enemies, doesn't it just show there's nothing that you're PASSIONATE enough for that you would try and fight for it? Doesn't it show that you are a pushover and are willing to adapt anyone's beliefs to your own just so they don't dislike you/think you're weird?
*snap out of it. I want to be a person of integrity.
After the William's ordeal, my parents had stories on stories that they told that show how much the new people seemed to hate on my parents. In my own head i was wracking my brain trying to figure out what we could maybe do to make amends, to try and make them not so angry at us. It's my nature to do something like that. I am a people pleaser. If anyone doesn't like me, i can't stand it. But then i realized something. My search for integrity had reached its first stepping stone.
There's a common quote that says: "integrity is who you are, how you act when no one is watching". Though i've heard it many times, its never really meant anything to me until that moment. It's not just the idea of what you do when you're alone in your room. It's what would you do if there was no one else in the world who paid attention to you.
In my world, where what people think matter SO much, i think i would've done ANYTHING to change the mind of these people; that our family was a good family who ran a good business for 10 years. But as i came to the slow realization that doing anything doesn't make me have integrity. It makes me someone who is willing to even do the wrong thing to make someone like me, think highly of me. What people choose to think of us, I have no control over. It's as simple as that.
In the end, i told my parents "don't worry... in the end, no matter what they think of us, it doesn't matter. If we can look back on this ordeal and KNOW we did the right thing, did it with as much humility, and as much grace as we could muster, then whatever they think, that is their misconception, not our wrongdoing."
Still after telling my parents that, i haven't been able to grasp that concept in my own life. I still parade around living for other people, acting like i would to ensure that people would like me for what i do. It's gotten to the point where i've allowed myself to be a puppet; the puppeteers are my peers and my family, because i LET them be. I hang onto their every word, do what everyone tells me to do because i don't want to step on any toes. In a sense, i don't think there would be much of 'me' that would exist without the presence of other people.
You can tell who a person is, by who they have as their 'enemies'. What happens with a person who doesn't really have any enemies? Living a life where you have no enemies, doesn't it just show there's nothing that you're PASSIONATE enough for that you would try and fight for it? Doesn't it show that you are a pushover and are willing to adapt anyone's beliefs to your own just so they don't dislike you/think you're weird?
*snap out of it. I want to be a person of integrity.
Monday, December 03, 2007
'all-you-can-eat'
For the past two months i believe i have been to an 'all-you-can-eat place at least...10 times. In the coming week alone, i will be going to two places, last week i went THREE times.
The thing about all you can eat, is that i always completely stuff myself. Why? because you always have to eat your 'money's worth'.
Oddly enough, i'd think that eating so many buffets would stretch my stomach making me someone that is harder to feed. But it hasn't changed anything. It's like something in my head 'clicks' when i go to a buffet, and i am just 'able' to eat a lot. I went to hot pot on saturday and i was NOT full! even after everyone else at my table was done, I was still not full!! same with sushi dinner last week. i think that i helped people polish off all their orders and STILL by the end of the night i could go home and eat ice cream. But today for lunch, i was SO FULL i could not finish my bowl of congee (ONE bowl!)
this is my theory: I'm weird. Either that, or by the end of the Christmas season (and this term) i will have gained 50 lbs.
tomorrow Ye's, Friday King's buffet *yum*
The thing about all you can eat, is that i always completely stuff myself. Why? because you always have to eat your 'money's worth'.
Oddly enough, i'd think that eating so many buffets would stretch my stomach making me someone that is harder to feed. But it hasn't changed anything. It's like something in my head 'clicks' when i go to a buffet, and i am just 'able' to eat a lot. I went to hot pot on saturday and i was NOT full! even after everyone else at my table was done, I was still not full!! same with sushi dinner last week. i think that i helped people polish off all their orders and STILL by the end of the night i could go home and eat ice cream. But today for lunch, i was SO FULL i could not finish my bowl of congee (ONE bowl!)
this is my theory: I'm weird. Either that, or by the end of the Christmas season (and this term) i will have gained 50 lbs.
