Hmmm, why had I neglected this poor blog for over 5 months? I had a brief stint as a dance instructor trainee and that was a tad disappointing! I just did not like the teacher and as much as I tried, I could not get what she was doing at the pace she expected. No dance experience necessary- MY ASS! If that is truly the case, why teach so fast then?
So I am switching schools, or at least trying a new one.
There is nothing worse than knowing (as a teacher) that your teacher is not doing his or her job well yet makes you feel guilty for being a quitter! I have to say, I learned more about how to teach and treat my students fro her than my teacher training course. I learned what not to do, and perhaps I saw that because I am seasoned now, but the other students seemed perfectly content. Two reasons; they are in their 20s, AND they have been dancing ALL THEIR LIVES!!
Lesson learned! Test it before you buy it. Most do that with cars, employees, and even spouses, so why not a course that costs you money and time when both are precious commodities!
Thursday 8 April 2010
Wednesday 16 December 2009
A dog's breakfast!
It has only taken ten days and 21 phone calls but we've got furniture. I almost told Lyons "I know we have 15 months to pay, but I didn't know it takes that long for you to get it right" But I didn't. Why you ask? Because I am Canadian!!! and some of us will let everyone shit on us, piss us off, fart around and deliver us a dog's breakfast before we will be rude or even stern to them.
Meanwhile, of the 21 phone calls, 6 were calls backs due to the endless looping twilight-zone that is their automated non-answering system, three were call backs because the person I wanted "could not be located" and I didn't want to go through the WHOLE story with an eighth person and 5 were redials because I was disconnected. Yes apparently it is too much of a task for some to transfer a call or even pick one up.
This ordeal has taken faaaar too long and too many delivery men traipsing through my house and denting my floors to be worth it. And it isn't over yet. The glass top is cracked and the floor is damaged. I wonder how many calls it'll take to get that stuff sorted.
And in the middle of all this, I am being harassed by the world's most annoying nurse (who actually said "Wish me luck" as she inserted the needle into my arm- not the words you long to hear!!!) calling me umpteen times to come take some blood for a life insurance policy I am trying to get (don't knock me off yet- I've not been approved), water heater rental company who has sent us 5 bills with numerous unintelligible lines no one can explain but expect us to pay none the less, and ...AND a pizza order gone terribly wrong. HOW HARD IS IT TO MAKE A THIN-CRUST PIZZA???? That was the real bummer. I mean, you just want a good meal in the midst of all that trauma, No?
This leaves me to deduce one thing and one thing only; My life is in the hands of complete incompetents. And the percentage of such incompetents seems to be faaar higher than it has ever been, and they have good jobs with proper salaries. I mean hell, they even built my house! It is a scary SCARY realization and a very depressing one too. This may be my last posting folks- for many reasons, not the least of which was the Bell technician who had to come back four times to get our internet working.
Over and out. With fingers crossed.
Meanwhile, of the 21 phone calls, 6 were calls backs due to the endless looping twilight-zone that is their automated non-answering system, three were call backs because the person I wanted "could not be located" and I didn't want to go through the WHOLE story with an eighth person and 5 were redials because I was disconnected. Yes apparently it is too much of a task for some to transfer a call or even pick one up.
This ordeal has taken faaaar too long and too many delivery men traipsing through my house and denting my floors to be worth it. And it isn't over yet. The glass top is cracked and the floor is damaged. I wonder how many calls it'll take to get that stuff sorted.
And in the middle of all this, I am being harassed by the world's most annoying nurse (who actually said "Wish me luck" as she inserted the needle into my arm- not the words you long to hear!!!) calling me umpteen times to come take some blood for a life insurance policy I am trying to get (don't knock me off yet- I've not been approved), water heater rental company who has sent us 5 bills with numerous unintelligible lines no one can explain but expect us to pay none the less, and ...AND a pizza order gone terribly wrong. HOW HARD IS IT TO MAKE A THIN-CRUST PIZZA???? That was the real bummer. I mean, you just want a good meal in the midst of all that trauma, No?
This leaves me to deduce one thing and one thing only; My life is in the hands of complete incompetents. And the percentage of such incompetents seems to be faaar higher than it has ever been, and they have good jobs with proper salaries. I mean hell, they even built my house! It is a scary SCARY realization and a very depressing one too. This may be my last posting folks- for many reasons, not the least of which was the Bell technician who had to come back four times to get our internet working.
Over and out. With fingers crossed.
Monday 30 November 2009
Dog tired!
OMG!!! I am SO tired! I am taking part in a Charity Boot Camp where for every pound I lose, a pound of food is donated to a food bank. I went for the first time tonight and I am really feeling it now. I will also feel it tomorrow. Much more so!
It was interesting that all present were female- except for the instructor who is a 21-year-old guy full of piss and vinegar, but not entirely unlikeable. I suppose group exercise is not a guy thing. Or is it?
