but, it's really strange getting used to how it works. different keyboard, different ... everything.  

i'm glad the holidays are over; i can finally relax. i'm feeling recharged, less crazy - i can think about things other than work. i wish i'd been in this frame of mind for solstice, but there was little of me left after a month of packing and planning the office move. (by the way, everything for that is falling into place. i'm looking forward to january 5th.)  

yeah. i'm feeling more like me again. it's nice not to feel like a jackass.  

i've seen a lot of my family lately and that's all gone well. my mom didn't freak out over christmas, which allowed everyone else to relax a bit too. bean's birthday was fun too. rae made a ukrainian feast and there was much playing of Risk. (see guys, i'm not the only geek.) when i left, either bean or my dad was set for world domination.  

i'm going to a friend's going away party tonight. after all these years of not knowing where she'd gone to, i discover that she lives across the street from me and is moving to Provence in a matter of months. eesh. i will miss her - she's one of the most genuinely kind people i've ever known. ah well: i have an excuse to see southern France.  

so, i hope all of you have had some time to reinvigorate yourselves over the holidays and that you have a happy new year.  

blessed be  

Dear -emma-,

On behalf of Mike Lake, Member of Parliament for Edmonton - Mill Woods - Beaumont, I would like to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail and thank you for taking the time to share your concerns with him regarding this issue.

Please be assured that your correspondence will be brought to Mr. Lake's attention at the earliest opportunity and that your views and suggestions will be carefully considered.

Please don't hesitate to contact the office again if you have any further issues or concerns.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Guibord
Special Assistant

blah blah blah.

of course i have further issues and concerns, as if they care. i was *really* hoping for something a little meatier so i could pillory the man for his 'opinions' even more.

speaking of people who deserve a good lashing (but not a *good* lashing)... a little while ago i subjected myself to the rampant idiocy of the edmonton journal's letters to the editor. 

sometimes i like to read these letters in an amusing voice in my head or add little bits to their commentary. it makes the process less painful. i don't know why i can't stop reading that page. anyway, there were a couple of letters that made my brain hurt. 

one was written by a woman who thinks gay people are *intolerant* of straight people's need to prevent an expansion of civil rights ... desire to stop their offspring from ever hearing about gay "issues" lifestyle and are, hence, heterophobic. 

one, gay people aren't trying to stop straight people from marrying each other. two, we know someone has to reproduce and raise hot gay studs. three, not all straight people want to stop gay marriage. four, the worst thing i've heard a gay person call a straight person is 'breeder.' and, in all honesty, that isn't entirely inaccurate. most of the time. 

and the other was some guy who *actually* wrote about "so-called greenhouse gases." i suppose he comes from the Stockwell "I was begging for Big Al's Glacial Melt when the mercury hit -24" Day school of environmental awareness. if anyone knows of an independent, peer-reviewed study that says global warming isn't a problem, i'd love to hear of it.

where was i going with this?

i guess i didn't have a point; i just wanted to grouse. 

nine inch nails live: beside you in time will be in stores on february 27th, 2007 in dvd, hd-dvd, and blu-ray formats. the latter two will feature true high definition video and audio. all three formats include 24 songs from the live: with teeth 2006 tour, plus bonus materials.

WATCH THE TEASER TRAILER

track listing:

North American Winter Tour 2006:

1. Love Is Not Enough
2. You Know What You Are?
3. Terrible Lie
4. The Line Begins To Blur
5. March Of The Pigs
6. Something I Can Never Have
7. Closer
8. Burn
9. Gave Up
10. Eraser*
11. Right Where It Belongs*
12. Beside You In Time*
13. With Teeth
14. Wish
15. Only
16. The Big Come Down
17. Hurt
18. The Hand That Feeds
19. Head Like A Hole

*includes alternate angle

Additional Content:

North American Summer Tour 2006:

1. Somewhat Damaged
2. Closer
3. Help Me I Am In Hell
4. Non-Entity
5. Only

- The Hand That Feeds music video
- Only music video
- Love Is Not Enough live @ rehearsals 2005
- Every Day Is Exactly The Same live @ rehearsals 2005
- The Collector live @ rehearsals 2005
- image gallery

more information will be added to the halo 22 page in the coming weeks.