tomorrow Ye's, Friday King's buffet *yum*
Sunday, November 11, 2007
the helpless hero
ever since i was a kid, i had a tendency to have dreams where i was always the hero. The hero that saved a girl from drowning, the hero that made sure a town did not get buried in an avalanche, the hero that sacrificed their own life so that their friends wouldn't die.
but as suddenly as i was the hero, i was the victim. I became the person that people rushed to the hospital to save the life of, i was the one that would clutch my friends hands and tell them not to worry about me and to save their own lives
it's all a bit ridiculous. i remember in each of those dreams, it was always a struggle to determine whether i wanted to drop from the hero to the damsel in distress, or become one of those rugged heroes that could always walk out of any act of heroism unharmed.
it's a tiresome chore, floating back and forth between being a hero and being someone who needed someone to take care of them. It was very easy to see where the dreams come from.
In my life, it's always been a struggle to choose whether to stay strong and push through trials and come out the hero of all situations, the hero of my life. To be the invincible warrior who made it through all that stuff and lived to talk about it. But then there's always the little part of me that loves being cared about... being hurt so that i had scar to show for all the stuff i go through. And in desiring that care, i no longer am the hero that can make it through anything, but am the helpless hero, who parades as invincible but secretly is just longing for someone to save me from life...
perhaps what the dreams are telling me is that being a hero is not as glorifying as i think; that its impossible to go through life without tripping and falling once in awhile needing someone's help. That somewhere between hero and victim is where i will find myself and be fulfilled. I don't need to save the world. i don't need to be on my deathbed. that to be me, just me, neither extra-ordinary or under-ordinary... that being just plain old me, would help me live a much less tiresome life
but as suddenly as i was the hero, i was the victim. I became the person that people rushed to the hospital to save the life of, i was the one that would clutch my friends hands and tell them not to worry about me and to save their own lives
it's all a bit ridiculous. i remember in each of those dreams, it was always a struggle to determine whether i wanted to drop from the hero to the damsel in distress, or become one of those rugged heroes that could always walk out of any act of heroism unharmed.
it's a tiresome chore, floating back and forth between being a hero and being someone who needed someone to take care of them. It was very easy to see where the dreams come from.
In my life, it's always been a struggle to choose whether to stay strong and push through trials and come out the hero of all situations, the hero of my life. To be the invincible warrior who made it through all that stuff and lived to talk about it. But then there's always the little part of me that loves being cared about... being hurt so that i had scar to show for all the stuff i go through. And in desiring that care, i no longer am the hero that can make it through anything, but am the helpless hero, who parades as invincible but secretly is just longing for someone to save me from life...
perhaps what the dreams are telling me is that being a hero is not as glorifying as i think; that its impossible to go through life without tripping and falling once in awhile needing someone's help. That somewhere between hero and victim is where i will find myself and be fulfilled. I don't need to save the world. i don't need to be on my deathbed. that to be me, just me, neither extra-ordinary or under-ordinary... that being just plain old me, would help me live a much less tiresome life
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
frustrated
when you pour time and effort into something sometimes you hope to reap rewards. or not necessarily rewards... but response.
Sometimes i need reassurance telling me that i'm not doing something wrong, or that i'm not some complete idiot. Maybe that makes me insecure... and i guess maybe that's what i am.
but a lot of the time, i never get that response... i feel as though all that time and effort was wasted. what's the point? Things can run on their own, what is my role, my impact at all?
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
~Galatians 6:9-10~
why is it so hard?
i'm just so frustrated there's so many more things that i can commit my time and effort to... why can't i just give up?
i can't wait until i can climb into a hole and just sleep... and forget about everyone else
Sometimes i need reassurance telling me that i'm not doing something wrong, or that i'm not some complete idiot. Maybe that makes me insecure... and i guess maybe that's what i am.
but a lot of the time, i never get that response... i feel as though all that time and effort was wasted. what's the point? Things can run on their own, what is my role, my impact at all?
