the screaming pages

Despite the mess of trying to upload my taxes a few weeks back the government seems to have managed to get something right. It’s barely a week later and Drew’s refund has been deposited into our bank account. I owed $$ this year *patooey* but since it was under 30$ I can’t complain too much. Of course that doesn’t mean I won’t complain at all…Drew’s refund isn’t very big but it is almost enough to cover tuition on one class. I’d like to pretend I’m being nice and sneaky by socking the “windfall” away for next semester. Unfortunately since we’ve already discussed where his tax refund is going he’s not going to be that surprised. As with me, these pre-discussions won’t stop him from complaining either.

Despite the missing job title/pay scale/etc. in my offer letter, I re-signed my contract. I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that this ends up being a good idea as I’m now committed through to mid-May 2009. No going back to work in the private sector for another year. I’m just going to sit here spending my time fantasizing about my mythical job reclassification and retroactive pay for a few moments. Ah. Wasn’t that nice?

It just would not have been a good idea for me to be unemployed a full-time student while Drew is off playing in the Sandbox. It’s a good plan. I just need to keep telling myself that. I’ll continue to have dental plan coverage and near weekly visits to the torturer dentist. I’ll be paying into a pension plan. I’ll continue to build my CV and work on papers for conferences and journals *I hope*. I’ll spend my days frolicking with super geniuses (and maroons) and playing in Second Life. There’s an educational methodology to it, honest!

Signing the contract also means that I’ll still be on track to graduate in 2011 (is it really that far away?) instead of finishing up earlier. It means I’ll be 40 before I can finish grad school – providing I can knock the socks off of the reviewing committees and gain entry to a Master’s program. Drew’s eligible for retirement at 41 and I’ll just be *knock wood* getting out of school!

But I’m getting way ahead of myself and my current dilemma. I want a shiny new MacBook. I can get a shiny MacBook (or Pro) at an educational discount as a payroll deduction at work. I didn’t buy a computer through the academic plan last year because I had just bought a new *ptooey* Dell laptop. It’s got Vista on it. Piece of pooh. I know. I’ve said that before. It bears repeating. Anywho. The mouse house doesn’t really have sufficient space for desktop systems. When we bought the house a few years back I gave all my desktop systems to friends.

Minus one.

My Mac. I LOVED my Mac. The sun rose and fell on my Mac. By the time we boxed it up for the move it was starting to show it’s age. An old G3 beige, it could only upgrade to OS X.0.5. Leopard was never in its future. When we moved in and set up the library/office (after culling many books; an exercise in pain and suffering)there just wasn’t enough space in the room for a desktop computer system, printers, etc. Something had to go and unfortunately, my beloved Mac made room for a series of PC laptops. At the time I convinced myself I couldn’t afford to buy an iBook or MacBook laptop because I worked in a PC environment. Mac’s cost significantly more than PC laptops at that time. I’d succeeded in convincing myself that if I purchased a Mac I wouldn’t have been able to install company software, access the corporate VPN, link up with co-workers when I was traveling, etc. This was, of course, before the days of decent Windows emulation software.

Since I’d purchased a new PC laptop in January of 2007 – prior to the exodus – Drew flat out refused to allow me to purchase a Mac at the college when I accepted the position here. I had to wait until the new year before he’d bend to my begging and pleading. Once the new year rolled around I didn’t want to purchase the MacBook because I through the payments would be too high. I’d have only had the option of 12 payroll deductions (6 months) instead of 24.

That’s where today’s post title comes into the mix.

Since I re-signed the contract yesterday I need to make a decision asap as to whether or not to march down to the Tech Store and buy the MacBook. The earlier I place the order, the more payroll deductions I can make in the year and the lower the payment will be. Drew refuses to weigh in on the battle I’m holding with myself as my piddling salary covers both the payroll deduction for the MacBook and mortgage payment. Ever since I quit the slave factory, accepted the el grande pay cut to work at the college, returned to university part time, and we managed to (finally!) finish paying off all non-mortgage related debt, we’ve been following the standard if we can’t save for it and buy it in cash, we don’t need it rule. It’s in play for the new garage – which we desperately need – and plans for the backyard gazebo. It’s dictating whether or not we go on vacation for the next few years. The rule may even come into play when Drew gets a new (to him) vehicle next year. The little devil on my shoulder is busy preaching that, technically, a payroll deduction isn’t a loan and it isn’t credit. The angel on my shoulder is busy reminding me that there’s nothing wrong with my PC laptop. It’s still functioning (mostly) and I have most of the software on it that I need.

Drew usually inherits my old laptops when I upgrade but he’s started murmuring about a revolt. He too wants a MacBook. Of course, he wants the 17in Pro while I want the 15in Pro. My current PC laptop is a 17in. and I find it too big for my liking. Two laptops before that I had a 13in and I didn’t like it as much as I thought I would…Off topic again. I know. I just can’t seem to make a decision. Perhaps it’s a good thing. The longer I wait, the less likely I am to buy the new laptop. The more I’ll be able to curse Vista and stop around complaining about my Dell.

Maybe the new Mac is a good idea after all…

I’ve written about my awesome neighbours a number of times. We’ve had some new additions to our neighbourhood recently. One is a couple we’ve known for a year and another is an ex-army member. The men all work for R, my neighbourly contractor.