The schedule will be repeated Thursday night- if I live that long and then Saturday. I hope to get a little in shape to prepare myself for the Ballroom Dancing Teacher Training Course starting January 4th. I would rather be pooped now, than when I am trying to learn a whole bunch of steps on top of it.
I am so tired I cant type any more. I am going to bed. I keep making typos coz I cant life my arms. UGH.
It was interesting that all present were female- except for the instructor who is a 21-year-old guy full of piss and vinegar, but not entirely unlikeable. I suppose group exercise is not a guy thing. Or is it?
The schedule will be repeated Thursday night- if I live that long and then Saturday. I hope to get a little in shape to prepare myself for the Ballroom Dancing Teacher Training Course starting January 4th. I would rather be pooped now, than when I am trying to learn a whole bunch of steps on top of it.
I am so tired I cant type any more. I am going to bed. I keep making typos coz I cant life my arms. UGH.
Wednesday 25 November 2009
A dog's chance
Sometimes I think I have no luck with little things. With little things I mean work. Hmmm work; little? Yes, it is as it does not rule my life. My life rules my life, and that includes many many things.
I am trying to organize some tests in Toronto that require me to have several examiners. It seems to get harder each time to do this as the numbers are growing. Well after careful planning and numerous hours at the computer and desk, I find out that two of my examiners are not going to be qualified in time. This means I have to practically start all over again.
Well, this is going to be a fun month! Yay.
I am not going to lose any sleep over this as it clearly wont do a damn thing. But rather try to keep everyone informed and make the necessary decision when the time comes. And I KNOW some people wont be happy, but them are the breaks. What can a girl do?
Ugh. Off to bed. this is not flowing and I dont want to torture anyone more than I have to.
I am trying to organize some tests in Toronto that require me to have several examiners. It seems to get harder each time to do this as the numbers are growing. Well after careful planning and numerous hours at the computer and desk, I find out that two of my examiners are not going to be qualified in time. This means I have to practically start all over again.
Well, this is going to be a fun month! Yay.
I am not going to lose any sleep over this as it clearly wont do a damn thing. But rather try to keep everyone informed and make the necessary decision when the time comes. And I KNOW some people wont be happy, but them are the breaks. What can a girl do?
Ugh. Off to bed. this is not flowing and I dont want to torture anyone more than I have to.
Monday 23 November 2009
We should be more like dogs
Some theories state than animals think only in the past and the present. It is likely not a good idea to go this far in becoming more dog-like, but it does explain why dogs are just so trusting, simple and content. Take Oscar's ordeal from today, he went into the vet's office knowing full well nothing good comes of visits to that office, pranced in, turned around and gave me a look that said "I know something is happening but what the hell is it?" and followed the nice girl into the examination room.
When we went to get him, he jumped into my arms and looks perfectly content. Yes horrible things had happened to him in there, but it was done. Time to be with mommy again.
Now it may seem like I really need to have children because most of my blogs are about my dog, but really it is a way for me to reflect on myself, society and the alternative- a more simple way of thinking; I'm happy- I wag my tail, I am threatened- I growl, I want to play- I go get the ball and drop it at your feet, I am hungry- I follow every morsel of food that goes from the plate to your mouth. Oh wait- that one is ALL the time. But no- we have to think of the future, we have to anticipate everyone's every move and weight six hundred ways this will effect us and we have to find ways of manipulating people to do things so we get the six-hundredth-and-first option that is actually beneficial to us. And what do we get at the end? A mind-fuck- that's what.
Now imagine a life as a dog. Our jobs would consist of looking cute in order to get fed, playing, and sniffing...well I could do without that last one.
But the sad truth is we have built an infrastructure that makes simplifying life impossible- or seem impossible. The point isn't for one or two people to do it though that is a start, but entire societies. But alas, how can this come about in a capitalist country with greedy people? Yes greedy people like you and me, and as aware as I may be of my greediness, can I stop it? No! I still want a nice house and a garden, even if I make the excuse that it is for Oscar to play in. I want new clothes, new handbags, good cheese and Chianti, a good working computer so I can blog on it without it crashing. I even want my holiday away from here. Nope, sorry, can't live like a dog, tempting as it may be.
I guess the best we can do is relate to the dog, see the comfort, trust, calm and joy in those little eyes and realize that happiness is a treat, and it comes in tiny little bites, but it does come. Life doesn't have to revolve around it, like it does for Oscar and his fellow pooches, but knowing it will come may take that edge off the day.
When we went to get him, he jumped into my arms and looks perfectly content. Yes horrible things had happened to him in there, but it was done. Time to be with mommy again.