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
~Galatians 6:9-10~
why is it so hard?
i'm just so frustrated there's so many more things that i can commit my time and effort to... why can't i just give up?
i can't wait until i can climb into a hole and just sleep... and forget about everyone else
Sunday, October 14, 2007
i was watching full house the other day.... and one of the episodes i watched was talking about DJ's first boyfriend... and... and he only 'dated' her because he could get help with his homework, and in the end, choosing to sit with cathy santoni because she's "pretty".... DJ then proceeded to hide in her room crying....
the three guys (danny, uncle jesse and joey) try to tell DJ the story of the 'ugly duckling' and it made DJ even MORE upset because 'she never thought she was ugly, she thought she was just not as pretty... and NOW she's ugly!!!'... becky (uncle jesse's soon-to be wife) annnd yells at the boys and tells them to go away, and says she'll talk to DJ herself...
so she does. one of the things she said her mom said to her was something along the lines of... "don't worry what anyone thinks of you... you just be the best becky you can be... then she made me stand and list all the good things about me..."
every since i've been young i think there is an incredible urge to compare myself to other people. Everyone else seemed better and it was such a struggle for me to determine what *i* was best at.
i think watching that episode reminded me that... there's a reason to why i am the way i am. no matter how great the next person is, or how much 'better'... i'm me for a reason, and all i can do is be the best 'joanna' i can be...
but sometimes i wonder is the best joanna is good enough...?
the three guys (danny, uncle jesse and joey) try to tell DJ the story of the 'ugly duckling' and it made DJ even MORE upset because 'she never thought she was ugly, she thought she was just not as pretty... and NOW she's ugly!!!'... becky (uncle jesse's soon-to be wife) annnd yells at the boys and tells them to go away, and says she'll talk to DJ herself...
so she does. one of the things she said her mom said to her was something along the lines of... "don't worry what anyone thinks of you... you just be the best becky you can be... then she made me stand and list all the good things about me..."
every since i've been young i think there is an incredible urge to compare myself to other people. Everyone else seemed better and it was such a struggle for me to determine what *i* was best at.
i think watching that episode reminded me that... there's a reason to why i am the way i am. no matter how great the next person is, or how much 'better'... i'm me for a reason, and all i can do is be the best 'joanna' i can be...
but sometimes i wonder is the best joanna is good enough...?
Saturday, October 06, 2007
"little black book"
the first time i watched this movie i hated it. like HATED it. thought it was retarded a huge waste of my time. i did however enjoy the fact that *spoiler alert* that the 'girl' didn't get her 'prince' at the end, but it was still a 'happy' ending.
But... some 4 years later (or so) i watch this movie again and though still not the 'best' movie i've seen (far from it)... but some of the things they say really resonate in me, and i just needed to write them down:
Life... happens. When time flies by, because you're so busy planning everything. You're so positive that your happy ending is supposed to happen in a specific way at a specific time with a specific person/specific people. You expect certain things to happen to you because that's how you imagined your happy ending in a particular way/form. But in the end... its when you let go of the wheel, and you just LIVE, and you stop planning everything... that you might be surprised where you end up, and that's where you TRULY find your 'happy ending'.
How does a girl fall down a rabbit hole, plummeting into chaos...come out the other end unchanged?
the answer? She doesn't.
But... some 4 years later (or so) i watch this movie again and though still not the 'best' movie i've seen (far from it)... but some of the things they say really resonate in me, and i just needed to write them down:
I believe we write our own stories. And each time we think we know the end...
... we don't.
Perhaps luck exists somewhere between...the world of planning, the world of chance...
and in the peace that comes from knowing...that you just can't know it all.
You know, life's funny that way. Once you let go of the wheel, you might end up...
... right where you belong.Bean: John Lennon said, "Life happens when you're busy making other plans."
Stacy: Then he got shot.
Bean: Right.You just gotta live.
Stop planning your moves.
Let them happen. I mean, you might be surprised.Life... happens. When time flies by, because you're so busy planning everything. You're so positive that your happy ending is supposed to happen in a specific way at a specific time with a specific person/specific people. You expect certain things to happen to you because that's how you imagined your happy ending in a particular way/form. But in the end... its when you let go of the wheel, and you just LIVE, and you stop planning everything... that you might be surprised where you end up, and that's where you TRULY find your 'happy ending'.
