If and when I eventually have children, here is a list of names, thrown together out nowhere, that I will hopefully never call them. Names in bold represent names I detest. This list comes out of sheer boredom and if your name is on it, maybe for you I'll make an exception.

Crystal (or with a K), Todd, Ilia, Janet, Jane, Janice (or any other variants), Paula, Dalton, Roy, Gordon, Jake, Lyn (or any variant), Elaine, Courtney, Courtleigh, Caitlin, Jordan (spelling it with a G is fine), Ron, Wendy, Saul, Olive, Larry, Brad, Chad, Chaz (who thought that one up anyway?), Melinda, Alana, Frank, Ursula, Ainsley, Georgina, Harold, Nelly, Roger, Telly, Vince, Bernice, Abner, Mabel, Tammy.

Oh, hurray ! I can go home now. I'm the last of two people in the office... all the managment and supervisors disappeared some time ago. Now it's my turn.

Rain. A beautiful thing. Sure, it can be a frightful inconvenience, such as this morning on my way to work; no one can drive when the roads get wet and traffic grinds nearly to a halt. For the most part, though, I think rain is lovely. It makes the city smell nice, which is no small feat, it cleans the cars and streets. It sounds lovely and it feels lovely (when it's not too cold). Today is one of those lovely autumnal rainy days. The rain is, I think, technically the end of Isadore, the hurricane, though its lost all of its force. So, it's just a nice rainy day.

I've been working somewhat diligently on some storyboards for the fan film. The director asked me to do two scenes to be shot mid-October, but he wants them for the weekend. I had to email him to explain that there was no way I would be able to get him both by then. I've got too much on my plate. I've started work on the ICC/ROM web thing. I sent some suggestions to Julian and now await his final copy. I've also met with Brett, the web guy, and he's a sweetie. Things aren't moving as fast as I would like, but the hold-up is not on my part. I remember the familiar feeling of spinning wheels from when I worked at the government.

I have no plans to do work tomorrow at all. Carrie and I will be heading over to Sandra's for a discussion on bridesmaid dresses. Following that, we may join Al and Rick for dinner and a movie. If A&C can't make that, then Rick and I will do dinner and a movie ourselves. I extended the invite to Ryan and Colleen, but Colleen informed me that Ryan was in Ottawa, and so I gathered from her response that she would not be coming either. Oh well. Rick and I will be heading to the Word on the Street festival on Sunday to visit friends in booths and doing entertainment. That should be nice. I suppose that on Sunday night, I'll have to get back to work, though. My week is promising to be loaded with business, which is alright, I guess, because it keeps my mind on occupied.

I'm sitting here at work, listening to a pair of the ancient volunteers. Between them, their combined age is probably 160 years old. Initially, I thought they were cute, the way they chattered at each other, recalling their youths and the way things used to be. I enjoyed their take on the world today, because it was coloured by the past, which is the way we're supposed to think, right? That's the whole point of learning history. Well, over the course of several mornings listening to them chat, I've decided that they're kind of irritating. They're both lovely ladies, and they're talking to each other, but since I'm sitting next to them, I'm hit with the full brunt of their conversation. Today, it has consisted almost entirely of these subjects: The Germans trying to get supplies from Japan; the Germans; the Queen; the Germans; Prince Harry; submarines during WWII; the Bismark (and the classic film, Sink the Bismark); the Germans; and finally, Das Boot (pronounced incorrectly). They also peppered this somewhat prejudiced conversation with a discussion of the people of Tent City being kicked off their squats, of course, saying, "And it's about time they did." Add to this that they find nothing relevant to be said by anyone under 40, often talking right over my attempts to join in. These women are not giving me hope for my own old age.

Last night was the season premiere of West Wing. Ya, it was a little brim-full of rah-rah-America, but not too badly. It was also chalk full of the wonderful, witty back and forth dialogue, great cinematography, and some very good moments of poignant honesty. It's such a good show, and I'm so pleased it's still running. I look forward to another good season, even if we have to suffer through the loss of Rob Lowe. We'll survive.

After yet another lapse in entries, I am back for more. Or maybe you're back for more. Anyway, I'm back, and you're reading this, so huzzah !

I had a great weekend out in the Petes. Great except for the on-going not-feeling-so-good stuff. Friday after work, I picked up Rick from IBM and we drove to Julie's house where she and Jerzy were celebrating their most magnificent 50th wedding anniversary. Yay ! David and Jeannie were back from where ever in the world they were coming from (flying from Germany, visted Holland, working somewhere in Africa - it's all so confusing) and they, along with Tania, Karyn, and Diane (I think) made a fantastic dinner. Lamb, rice, that Greek phylo pastry dish with spinach and feta in it (spano-something) and other good things. Much frivolity occured and presents were passed about. Not just to the couple, no indeed, but also from Mom and I to David (we'd missed his birthday while he was away) and from Julie & Jerzy, Tania and David to me for my birthday.

We gave Julie and Jerzy a set of delightful wine glasses, each decorated with tiny balls made of gold glass. They were put to good service that night, when Jerzy broke out the champagne. The most amazing thing I got was David's old set of lead miniatures. We're talking about some of the original D&D/LotR miniatures ever produced. Some of them predate me ! A few of them have corroded, though, which is sad. I will attempt to preserve what I can with glaze and sealer.

The humidity was gross that night and their house doesn't have air-conditioning, which made the evening just shy of utterly unbearable. Mom looked like she was going to melt into her chair, and I kept sticking to every surface I touched. We left a bit past 10pm and dropped Rick at the subway before heading to my place to get my laundry, stereo (for fixing) and Willi. Then we hit the road for the Petes. We ended up staying up late that night, doing I'm not sure what, but it was fun, and it was nice to be in a centrally air-conditioned house. Oh the joy !

Saturday, I didn't do much of anything, but some errands with Mom. Ray came over for dinner and we watched two movies. We had rented Iris, about Iris Murdock and her decline into alzheimers. Dame Judi Dench was fantastic as was Kate Winslet (Iris, and young Iris) and the two men playing John Bayley (Jim Broadbent and Hugh Bonneville as young John) were terrific and very sensitive to their roles. It was an amazing and powerful film, and not remotely maudlin. It pulled no punches, instead showing great honesty and emotion. I don't recommend this as a good film if you want comedy. This film is touching and quite sad. Beautiful, though. Truly. After a break for some pie and enough time to decompress after the first film, we put in my brand new Monsters Inc. tape. Whee ! Mom hadn't seen it before and LOVED it. Ray, I'm not sure whether he liked it or not. Yay for fur effects !

Sunday I went to Lindsay (but first to Bridgenorth, which was unintentional and very much in the wrong direction) to meet up with Carrie, her sister Sherrie and her mom (whose name I forget) to attend a bridal show. It was... Well, there were some very tasty refreshments. And the older woman modeling the mother-of-the-bride ensembles was very good... It was odd. I think I frightened Sherrie with my snide comments, but Carrie's mother seemed to find me quite funny. It was fun. We went back to their house and Carrie modeled her dress for us, and it looks a whole lot better in person than in the photos she took. Back home that night, Mom and I watched the wonderful and charming, Cinema Paradiso. Wow, three awesome flicks in one weekend.

Yesterday was not so fun. I felt like hell and following my doctor's visit, the medication she gave me made me feel even more hellish. I didn't come back until this morning and currently, here at work, I still feel like crap. Yay. I'm going to try to get some work done on Al and Carrie's wedding invites this evening. Try being the operative word. I'm all shaky and I feel like my stomach's eating me from the inside out.