Plugged toilet ... cause: RAGS

We recently moved offices to a MUCH older building, which is fine, don't get me wrong. However, in the two weeks that we have been here the women's toilet has plugged and overflowed on three occasions. Unfortunately when it plugs and overflows the inconvenience doesn't just affect the women, it also affects the parts guy downstairs ... the water drips into his area. Niiiice!

Three times the plumbers have attended to the problem. On the last occasion they pulled out a little something on the end of their roto rooter jobbie thing. Now of course being a male plumber he just dealt with the first man he could find. Men being men they oooohed and aaaahed over the finding. Then the plumber left.

The man he had dealt with told me that the roto rooter had pulled rags out.

Fast forward two days. An email arrives from my direct supervisor, apparently we women are NOT to flush our tampons anymore because that is what is plugging the toilet. Also, refrain from using the nice, soft paper towels as toilet paper... of course this was said tongue in cheek. I emailed her back and said that it would be interesting to know just WHO was flushing tampons cuz this past week I've been the only one using that bathroom and I know I haven't been blessed with Aunt Flo's presence. And as for the paper towel being used as toilet paper ... well I like it rough but I'll try to refrain from that pleasure whilst at work.

I was annoyed that men upon hearing "rags" as the cause immediately pinned the blame on female sanitary products. I spoke the the guy who dealt with the plumber and he said the rags the plumber pulled out were shop type hand wipes used by mechanic types ..... hmmmmmm seeing as how the men's washroom is up-pipe from the woman's bathroom would you not deduce that the men are flushing things they shouldn't be?? Of course not, it's much simpler to blame the women.

I don't usually cry sexist... but really ... c'mon.

Oh and for the record..this is not a new problem, was happening before we arrived on the scene!!

Stranded ...

I came to Calgary yesterday to attend a family get together at my brother's house. When I left my house the temperatures were balmy, very spring like. They remained so even after I go to Calgary. Then I heard news that horrified me... they had issued a winter storm warning. As I looked to the clear blue sky I thought surely they must be joking!!!

I went to bed with visions of this in my head:

I was anticipating the arrival of spring and all that I have planned. I could taste it ... it was sooooo close. The snow was melting, the air was warming, the geese were back and I could hear the beautiful chirping of the birds who had been missing for so long.

In fact, on the drive to Calgary and once we had arrived I couldn't help but notice the barren brown of theland. It needs to green up soon I thought... the time is here!!!

I wouldn't allow my spring dreams to be dashed by a mere weatherman's bleak outlook, I mean really how often are they right, and hadn't we had enough winter.... hadn't we????

So I went to bed.

I awoke.

TO THIS SIGHT:

My brother grilled our dinner on here last night....

AND THIS ONE:

There was no snow on this deck yesterday...NONE...NOT ONE FLAKE...

AND THIS:

I wanted to run and hide. I wanted to scream and gnash my teeth. I wanted to sit down and cry rivers of tears. This storm effectively stranded me in Calgary. The highways are not in good condition, my truck is too light and frankly, I'm not brave enough to chance it. I was supposed to be seeing my boyfriend tonight, however that may not happen because I can't get home :o((

I know that being safe is more important and there will be other days to see him... but seriously ... winter needs to get lost ...NOW!!!!

I've had enough. I am cranky now. I am tired of white. I want color.

And this tree... this one right here:

Yeah, it was ready to weep this morning as well. It too wants winter to GO FAR AWAY!!!! It wants to spring forth with it's many buds and color the world a happy green.

I am so sick of winter.

If I call you Calgon ...will you take me away??

Cute Stuff

Not much to say today... but I did want to share this because it is too funny.

I received a text from my youngest daughter today.

It said:

"Can I have a breado"

I'm reading it, thinking breado...WTF is a breado? I was sitting at my desk repeatedly whispering "breado" to myself trying to figure it out. My co-workers were poised to call the men in white coats ... we only live 25 minutes from the provincial mental hospital so they could have come quickly. I sounded like I was playing that game where you repeatedly say a gibberish phrase until it makes sense (can't remember the name of the game offhand).

Suddenly it made sense!!!!

Breado ... breado ....BREADO ...BURRITO!!!!

She wanted a burrito.

*sigh*

I texted back ...A burrito? Yes you may.

I call myself Mom.

Winter Doldrums

Recently the weather had changed and most of our snow was gone. I was rejoicing, I had Spring Fever. I bought a new GPS, some scrambling books and topographic maps.... I was preparing for my spring/summer activities.

However, Old Man Winter (ohhhh how I'd love to chop his nads off, shove them where the sun don't shine and kick him repeatedly in the ass for good measure) decided to have another go at us. It snowed and snowed AND SNOWED yesterday. It was thick, sticky, wet snow. Then the temperature dropped so all the wet snow iced up underneath causing havoc on the roads. I was out shovelling at 10 PM because I am a good resident and I like to keep my sidewalks clear for those who walk on them.

Old Man Winter (the bastard), however, decided that the snow wasn't enough. Nooooooo, he had to send bitterly cold, gusting winds. Winds that steal your very breath the second you step outside. Winds that freeze uncovered skin numb in seconds. Winds that blew all the nicely shovelled snow all over, covering the clean sidewalks with drifts of spiteful snow. Winds that caused drifts to pile up on our roadways making driving a real treat. Winds that cause one to become very cranky, and VERY SICK OF WINTER.

I am sick of winter. Sick of the shovelling, the scraping, the freezing, the bundling... sick of the dirty white snow that litters the sides of our streets. I am sick of looking outside and seeing white, white BLAH WHITE.

I want color. I want to see buds on the trees. I want to see blue water and blue sky. I want to see lush green grass. I want to hear the birds chirping in the morning. I want to feel the sun beating in my window in the morning.

I WANT SPRING. DO YOU HEAR ME OLD MAN WINTER... GO AWAY!!!!!!

.... and sometimes I put make-up on just so I won't cry.

*sigh*