To Queen Bee or Not To Queen Bee, that is the question

Yesterday, I escaped the doldrums of my office for an hour and had lunch with my extremely, just walked off the cover of GQ, well dressed and fashionable friend Justin. It was a belated birthday lunch for him. "Belated" birthday is quite right. You see, Justin, who is only a year or two older than me, appears younger and younger every time I see him. It's more than just, what's your secret- Oil of Olay, kind of thing. It's more like he's held off aging, time for that matter, made a pact with someone or something, to stay young forever... sort of like Dorian Grey. How fitting that there is a new version of the classic Oscar Wilde story coming to theatres soon, starring the delicious Colin Firth, who by the way is not portraying Dorian, and well, I digress, again. But, I believe now I should mention Colin First in all my future blogs.
Seriously, I think Justin has a portrait of himself somewhere in his immaculate downtown condo, perhaps concealed behind the murphy bed (?), that is slowly aging while the real life Justin remains youthful. He is walking perfection every time. I always feel like a frumpy old lady when I see him. So I try not to stand too close! But perhaps I should and some of that anti aging, look fabulousness may rub off on me. Or maybe I should just paint myself a self portrait. I actually do have a self portrait drawing in my storage locker... hmm, doesn't seem to be working but perhaps I should check out the drawing to see how it's fairing.

But on to my other rant. Today I am ranting not only for myself but for Justin too. With his birthday just past, he too felt the bitter sting of no one at work remembering or acknowledging his birthday. A coworker of mine who is currently on maternity leave, came by the office just to help celebrate my birthday a few months back- very sweet of her. But no one in the office acknowledged it, probably because no one else knew. I know, I can't complain if no one else knew. But the fact is the celebration of birthdays was outlawed at my office the year before I started working there. A cause for celebration at the office is not the proper place and people were having too much fun and using up 15 minutes of the work day not working but having fun, god forbid, which he apparently did. NO birthday cake for you! I guess this was the same time they decided we are only to listen to the radio at the lowest sound level, a level only dogs could hear, and only if it's the worst radio station too.
Anyway, Justin's boss, whom he has worked for several years, chooses not to acknowledge his birthday, nor anyone's for that matter. Is this an office trend? She did give him a birthday "hug" though. Still, more than what I got but really, wtf? Justin is very generous and thoughtful. He showers his coworkers and his boss on their birthdays with cards, pots of orchids and gifts just to say, hey, I care about you and I'm glad to have you in my life. What's wrong with a little appreciation in the work place so that the worker bees or drones can feel like the queen bee for 15 minutes on their day??? I don't know alot about the social bee society but I do know the workers and drones only live to service their queen. I don't want to be a worker bee for the rest of my life!
We complained how our workplaces don't put enough value into their workers. We were depreciating rather than being appreciated. Oddly, on the day I decided to take Justin out for lunch, I turned down lunch with my co-workers. This was the one day, with the exception of a few (that would be me and one other) the entire office and even the "queen bee" decided to go for dim sum, and guess what? The Queen Bee paid. After just complaining with Justin about the lack of apprciation the worker bees get, how undervalued we are, this happens. But I value spending quality time with someone I want to spend time with rather than spend 2 uncomortable hours with people I don't even like spending my working hours with. And one lunch, once a year, free or not does not a happy worker bee make. It should be a continuous process, don't you agree? How about bbq days, an expresso machine in the lunch room or better yet a raise!?

That's the way the world of the hard working worker bee turns. One day we shall all be Queen Bee. But what am I complaining about? I drafted this blog while I was at work! That was my "free" lunch.

rainy day blues

It's raining outside. I knew it was going to rain this weekend and I planned to spend some of the time to finally purge and clean up my messy bedroom. Well instead, I've done anything, anything but. Including checking out my new favorite website. www.peopleofwalmart.com. It's people watching but in the comfort of your own home. Only in the good old USof A could you find some of the peeps you find on this site. Please, I beg of you, please check this site out.

Last Saturday I was with my best peeps, Flo Beep, at the PNE. We try to go every year and this time around we managed to get everything in that we wanted to see and do- all in 6 hours. Yikes, way too long. But the PNE is a larger scale walmart- I should have taken pics just so I can do a onetime blog of "People of the PNE".
First things first, the most import meal of the day... THOSE LITTLE DONUTS! (last picture from the top) Yummy, mini donuts. I picked up 2 bags for 5 bucks, but sadly, forgot a bag at the arena where the Celtic Dance group did their gig, or jig. After that we walked around and as usual, we passed the stands that sell hot tubs. I always wonder, why would anyone make such a major purchase at the PNE??? And why hot tubs? Why not say, a bathtub? It's just so random. Sort of like the food stand that sold roasted potatoes or roasted corn or a roasted turkey leg, your choice. Let's see, we'll have ourselves a food stand at this here PNE, yeah, and we'll roast them ar potataes, right? Everyone loves potataes! But wait, why limit ourselves to them thar potataes?? How about roastem' corn!? Now you're cookin!! But JimBobbyloo, we got us selves some here turkey legs we can roast 'em up too!! Damn, now ur a cookin, I meana roastin' there Jimmybubbaloo! Turkey Legs! NOT Chicken but T-E-R-K-E-E legs!! (third pic from the top)

Sorry about that. I couldn't resist. After we found ourselves a smokie/sausage in a bun we headed over to the pig races.... maybe not the best idea, eating sausage whilst watching the poor little piggies race around the track for a mini donut. The man who usually heads up the show doesn't seem to be doing it anymore. His replacement, well seemed rather pervy and I don't think he should be around little children, children that make up a huge percentage of the audience, nor should he be near the pigs! ( 4th pic from top) He brought out four members from the audience, 3 kids, and 1 woman at least of legal age to assist with rallyin up the crowds during the races. And when he talked to each of them to find out where they were from, their names, he asked each of them if they could squeal, squeal like a pig. Honestly, I had a picture of Ned Beatty and the hillbillies from the movie Deliverance in my head- squeal like a pig!! The new guy was creepy, eww pervy and made the whole innocent enjoyment of the pig races, well rather grim for me.

Moooving on, we had a quick look through the barn yard at the different cute animals. City folk, we don't see cows unless it ends up on our plates- sad but true! Next up, the Superdogs! (pic top left) I love the superdog show!! All those funny dogs racing around the obstacle course! Funny dogs! What more can you ask for? After that we cut thru the line up to view the PNE prize home by using the VIP pass my sister gave us. Beautiful home.
We decided to forgo the musical act that night, Barney Bentall and Chilliwack, but we did hear them, off in the distance... Last but not least, the showmart, where I managed to not spend a dime! Hurray! No useless slicer dicer for me, or mop, or nail magic, flat iron, fudge, steamer, mixer, pillow, hair bumpit for me! Every dime I had was spent on admission and food - I had one smokie, one drink, and 2 bags of donuts - all for $20... rip (c)off.
Another exciting(?) day at the PNE, until next year. But best of all got to hang out with the BFF, having an exhausting day that has almost become ritual with us.

We parked the car at Flo's parents home which is still in the hood. So I've posted a pic,(pic top right) with her permission of this amazing animal bush her parents have in the back yard, that I've watched morph over the years. Is it a bunny???? funny.

Well, that's all for now- have to get back to the scary mess that awaits me upstairs. But really, it's not going anywhere? There are things to see and do still! The PNE ends tomorrow most likely on a rainy note. And yikes, kids back to school on Tuesday which means, a long commute to work for me. BTW, the Chinatown Night Market ends tonight too! Hey, I think I should go check it out and leave the cleaning for a rainier day.

Oh summer, where have you gone??