Friday, October 31, 2008

Can't Escape!

My workplace is filled mostly with former teachers, so today, there are costumes and face paint galore. Someone just came into our little corner of the floor and wondered what our costumes are. We said "casual Friday government workers". Methinks the witch was not amused.

I passed one woman this morning dressed as a bumble bee. She had black and yellow striped tights (where DO you get those?!), her nose was painted black and she wore a headband with yellow fuzzy balls that jingled. She also looked like on any other day she would be well-dressed and super professional. I passed another woman dressed as a ladybug. At work, I saw the swish of a robe going down the hall and tips of witches' caps above the cubicle walls.

Is there something wrong with me? Is it bad to think these people need to smarten up and leave the costumes for the kids, or at least a venue where booze is served. I think they look ridiculous.

Hmmm, maybe I am the witch.

Scaringly Yours,
xoxoSallyS

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Humiliation

Let me share some tales of my childhood. I was a tall girl, awkward and geeky. I had the habit of giggling creepily and breathing hard around a guy I liked. Friends were few, but humiliations were plenty. Here's one of them...

When I was about 10, maybe 11, I went trick or treating with my younger sister and brother. Since I was taller than everyone else, I stood out and the fact I looked older than I was didn't help. When I was 14, someone thought I was 21. That someone was some skeevy guy in a Camaro by the playground, but I digress.

So this one year, the three of us were in the 'hood, begging for candy. We stopped at this one house and some crotchety old man answered. Looking back, he probably wasn't that old, but he was an asshole anyway. He scowled at the three of us, then started yelling at me that I was too big to be out and I should go home. I don't know if the big was referring to my height or weight, either way, I was humiliated. I stood there stunned with tears in my eyes. The old bat gave my sister and brother candy and refused to give me any.

That was the last time I did Halloween.

Since then, if ever I did anything Halloweeny, I wore all black like Hecubus and slapped on extra eyeliner. A couple years ago, I wore a belly dancing scarf over the black uniform and called it a night.

All was not lost that night when I was 10. My sister and brother both shared their candy with me.

Spookily Yours,
xoxoSallyS

Saturday, October 18, 2008

No, you can't have it!

Why?

Because it's not yours!

We were robbed the other night. Wednesday night, to be exact. It wasn't a giant robbery and we aren't out thousands, but we feel violated nonetheless.

Byron's tarp for his motorcycle was stolen. His bike is in our parking lot, under an eave, formerly under a tarp to protect it. But on Thursday morning, I noticed it was missing. I searched our lot, thinking the wind may have snapped it off, but no. Someone stole it. And he is mighty pissed about it.

The homeless are a problem here in Victoria. Amongst the BMWs, Jaguars and endless Starbucks shops, there are a lot of hobos and homeless. Some I have pity for, but many I do not. Just this week, the Supreme Court of BC made it legal for homeless in Victoria to tent in city parks. That's not going over so well. Proper thing! Those are public city parks that taxpayers pay for. We pay for city parks so we can walk in them, play in them, bring our dogs for walks and let our children play in them. They are not campgrounds. By having the homeless set up tent cities in our parks, it defeats the entire purpose of a public city park. It's no longer a public park but someone's home. Which begs the question, why are taxpaying citizens paying for something we can no longer use?

I am opening myself up here for some serious criticism over my lack of compassion for the homeless. I have some, for those who are mentally ill or addicted. There are programs out there to help them. I used to work at one of those agencies who did just that! But it's those who are homeless by choice, who think they are "sticking it to the man" but staying out of society, they are the ones who bug me. Because they are not staying out of society, they are expecting society to carry their asses. I work hard to pay for my own way and the way of my family. I should not have to pick up your tab, too, Hobo.

Which brings me back to why Byron and I are so pissed about the tarp. And yes, I realize it's just a tarp. But to us, it signifies a larger problem. It angers us that people will take whatever they want just because they see it. Someone saw the tarp, thought they could use that for the winter as shelter, and snitched it without thinking about the person who worked hard to own it. Can you imagine how we would feel if something significant like the actual bike or our car was stolen? Hell, we might start a riot and burn the city down!

Possessively Yours,
xoxoSallyS

Friday, October 3, 2008

The Pot

I have a new obsession. It's my new crock pot. Slow cooker, if you will. We got it as a wedding gift, indirectly. We got lots of gift certificates, so with them, we bought a lovely new crock pot. I love it.

My fun thing to while away the time is looking for recipes. And I gotta say, there is a lot of nasty-ass recipes out there. 15-bean casserole? Really? Why? I found many, far too many recipes for tongue. Barf! My dad might be the only one to lick his chops at the thought of crock pot tongue.

So far, I've made a lovely little pot roast and ribs, both of which you could cut with a knife. You bazz some vegetables in and presto! A meal. I found a recipe for baked beans, which I will try on a weekend where we can fart our brains out and not offend co-workers. I can't wait to try some stews, maybe some soups. Although, I have found recipes for "Crok Pot Banana Bread" and I don't see the need for that. It's called a loaf pan. Use it.

My mother has lovingly reminded me that many newlyweds gain weight in the first year. I scoffed at the time, saying we've been living together for a year now. I think out nesting phase is over. But now that the crock pot is in the house, and a bread maker, too - watch out! Stew and fresh bread? Shut up! That's good times right there! Byron and I try to eat as healthy as we can without being food nazis. Hopefully we can make it though the first of many years of wedded bliss without becoming Gilbert Grape's mother. We shall see.

Having the crock pot reminds me of family and home. And my dad calling it a "Crap Pot" and giggling at his own joke.

Crockingly Yours,
xoxoSallyS

Thursday, October 2, 2008

New Chapters

The wedding is over. We've been married for two weeks now. I love being married, and I have still not gotten the post-wedding blues. Trust me, I was prepared for them. The week after the wedding, I was off work and was sitting on my couch waiting for the blues to attack. But nope. In the clear.

So now we are planning the next chapter. And no. It is NOT babies. They'll come in a couple years. No, the next chapter will include Byron's schooling and our preparation for it. We have to save and enrol in school. We have to make sure the next step is a sure one. Or as sure as it can be. I'm also taking courses, paid for by my work. I figure I'll augment my two degrees with a PR Certificate. Why the hell not, if someone else will pay for it!

The ones who regularly read this blog were at my wedding, so posting pictures seems silly. But the title of this blog IS SillySallyT, so maybe I'll get to it someday.

Blissfully Yours,
xoxoSallyS