Author Topic: Personal Stuff  (Read 55863 times)

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Offline cybercoma

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #180 on: September 01, 2018, 06:49:26 am »
Is it all flat-tops and thick-rim glasses?

 -k
Nah. It's a lipstick lesbian buffet in the Six.

guest4

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #181 on: September 01, 2018, 12:33:38 pm »
I am off to Edmonton for a brief visit with my family and some  friends.  I'll be back mid-week, unless I get arrested or stabbed.

 -k

Hope things go well for you.  Family can be challenging. 

Offline BC_cheque

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #182 on: September 01, 2018, 01:12:39 pm »
NOT GREAT, BOB


The heavy smoke in the air is a big reason why.  It's affecting my eyes, my sinuses, and my lungs. Normally at this time of year I would be out swimming, running, paddling my kayak, and biking in the hills. I love being physically active outdoors. Being asthmatic, trying to do those things right now with the current air quality would cause me to die.  It's sucking the joy out of life right now, affecting my mood and my energy level.  Everything feels like a chore.  This is worse than last summer, which was worse than I'd seen since I've lived here. If this is the way things are going to be every summer, I am going to have to rethink living here.


 -k


The way things are going, there is no escaping it anywhere in the province.

We just got back from Kim City but we almost didn't go because of the smoke.  My husband wanted to cancel but I looked it up and air quality was just as bad in Vancouver so we went. 

Luckily there was some rain while we were there and the skies cleared up.  We got to breath while tasting wine, yay.


Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #183 on: September 03, 2018, 08:29:26 am »
Well, we're in September and it's Labour Day.

I am trying to remember to breathe as a way to deal with anxiety of going back to work.  We may also visit a couple we know who just had a kid - a boy who will eventually be friends with ours I am sure.  We got a pile of onesies donated.  Baby is 10 weeks away now.   :o

The commute will be hell the first week of Sept.  It always is.  I'm in a show Tuesday night and taking out a friend for dinner who was laid off from tech at another bank after 28 years.

HOW ARE YOU ?

guest4

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #184 on: September 03, 2018, 11:22:14 am »
A couple of weeks ago, I worked in a largish, square box into which 4 other work stations were crammed.  People have been complaining about that set up for years and it was part of the reason for a lot of turnover in that position.   The manager told me the same thing she's told previous employees: that if we came up with a plan, she'd support changing it.  So myself and a coworker did just that and we now have separated cubicles.  They're still pretty small but they provide better privacy and more natural light, so a definite improvement.   Feeling pretty good about that.

Our next door neighbor moved, and took his big dog whom he'd let run offleash..  The dog was nice enough but he and my dog got into a couple of scuffles, so I was always on the lookout to make sure he wasn't loose when I took my dog out.  Neighbor also had a nightly toke, which would drift into our windows so I won't miss that either.  Other than that they were good neighbors, helped us out by watering our yard when a flood forced us to live out for a few months last summer.

The new couple has moved in, got a little boy and maybe a baby.   She wears an abaya and hijab, so after the stories I read on these forums, I wondered if there'd be a huge cultural divide.   We ran into her outside our back door, and introduced ourselves; she had no hesitation shaking my (male) partner's hand and offered her hand to me.   So far, no attempt to force us to convert or die, but early days yet I guess.   
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Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #185 on: September 03, 2018, 11:24:01 am »
We have maybe the most mixed neighbourhood I have lived in, or will.  All major races and religions.

No problems, of course...

guest4

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #186 on: September 03, 2018, 11:35:24 am »
We have maybe the most mixed neighbourhood I have lived in, or will.  All major races and religions.

No problems, of course...

Middle Eastern to the left of us, Columbian to the right.  Korean (?) top left, East Indian top right.   The neighbor who moved was Mexican.  The Middle Eastern and East Indian neighbors are both clearly devout.  Not sure about the Coumbian or Korean (?) neighbors.  The only person who ever caused trouble was a Canadian "White Nationalist"; his violence got him a court date and banned from this complex. 

Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #187 on: September 03, 2018, 11:52:10 am »
The new couple has moved in, got a little boy and maybe a baby.   She wears an abaya and hijab, so after the stories I read on these forums, I wondered if there'd be a huge cultural divide.   We ran into her outside our back door, and introduced ourselves; she had no hesitation shaking my (male) partner's hand and offered her hand to me.   So far, no attempt to force us to convert or die, but early days yet I guess.

I have several Muslim friends.  Most are very modern.  One female doesn't wear any headcovering, another is gay.  Another female wears a hijab.  I have met Muslim women who wouldn't shake my hand though.  Nice enough people, but different beliefs.  Like Christianity, there's a huge variety in what people believe and how strictly etc.

Modern Muslims are like most lazy Christians, they won't eat pork and they celebrate Eid but another than that they're like you and I.  I don't care about generalizing labels ("Muslims"), it all depends on what and how you believe.  I may think not eating pork because pigs are dirty swine so says some holy book is an illogical belief, but it's harmless.  Like Christianity, other ideas are less harmless.

I also got a tour inside a Mosque once by a Muslim acquaintance.  I got some odd stares from some people lol.
« Last Edit: September 03, 2018, 11:53:45 am by Coonlight Graham »
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley

guest4

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #188 on: September 03, 2018, 12:12:44 pm »
I have several Muslim friends.  Most are very modern.  One female doesn't wear any headcovering, another is gay.  Another female wears a hijab.  I have met Muslim women who wouldn't shake my hand though.  Nice enough people, but different beliefs.  Like Christianity, there's a huge variety in what people believe and how strictly etc.