How does a girl fall down a rabbit hole, plummeting into chaos...come out the other end unchanged?
the answer? She doesn't.
My life is OBVIOUSLY not that dramatic. But how can you go through life and NOT change?
When your life falls into what APPEARS to be chaos, how can you not come out the other end looking at everything differently?
Sunday, August 26, 2007
break
sometimes its just necessary to take a break from things and just... set aside the things that you worry about, that you need to do, that you just can't stop thinking about.
for me, i think i find it very difficult to find a "break". i can never seem to grasp the concept of letting go of something. The thought is constantly plaguing my mind, and its as if there's nothing i can do about it, except wallow until finally the pervasive thought leaves my mind (which is usually not for a long time)
but oddly, yesterday when i think this 'break' was necessary, it came... easily.
sports have often been my release. Whether it was rugby in high school, hockey earlier in my university career, or softball this summer... it has always been a time where i can take my frustrations out on an item and not physically cause [too much] damage to another human being.
This summer, softball has been a Godsend. it allowed me much time away from my lonely apartment to spend weekends with many familiar faces. It helped remind me that i was not old enough to learn a new sport, and continue to improve in it... it allowed me to meet new friends and see old ones that i haven't seen for a long time...
and last night, spending one last night with this group of people reminded me that God didn't leave me "high and dry" with no way to exert my frustrations. That for me, there WAS escape, even when i didn't realize it. That there was always a way of letting things go..... just like in most sports... you screw up one play... you can't let that one play screw up the whole game. Sure, you miss a popfly... but so what? catch the next one (and make it look good)
you have to let GO of things... and you can't think short term.... you can't give in to one thing that could potentially ruin your entire game.
as i stare out my window i continue to wonder where this term has gone... and why i didn't enjoy some things, like softball as much as i should've :)
funny... lately things have been going a bit crazy ever since i stopped playing softball... the whole beginning of the summer was so relaxing and chill... then once the season ended chaos ensued.
maybe its a sign that i need to quit school and go into sports full time or something... for the sake of my sanity
for me, i think i find it very difficult to find a "break". i can never seem to grasp the concept of letting go of something. The thought is constantly plaguing my mind, and its as if there's nothing i can do about it, except wallow until finally the pervasive thought leaves my mind (which is usually not for a long time)
but oddly, yesterday when i think this 'break' was necessary, it came... easily.
sports have often been my release. Whether it was rugby in high school, hockey earlier in my university career, or softball this summer... it has always been a time where i can take my frustrations out on an item and not physically cause [too much] damage to another human being.
This summer, softball has been a Godsend. it allowed me much time away from my lonely apartment to spend weekends with many familiar faces. It helped remind me that i was not old enough to learn a new sport, and continue to improve in it... it allowed me to meet new friends and see old ones that i haven't seen for a long time...
and last night, spending one last night with this group of people reminded me that God didn't leave me "high and dry" with no way to exert my frustrations. That for me, there WAS escape, even when i didn't realize it. That there was always a way of letting things go..... just like in most sports... you screw up one play... you can't let that one play screw up the whole game. Sure, you miss a popfly... but so what? catch the next one (and make it look good)
you have to let GO of things... and you can't think short term.... you can't give in to one thing that could potentially ruin your entire game.
as i stare out my window i continue to wonder where this term has gone... and why i didn't enjoy some things, like softball as much as i should've :)
funny... lately things have been going a bit crazy ever since i stopped playing softball... the whole beginning of the summer was so relaxing and chill... then once the season ended chaos ensued.
maybe its a sign that i need to quit school and go into sports full time or something... for the sake of my sanity
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
chicken salad sandwich
so the building i work in is in a bunch of buildings with cafeterias scattered among some of the high rises.
for the first 3 months of my work term here i've been going to the cafeteria that was closer... their food there is okay, and is pretty cheap (i can get a soup and salad for... 4$?) so when i didn't bring a lunch i would go there.
lately i've been afraid to go there because the man there is quite scary. He's done things like feel my coworkers biceps, introduce me to his son (yes he is that old) then check me out... all in all he's a nice man, just a few creepy tendencies.
aside from this, this cafe sold BAD TURKEY BREAST to my coworker about two weeks ago. I'm sure it was an accident, and maybe was just a BIT different tasting, but none the less, it tasted weird in her tiny sandwich. She ended up having a lettuce tomato sandwich.