Now it may seem like I really need to have children because most of my blogs are about my dog, but really it is a way for me to reflect on myself, society and the alternative- a more simple way of thinking; I'm happy- I wag my tail, I am threatened- I growl, I want to play- I go get the ball and drop it at your feet, I am hungry- I follow every morsel of food that goes from the plate to your mouth. Oh wait- that one is ALL the time. But no- we have to think of the future, we have to anticipate everyone's every move and weight six hundred ways this will effect us and we have to find ways of manipulating people to do things so we get the six-hundredth-and-first option that is actually beneficial to us. And what do we get at the end? A mind-fuck- that's what.
Now imagine a life as a dog. Our jobs would consist of looking cute in order to get fed, playing, and sniffing...well I could do without that last one.
But the sad truth is we have built an infrastructure that makes simplifying life impossible- or seem impossible. The point isn't for one or two people to do it though that is a start, but entire societies. But alas, how can this come about in a capitalist country with greedy people? Yes greedy people like you and me, and as aware as I may be of my greediness, can I stop it? No! I still want a nice house and a garden, even if I make the excuse that it is for Oscar to play in. I want new clothes, new handbags, good cheese and Chianti, a good working computer so I can blog on it without it crashing. I even want my holiday away from here. Nope, sorry, can't live like a dog, tempting as it may be.
I guess the best we can do is relate to the dog, see the comfort, trust, calm and joy in those little eyes and realize that happiness is a treat, and it comes in tiny little bites, but it does come. Life doesn't have to revolve around it, like it does for Oscar and his fellow pooches, but knowing it will come may take that edge off the day.
Doggie dentistry
Oscar is at the vet right now. He had a minimum of two teeth extracted and the rest cleaned. He was put under for the procedure and is likely very groggy now.
It is amazing to think that so much of the world does not have dental care, that teeth are pulled out with pliers, or left to fall out of one's head and here we are spending hundreds to see to a canines dental health.
Are we civilized or insane? Our culture would dictate that it is the only humane thing to do, that leaving such things untreated makes us no better than the animals themselves. I beg to argue whether humans are better than animals- but that is another topic not to be explored at the moment. But on the other hand, I really believe that these things are put in our heads to make us spend spend spend, and if we feel guilty about our pets- our kids- then we will spend even more on them; gourmet foods, coats, studded collars, raincoats, boots, treats- does the list ever end?? Doggie day care??? I haven't gone that far as of yet. But it may come. Oh lord help us!
It is amazing to think that so much of the world does not have dental care, that teeth are pulled out with pliers, or left to fall out of one's head and here we are spending hundreds to see to a canines dental health.
Are we civilized or insane? Our culture would dictate that it is the only humane thing to do, that leaving such things untreated makes us no better than the animals themselves. I beg to argue whether humans are better than animals- but that is another topic not to be explored at the moment. But on the other hand, I really believe that these things are put in our heads to make us spend spend spend, and if we feel guilty about our pets- our kids- then we will spend even more on them; gourmet foods, coats, studded collars, raincoats, boots, treats- does the list ever end?? Doggie day care??? I haven't gone that far as of yet. But it may come. Oh lord help us!
Friday 20 November 2009
Dog tired!
I am SO looking forward to getting home today. Unfortunately it wont last long because I have to go out again tonight, but this weekend will be for recharging, baking, cooking, cleaning and feeding my soul.
I have come to realize that the harder one works, the better one feels about himself- or in my case- herself. It is so easy to fall into a sedentary routine but becoming active again and finishing projects, creating things and expanding your horizons is far more gratifying.
I put myself into a situation yesterday that really made me nervous but I did really well, and each time I stretch my boundaries, I find out that I can do more than I imagined, but I also am mildly disappointed in myself for not trying before. This makes me wonder where I would be now if I had realized this in my 20s- likely a vet, an environmental lawyer, or something far more gratifying. Not that teaching isn't gratifying, but honestly sometimes I think in the grand scheme of things it is rather Mickey-Mouse. But then that is what I began to think of the kind of photography work I was doing. I went off to teach in Korea for a year, save enough to volunteer in Nepal and go into humanitarian work, and instead I stuck with teaching.
I could've done worse, I know, but now I am thinking I could do far better.
I have come to realize that the harder one works, the better one feels about himself- or in my case- herself. It is so easy to fall into a sedentary routine but becoming active again and finishing projects, creating things and expanding your horizons is far more gratifying.
I put myself into a situation yesterday that really made me nervous but I did really well, and each time I stretch my boundaries, I find out that I can do more than I imagined, but I also am mildly disappointed in myself for not trying before. This makes me wonder where I would be now if I had realized this in my 20s- likely a vet, an environmental lawyer, or something far more gratifying. Not that teaching isn't gratifying, but honestly sometimes I think in the grand scheme of things it is rather Mickey-Mouse. But then that is what I began to think of the kind of photography work I was doing. I went off to teach in Korea for a year, save enough to volunteer in Nepal and go into humanitarian work, and instead I stuck with teaching.
I could've done worse, I know, but now I am thinking I could do far better.
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