Modern Muslims are like most lazy Christians, they won't eat pork and they celebrate Eid but another than that they're like you and I.  I don't care about generalizing labels ("Muslims"), it all depends on what and how you believe.  I may think not eating pork because pigs are dirty swine so says some holy book is an illogical belief, but it's harmless.  Like Christianity, other ideas are less harmless.

I also got a tour inside a Mosque once by a Muslim acquaintance.  I got some odd stares from some people lol.

There are several Muslims where I work.  A girl who was born in Pakistan and lived there til she was 8 talked about celebrating Christmas, so I wondered and eventually asked her about her religious beliefs.  She said she was Muslim, but not really practicing - like most Muslims she knows, even in Pakistan. 

My sister thought, when she moved to Egypt, that she'd find a lot more devoutness but said that it wasn't  a lot different than Christans in Canada; some people are very religious, but most people are fairly casual about it.   There is a kind of lip service to Islam that may not extend to actual behaviour beyond what can be publically seen.  What is different from Canada is that reputation matters a lot, who you are related to, who you know and what they say about you. 

Offline Omni

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #189 on: September 03, 2018, 12:14:34 pm »
When I first moved from hicktown to Hogtown in the late 70's, I landed in an area called "The Beaches", near Lake Ontario. A quick ride in the elevator from my floor to street level could have you in the company of quite a variety of languages, skin colors, dress codes. I don't recall during the ~ 2 years I called that building home there ever being any noise of friction between those cultures. As I got to know a number of them I could see that they were all happy and proud to be, or on their way to becoming Canadians. It made me think a little more seriously of my citizenship I acquired simply by being born. It also made me happy they brought aspects of their previous cultures with them as often when I was heading down in that elevator, I was off for a stroll to the Danforth to sample the foods, the music, and to take a crack at enhancing my non English language skills. Always had fun.       

Offline Goddess

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #190 on: September 05, 2018, 11:59:46 am »
Our company has undergone some restructuring.  We are hiring as we are quite short-staffed right now but so far have only received a few resumes.   :(

Part of it is caused by some upheaval in the municipal world, which has brought us 27 new clients in the last 2 months.

I'm taking on some of the travel duties, in addition to heading the communicaqtions department here - we have clients in 3 provinces - so I'll be doing a bit more travelling for work.  Good side of it is that we have a large client base in Manitoba, where my kids live, so I'll get to see them more often.  And on the company's dime!  And I get a new laptop to travel with.

First trip is next week.  :)
"A religion without a Goddess is half-way to atheism."
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Offline Queefer Sutherland

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #191 on: September 05, 2018, 04:59:53 pm »
What is different from Canada is that reputation matters a lot, who you are related to, who you know and what they say about you.

That's interesting.  They still have an honour culture.  The west used to have this.  Ie: in the 1800's you still had people (mostly men) challenging others to duels for disgracing their honour.  Alexander Hamilton, the US founding father, was fatally shot in a duel with another politician.

I find that in developing countries they have much bigger families usually, so many aunts/cousins etc. and so family talks and gossips a lot more ad things spread to more people.  Developing countries also tend to have communities where people know each other and talk to neighbours more often, like Canada use to be like.
"Nipples is one of the great minds of our time!" - Bubbermiley

Offline Michael Hardner

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #192 on: September 05, 2018, 07:04:58 pm »
Got semi-ambushed into a "team review" meeting with the whole team, wherein we were given an online questionnaire to fill out anonymously and talk about how the team is "doing".  My worst fears were that I would get lambasted as my team doesn't know me but I did pretty well.  :D

Baby is 10 weeks away...

guest4

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #193 on: September 05, 2018, 07:06:19 pm »
That's interesting.  They still have an honour culture. 

Some stories illustrating that "honor" culture.

My sister rides the public transit buses and tells me about riders passing fares up to the driver via other riders, and having their change returned to them. 

My sister entered into an agreement to purchase a yet-to-be-completed flat at a certain price.  A few weeks later the builder came back and said he couldn't do it at the agreed upon price and my sister replied that she couldn't afgord the new price. Her husband was pretty furious and contacted  the builder's Bedouin tribe/family about it.   The builder was informed that he was honor-bound to complete the deal at the agreed upon price, even if he lost money.   They then "asked" what my sister could afford extra and eventually came to a deal that they w coukd both live with.   My sister is pretty happy with her flat, which is in her name.

Of course, not everyone is honorable.  My sister has had her phone stolen (but then the thief called her husband to let him know where she was), she's been harassed on the street and had people treat her poorly due to being female and/or not "Muslim" enough.  But by and large her experience with Egyptians has been positive, or she'd be back home.  Her husband is nothing but doting and generous.

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I find that in developing countries they have much bigger families usually, so many aunts/cousins etc. and so family talks and gossips a lot more ad things spread to more people.  Developing countries also tend to have communities where people know each other and talk to neighbours more often, like Canada use to be like.

Her husband's family tends to smaller sizes.  I don't think any of the brothers have more than 3 kids.  Education and economics affect family size.  But still lots of talk and veey strong family bonds. 

I never liked Canadian small town life because of that talking/gossipping thing.  Too much of a free spirit to meet the social expectations I guess.  I probably wouldn't do well in Egypt just because of that.   But my sister loves it there.

guest4

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Re: Personal Stuff
« Reply #194 on: September 05, 2018, 07:09:09 pm »
Got semi-ambushed into a "team review" meeting with the whole team, wherein we were given an online questionnaire to fill out anonymously and talk about how the team is "doing".  My worst fears were that I would get lambasted as my team doesn't know me but I did pretty well.  :D

Baby is 10 weeks away...

Will you get parental leave?