So... just last week, i decided to try the OTHER cafeteria in our set of buildings... "sweet rosie's".
I just about DIED
the decor on that side was so nice. it was like a fancy cafe with nice couches, it was clean and it was just... a very nice looking place.
I decided to order the 'chicken salad sandwich' because i had heard good things.
let me explain to you this sandwich:
it is made with two pieces of fresh, homemade bread.
FRESH, HOMEMADE bread.
these slices are lightly buttered and spread with mayo. Topped off with some lettuce about 3 tomatoes with pepper sprinkled on top. The lettuce is not soggy and does not soak into the bread. It makes the sandwich taste "crisp" just as lettuce should
the chicken salad is made with REAL CHICKEN. thick squares of juicy chicken breast marinated with something yummy and mixed with mayonnaise... not to mention they put.... like SIX scoops of chicken salad. its massive.
presentation is important too. the sandwich is cut from corner to corner into triangles.
all this for 4$ how can you go wrong?
for the first 3 months of my work term here i've been going to the cafeteria that was closer... their food there is okay, and is pretty cheap (i can get a soup and salad for... 4$?) so when i didn't bring a lunch i would go there.
lately i've been afraid to go there because the man there is quite scary. He's done things like feel my coworkers biceps, introduce me to his son (yes he is that old) then check me out... all in all he's a nice man, just a few creepy tendencies.
aside from this, this cafe sold BAD TURKEY BREAST to my coworker about two weeks ago. I'm sure it was an accident, and maybe was just a BIT different tasting, but none the less, it tasted weird in her tiny sandwich. She ended up having a lettuce tomato sandwich.
So... just last week, i decided to try the OTHER cafeteria in our set of buildings... "sweet rosie's".
I just about DIED
the decor on that side was so nice. it was like a fancy cafe with nice couches, it was clean and it was just... a very nice looking place.
I decided to order the 'chicken salad sandwich' because i had heard good things.
let me explain to you this sandwich:
it is made with two pieces of fresh, homemade bread.
FRESH, HOMEMADE bread.
these slices are lightly buttered and spread with mayo. Topped off with some lettuce about 3 tomatoes with pepper sprinkled on top. The lettuce is not soggy and does not soak into the bread. It makes the sandwich taste "crisp" just as lettuce should
the chicken salad is made with REAL CHICKEN. thick squares of juicy chicken breast marinated with something yummy and mixed with mayonnaise... not to mention they put.... like SIX scoops of chicken salad. its massive.
presentation is important too. the sandwich is cut from corner to corner into triangles.
all this for 4$ how can you go wrong?
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
printer woes
for the entire day today (and part of yesterday) our printer in the office wasn't working. this poses a problem because we print thousands and thousands of pages of documents, pictures, reports, maps, emails, tickets, receipts every single day.
and the entire day today, we couldn't get it to work.
so about 5 minutes ago, my coworker calls one of the guys and says:
"i know its not your problem, but our printer is broken and we don't know what to do. we took it apart yesterday and it still doesn't work."
meanwhile, i am walking over to the printer determined to fix the printer after all its stupidity.
i pull out the print cartridge and the paper tray. nope nothing stuck. check the light again and the stupid orange light was still there. i finally get fed up and turn off the printer.
a second later i turn it back on, and the orange light is gone.
i ask my coworker to try to print something... and lo and behold... it worked!!
arms raised i yell "i'm a genuis" then proceed back to my seat, my coworkers amazed at my geniusness.
we tried to call back the guy that was supposed to come help us, but his line was busy. we figure, it's okay we'll call him later with the news of my awesome control over technology.
finally we reach him. "... i'll come over and formally fix your printer later. pretty much what happened was your wires were crossed and the printing was feeding over to our printers over here so that's why you never got your print outs. i'll come over later to check...."