For the last few weekends they guys have been getting together on their off-time to put up a wooden gazebo at E & V’s (two doors down). L was calling a case of gazebo envy as he, Drew and E2 built one for R while he was in Vietnam last September. Ever since we’ve all wanted one. After finishing the roofing and installing lights and a ceiling fan, E & V are now happily sitting under theirs. Drew and I won’t be able to put one up in our yard until next summer. We need to have the concrete pad laid first and that won’t be before next year. This year all the renovation budget is being spent on a new garage. I’m really looking forward to its completion. Soon I’ll no longer be able to direct people to my house by telling them that once they see the ugliest garage in Edmonton, they’ve arrived.

But I wasn’t planning on blogging about gazebos and garages today.

Years ago, long before we moved into this area, E & V used to host a pretty regular poker games with their friends and neighbours. While I was out of country, they held a few and Drew would drop by for a game. Recently we’ve restarted the tradition and it’ll been a lot of fun. We usually have 8 players – of varying experience levels – and to date, have had at least one new person joining in each night. Friends and neighbours who don’t play drop by for short visits . It’s a perfect opportunity to grab a drink and some conversation.

Last night was our night to host a game. We often talk about the small size of our house. It’s perfect for the two of us, cats and mid-sized dogs. By today’s building standards, we’re pretty much living in a 2 car garage as opposed to a house, but I much prefer it that way. We use every room in the house – as opposed to many of our friends with larger homes that rarely enter all the rooms in their homes on an average week. Besides we have old hardwood floors, stained glass french doors, and cove ceilings. Things you don’t see in most modern homes. Yeah, I’m house proud. What of it?

Ummm, I appear to be off topic again. Where was I? Small house. Lots of people. Most in the kitchen. Dogs sleeping under the kitchen table. When they weren’t trying to scam their way to some food. When everyone is having a good time a small room becomes a cozy centre of the universe.

Can’t wait until next week.

Spring is not my favourite season.  Don’t get me wrong – I like that the snow and cold tend to disappear once spring has rolled around.  Autumn is a far better season.  Slowly cooling down.  Light shows in the night sky.  Camping and firepits.  Spring just can’t compete with a robust and multi-talented season sucha s Autumn.

What did spring do to earn my ire?  Constant temperature fluxuations.  +20C one week. -10C and multiple feet of snow the week after. What  5 minutes and the ground is soggy from all of the rain.  +15 on Sunday and -4 on Monday.  I’m sure you get the picture.   Spring is just fickle.  No consistency.  No attempt to establish a nice seasonal standard and stick with it.

I tend to start experiencing sinus troubles (or worse) during the spring.  Today, my nose feels like someone is pounding on the side of it.  Headaches.  Sneezing my brains out.  Watery eyes.  Confused nasal cavity that doesn’t know when to be stuffed or runny and so tries to do both at the same time.  Typical allergy type suffering.  Except…

I’ve never really been known to have allergies – excluding peanuts and the dogs – to spring before. 

Traditionally, at this time of year, I just catch some awful cold or flu due to the continual changes in temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure.  This year I think I’ll manage to avoid the cold *knock wood* but suspect I’ll spend just as much time whining about how horrible it is to be sick.

Which just plain sucks because it’s Robin’s escape from Dell party tonight.  She’s now officially laid off as of the end of her shift today.  She begins a new term position on Monday.  It’s a 6 month temp position filling in for someone on leave so there’s no guarantee her contract will be extended.  We’re not worried.  Yet.  Lots of companies are interested in her skills.  And, as we do enjoy teasing her, if she can’t find a job she likes, she can always fall back on teaching.  Robin is a former science teacher and from what I heard, she was a great one.

But I digress.  To sum up:

• Spring is bad
• Sinus colds are a pain
• Tonight we party like it’s 1999
• My next round of classes start Monday, May 5th
• Robin starts her new job the same day – no sitting around for a month blogging for her…
• I’m anxiously awaiting my final grades in my Winter 08 courses.  Likely a need to wait few more weeks before I know anything.

I’m an insomniac. I thought I’d managed to break free of the evil grip of no sleep. I have experienced hours days weeks of decent sleep since I quit my past job in spring of 2007 and started working at the college.   Lately I’ve noticed that I’m starting to have difficulty sleeping once again.

I used to think that my inability to sleep was related to stress.  Perhaps it is.  But, exams aside, I don’t really feel stressed these days.  At least not due to work.  My jobs being reclassified (ergo, promotion) and my contact is being renewed.  I’ve had an opportunity to work on papers and with some amazing minds.  I’m learning something new most days. 

That said, I just can’t seem to turn my brain off at night. I spend time thinking about work, school, the hubby’s upcoming trip, etc. Thoughts roll around in my head.  Future plans.  Reminder notices to self.  Occassional conversations with myself.  I often wonder how people’s brains work. I wonder if I’m the only one who can’t turn it all off and go to sleep – no matter how desperately I want to do so. I think that’s why I decided to study psychology instead of sociology when I returned to university.

For now, I’ll settle for a good night’s sleep.