*purr*

Mr. Lake,

 I'm writing to you today because I was disappointed to see your vote in favour of a "traditional" definition of marriage.

Definitions can change and thank goodness for that. It wasn't long ago that here, in Canada, I would not have been legally defined as a person and, indeed, I would likely have had to marry a man (regardless of sexual orientation) because women had little in the way of inheritance and property rights.

I'm not suggesting that this is the traditional marriage arrangement the Conservative party has in mind, but I think women's suffrage and other movements to expand civil rights illustrate that a departure from tradition isn't necessarily harmful to society - despite religious proclamations against the struggles of eras gone by: the abolition of slavery, women's rights, desegregation, inter-racial marriage etc.

It's important for you to know that many of your constituents think there's nothing wrong with being gay or lesbian or that what they call their relationships cannot, in any imaginable way, threatens other people's marriages - including mine.

e.

again, i wait to see if i get a response. 

why, oh why, must people say, "emma said you have to do this for me," or "emma said she needs this NOW?" this certainly isn't the first time. they must have the fear. meh.

i'm thinking about doing some housework this weekend and putting up the ol' yule tree... stockings above the fireplace. and yes, the xmas bats are going up. i haven't changed my mind  :)  of course getting any of this done means abstaining from more addictive pursuits ... by the gods, i love zapping things. stupid, distracting warcraft. 

i've had the worst week ever. i still don't want to talk about it, but i'm glad the worst is over. *sigh* i hate people. here's an excerpt from a conversation i had with a condo owner a few days ago:

owner: where the hell is the snow removal company? our parking lot is full of snow!

emma: they've been called, but they're extremely busy right now because everyone has parking lots to clear. they should be there by tomorrow night or the following morning.

owner: well I'M paying condo fees! if they aren't here tomorrow morning, i'm not paying my fees AND i'm going to sit in your office until they do what i'm PAYING them to do!

emma: they'll be there as soon as they can. there's really nothing else we can do. 

owner: DO YOU NOT FUCKING HEAR WHAT I'M SAYING?

emma: we can talk about your displeasure with the snow removal company, but if you swear, this conversation is over.

owner: SCREW THIS! I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M PAYING CONDO FEES TO A FUCKING MANAGEMENT COMPANY TH- 

emma: no. you will have to find another way of venting your frustration because i'm not taking this from you. really. 

owner: YOU'LL LISTEN TO EVERY FUCKING THING I HAVE TO SAY!

emma: ok - have a nice day. *hangs up the phone*

joy! i could *feel* my blood pressure rising as i typed. did i mention that i hate people? 

certainly, not everyone is a screaming idiot, but his attitude is fairly typical. am i to conjure up some crews for their snow removal companies?  jebus. they *seriously,* *honestly,* truly think that their little condo should get priority over other, larger contracts. 

why? 'cause they're special; their mommas told them so. 

i'm in a weird mood right now and bean's getting the worst of it: 

 Beanar says:

something is wrong with me..i could really go for a nice big spoonful of Hellmans Mayonaise

emma ... says:

LOL

emma ... says:

preggers

emma ... says:

i think what's "wrong" with you is the beebee in your tummy

 Beanar says:

mmm and i almost NEVER eat payo.....except that stuff tastes like McChicken sauce

emma ... says:

he's all like, "give me mayo now, bitch!"

 Beanar says:

lol

 Beanar says:

must be it

emma ... says:

and you're all like, "hey - you want the mayo, but all the fat goes on me!"

 Beanar says:

lol jesus

emma ... says:

and he's all like, "goddammit - i'm fucking special! do as i say!"

 Beanar says:

what the hell lol

emma ... says:

and you're all like, "hey - i could make you a crack baby"

emma ... says:

and he's all like, "stfu"

 Beanar says:

lol shut up

emma ... says:

... eeeee

i don't even want to talk about it. 

oh, i've decided to pay $5 tomorrow morning for the privilege of voting for our next premier. go democracy!