i'm hiding behind the back of my chair trying not to laugh at my own stupidity :P
tech guy = 1 Joanna = 0
and the entire day today, we couldn't get it to work.
so about 5 minutes ago, my coworker calls one of the guys and says:
"i know its not your problem, but our printer is broken and we don't know what to do. we took it apart yesterday and it still doesn't work."
meanwhile, i am walking over to the printer determined to fix the printer after all its stupidity.
i pull out the print cartridge and the paper tray. nope nothing stuck. check the light again and the stupid orange light was still there. i finally get fed up and turn off the printer.
a second later i turn it back on, and the orange light is gone.
i ask my coworker to try to print something... and lo and behold... it worked!!
arms raised i yell "i'm a genuis" then proceed back to my seat, my coworkers amazed at my geniusness.
we tried to call back the guy that was supposed to come help us, but his line was busy. we figure, it's okay we'll call him later with the news of my awesome control over technology.
finally we reach him. "... i'll come over and formally fix your printer later. pretty much what happened was your wires were crossed and the printing was feeding over to our printers over here so that's why you never got your print outs. i'll come over later to check...."
i'm hiding behind the back of my chair trying not to laugh at my own stupidity :P
tech guy = 1 Joanna = 0
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Christmas in July
so there's a custom around the office and at 8:30 every morning they make a pot of coffee (tim hortons, van houtte. whatever is around) and then same thing around 2pm.
Problem: i hate the taste of coffee.
oddity: i love the smell of coffee grinds. So when my co worker cracked open the can of van houtte grinds, i stole it and smelt it for a good 10 minutes.
anyway... today a new co-worker introduced me to chai tea. i told her that i'm not a coffee person, that i like tea better. so today she brought in packets of chai tea and earl grey tea... and me being so adventurous i had my VERY first cup of chai tea.
it tastes like christmas my coworker said.
annnd she was right.
chai tea... tastes like Christmas.
Problem: i hate the taste of coffee.
oddity: i love the smell of coffee grinds. So when my co worker cracked open the can of van houtte grinds, i stole it and smelt it for a good 10 minutes.
anyway... today a new co-worker introduced me to chai tea. i told her that i'm not a coffee person, that i like tea better. so today she brought in packets of chai tea and earl grey tea... and me being so adventurous i had my VERY first cup of chai tea.
it tastes like christmas my coworker said.
annnd she was right.
chai tea... tastes like Christmas.
Friday, June 08, 2007
bloody jeans!
There are no "hitch" characters in real life who swoop in to save a girl when they are being hit on by a guy who is way to persistent to be comfortable with.
A considerably older man sat beside on the subway this morning. Okay, not CONSIDERABLY older; he told me he had just graduated from UWO, but he DRESSED old enough to be my father.
Anyhow, the subway was fairly empty and as i sat down at a three seated bench, i usually didn't have to worry about people sitting next to me until bloor station. That's how subway rides usually go. People like their personal space, and so usually if there are multiple empty seats you never CHOOSE to sit beside someone.
But when i got to about college station, this man sits beside me. noisily, might i add. i glance up from my metro and i see him rearranging his lunch box. Opening it, taking a bite then stuffing it back into his bag. His elbow nearly hit me. I refrained from comment, it is none of my business; if anything it was a good note to remind me that that is something i shouldn't do on the subway... pull out my ricebox and eat from it while nearly elbowing my neighbour.
i continued to read from my metro, and i see him glancing over at my newspaper. maybe he wants to see what page i'm on. He opened his metro and read, his elbow jutting out a little bit into my seat, but i figured, hey, no big deal, i can squish. by about york mills station, his elbow was halfway across my seat, i couldn't open my newspaper even if i wanted to. I figured, York mills, i'm getting off soon anyway. i close my newspaper. Bad idea.
he turned and asked what time it was, i reply. he asked if they fixed the train tracks at laurence (which they did). He commented on how the trip is so much faster. he asked me if i'm from toronto, where i studied, what kind of work i'm in, where i'm working. in turn replying his own questions with his own answers. me, trying to be polite answered the questions with as little detail as possible making no eye contact. I'm stupid and naive.
