Month: August 2004

Had a client meeting today with a non-technical client. I now want to shoot myself. Highlights:

client: we need your database to support many internet providers
me: okaaay, but I thought the hospital had its own net connection
client: yes, but sometimes they don't connect properly. Just today, I tried to use the Internet Explorer provider, but it wouldn't connect, so I switched to the Netscape provider and that worked. We need to be able to use multiple internet providers.
me: oooh, you mean browsers.

*begins head-wall interface*

Then, they start going over every line of the fucking specification document, commenting on “should this label be called comment or remarks?”. FOR TWO FUCKING HOURS!

This is the 7th version of the spec document. It's been on the table for the last 4 months. We walked in thinking this version was going to be approved, as our last meeting was mostly nitpicking (again!). Um, no. Yet again, new stuff came out of the woodwork. Stuff that was never on the original contract. When we mention this, we only get big blank cow stares, and snide comments of the sort “but it's so much more logical. What's the use of having a system we can't use?”. Then when we say it's going to take more time and resources, and will cost more, they bitch. God damnit, they're already getting this huge project at bargain-basement ridiculously low prices. Shut the fuck up, will you?

My favourite quote of this meeting was “we're women, we change our minds often”. I wanted to jump over the table and bitchslap the condescending cow.

Dear lord, our bathroom smells like a bordello. I used to live with two women, and there weren't as many bottles of perfume, deodorant , hair goop and flowery-scented candles. You walk into the room and there's a wall of sickeningly-sweet smell waiting to smack you.

15 Things You Probably Never Knew or Thought About

1. At least 5 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.
4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
5. Every night, someone thinks about you before they go to sleep.
6. You mean the world to someone.
7. If not for you, someone may not be living.
8. You are special and unique.
9. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
11. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
12. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, probably, sooner or later, you will get it.
13. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
14. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know.
15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.

I have a situation. Again. It involves a woman. I like her. A lot. And from what she tells me, she feels the same way. She's smart, funny, silly. She makes me laugh. She makes me feel good. I can see myself falling in love with this girl. She's shy and quiet. She likes to tease. Only problem, she lives 6000km away, across the ocean.

And now, there are two of them.

*begin head-wall interface*

I suck.

Slow day today. Spent way too much time doing manual data curation for a client. Great lady, I really like her, but right now, my head isn't in it and checking a few thousand rows of a database for inconsistencies really isn't floating my boat.

I've tried to nonchalantly drop in to the McGill dude's office to see what's happening for the last two days now. Monday was a no-go because my day sucked ass at work. I had a chance to drop by today, but he was in a meeting. damndamndamndamn.

Boris, for some reason, has discovered a fascination with the bathroom sink. I wake up in the morning and go to the bathroom… and he's sleeping in it. I turn on the tap, and he's just fascinated by it. Even though he hates getting wet, he'll sit in the sink and let his paws get wet and watch the water go down the drain. Silly cat. He spent the whole evening sleeping on my arm tonight.

I have a few pictures on the digicam, I just need to get new batteries so I can download them. More later. Sleep now.

Crepe night at sbourge was a resounding sucess. ashre79, eniran, moonlightjoy, emjayne and syracusepoet showed up. Steph's crepe pan kicks-ass, and the food was scrumpdelicious. I'd brought a nice little bottle of port (not porc, not porn – snartasses), and it really hit the spot with chocolate crepes and maple syrup. Hmmmmm! Everybody was on a sugar rush :D

We had fun trying to gross each other out with medical horror stories, which is always fun. We headed over to my place so everybody could meet Boris and my imaginary roommate. Cat was a great success, roomie was a no-show. I'll have to scold him for that :(

All in all, a great way to end an otherwise bad day. Work crap prevented me from going to McGill, which I'll be doing tomorrow. I'm curious to see what's going to happen with that. A lot is riding on the outcome :)

Me going bed now.

And from the look of the correspondence I'm having today, it seems kind of appropriate :)