he says "i get off at finch". i say, "i get off at the next stop". He answers: "can i contact you". I say "no". then get up. THANK GOD i transfer. i don't work that close to sheppard/yonge.
i'm standing at the door, and i glance at my chair to see if i've left anything (a custom, though i shouldn't have done it this time!)... "are you busy tonight?" YES. he returns to his metro, arms folded nicely at his side. so he CAN keep his elbows to himself. And then it hit me. he stuck out his elbow so i would close my metro so i would talk to him. wow.
then another man starts talking to me randomly on the way to my bus. i wonder if i have a sign that says "hit on me please!" on my forehead. and i try contemplating what is DIFFERENT about today.
Then i remember. its casual day at work and i'm wearing jeans. must be the jeans.
A considerably older man sat beside on the subway this morning. Okay, not CONSIDERABLY older; he told me he had just graduated from UWO, but he DRESSED old enough to be my father.
Anyhow, the subway was fairly empty and as i sat down at a three seated bench, i usually didn't have to worry about people sitting next to me until bloor station. That's how subway rides usually go. People like their personal space, and so usually if there are multiple empty seats you never CHOOSE to sit beside someone.
But when i got to about college station, this man sits beside me. noisily, might i add. i glance up from my metro and i see him rearranging his lunch box. Opening it, taking a bite then stuffing it back into his bag. His elbow nearly hit me. I refrained from comment, it is none of my business; if anything it was a good note to remind me that that is something i shouldn't do on the subway... pull out my ricebox and eat from it while nearly elbowing my neighbour.
i continued to read from my metro, and i see him glancing over at my newspaper. maybe he wants to see what page i'm on. He opened his metro and read, his elbow jutting out a little bit into my seat, but i figured, hey, no big deal, i can squish. by about york mills station, his elbow was halfway across my seat, i couldn't open my newspaper even if i wanted to. I figured, York mills, i'm getting off soon anyway. i close my newspaper. Bad idea.
he turned and asked what time it was, i reply. he asked if they fixed the train tracks at laurence (which they did). He commented on how the trip is so much faster. he asked me if i'm from toronto, where i studied, what kind of work i'm in, where i'm working. in turn replying his own questions with his own answers. me, trying to be polite answered the questions with as little detail as possible making no eye contact. I'm stupid and naive.
he says "i get off at finch". i say, "i get off at the next stop". He answers: "can i contact you". I say "no". then get up. THANK GOD i transfer. i don't work that close to sheppard/yonge.
i'm standing at the door, and i glance at my chair to see if i've left anything (a custom, though i shouldn't have done it this time!)... "are you busy tonight?" YES. he returns to his metro, arms folded nicely at his side. so he CAN keep his elbows to himself. And then it hit me. he stuck out his elbow so i would close my metro so i would talk to him. wow.
then another man starts talking to me randomly on the way to my bus. i wonder if i have a sign that says "hit on me please!" on my forehead. and i try contemplating what is DIFFERENT about today.
Then i remember. its casual day at work and i'm wearing jeans. must be the jeans.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
internet praise
i decided to send an e-card to a friend to day.
upon receiving the "the person has opened your e-card" email, this was the first line:
...
Hello!
someone@gmail.com has viewed your Hallmark E-Card. You’re very thoughtful for sending one.
...
why thank you hallmark, i think i'll do it again sometime
upon receiving the "the person has opened your e-card" email, this was the first line:
...
Hello!
someone@gmail.com has viewed your Hallmark E-Card. You’re very thoughtful for sending one.
...
why thank you hallmark, i think i'll do it again sometime
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
When it rains, it pours.
I was talking to kat yesterday, and she was asking me how long it takes me to get to work:
(disclaimer: conversation edited a bit, it was late, I can’t remember exact contents of what was said)
Me: ummm 40 minutes or an hour
Kat: oh! Why the wide range?
Me: its not really a range. I either get there in 40 minutes … or an hour
Kat:….
Me: pretty much if I miss one subway I miss the one that I need to switch to AND I miss the bus. So on good days, I’ll catch them all *bam, bam, bam*… other days I wait like 5 minutes for each. It stinks…
I’ve come to realize that when it rains, it pours. Once one bad thing happens, everything happens concurrently making one situation 10x worse than it usually is just because everything sucks around you.
Good days, are generally just good. There aren’t very many obstacles that get in the way of a good day.
Yesterday was one of those good days. I rolled out of bed@ 7:15 made it out of the apartment by 7:30 and to the office by 8:15 (okay, so 45 minutes including walking to the subway station and walking from the bus station to work :P) and was sitting at my computer ready to attack the day. Subways/buses were there waiting for me when I got the respective stations… it was great.
This morning it wasn’t great. I left my house @ 7:31. that ONE MINUTE made me slightly late for work. That ONE MINUTE was the difference between making it here at 8:15 and making it here at 8:35. here I am, NOT ready to attack the day, incredibly sore throat with mild headache. I am grumpy.
Not to mention it’s a beautiful day outside but they recommend we stay inside cuz of a SMOG alert. Not to mention it’s FREEZING in my office. Not to mention… okay things don’t suck that badly, I’m just grumpy.
When it rains, it pours.
(disclaimer: conversation edited a bit, it was late, I can’t remember exact contents of what was said)
Me: ummm 40 minutes or an hour
Kat: oh! Why the wide range?
Me: its not really a range. I either get there in 40 minutes … or an hour
Kat:….
Me: pretty much if I miss one subway I miss the one that I need to switch to AND I miss the bus. So on good days, I’ll catch them all *bam, bam, bam*… other days I wait like 5 minutes for each. It stinks…
I’ve come to realize that when it rains, it pours. Once one bad thing happens, everything happens concurrently making one situation 10x worse than it usually is just because everything sucks around you.
Good days, are generally just good. There aren’t very many obstacles that get in the way of a good day.
Yesterday was one of those good days. I rolled out of bed@ 7:15 made it out of the apartment by 7:30 and to the office by 8:15 (okay, so 45 minutes including walking to the subway station and walking from the bus station to work :P) and was sitting at my computer ready to attack the day. Subways/buses were there waiting for me when I got the respective stations… it was great.
This morning it wasn’t great. I left my house @ 7:31. that ONE MINUTE made me slightly late for work. That ONE MINUTE was the difference between making it here at 8:15 and making it here at 8:35. here I am, NOT ready to attack the day, incredibly sore throat with mild headache. I am grumpy.
Not to mention it’s a beautiful day outside but they recommend we stay inside cuz of a SMOG alert. Not to mention it’s FREEZING in my office. Not to mention… okay things don’t suck that badly, I’m just grumpy.
When it rains, it pours.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
This morning i discovered how big of a problem i had.
so i decided to take annato's advice and "watch people" on the subway to help my commute pass by faster. As people were exiting the subway, i began to "watch" people, watch how they pushed and shoved to get out of the subway as fast as possible, to RUN down to the lower level to catch the next subway. but then, i got bored, and my eyes dropped. very low.
and there is where i discovered my problem. I found something down there that caught my eye.
shoes. as each person stepped out of the subway car, i stared intently at their shoes scrutinizing whether i should get a pair like it or not. Whether i HAD a pair like that or not. Whether they would look good on my feet, whether they looked good on THEIR feet. i found myself wanting to shop and buy NEW shoes (even though i definitely have MORE than enough)
*sigh* I am Joanna Wu and i am addicted to... shoes.
so i decided to take annato's advice and "watch people" on the subway to help my commute pass by faster. As people were exiting the subway, i began to "watch" people, watch how they pushed and shoved to get out of the subway as fast as possible, to RUN down to the lower level to catch the next subway. but then, i got bored, and my eyes dropped. very low.
and there is where i discovered my problem. I found something down there that caught my eye.
shoes. as each person stepped out of the subway car, i stared intently at their shoes scrutinizing whether i should get a pair like it or not. Whether i HAD a pair like that or not. Whether they would look good on my feet, whether they looked good on THEIR feet. i found myself wanting to shop and buy NEW shoes (even though i definitely have MORE than enough)
*sigh* I am Joanna Wu and i am addicted to... shoes.
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