If it keeps up, man will atrophy all his limbs but the push-button finger. ~ Frank Lloyd Wright
So I'm sitting in the office, getting ready to make some calls when the question hits me again: Why are the numbers on a phone arranged differently than the numbers on a calculator or computer keyboard? I say "again" because this question has popped up in my head before, and I just keep on setting it aside. This time, I want to know - I mean, we live in an age where we just "use" things without really knowing how they're made or how they work. We buy food that magically appears on grocery store shelves, we use energy without thinking about where it comes from and we wear clothes from places we've never been (c'mon, how many people do you know have been to a sweat shop?).
I wonder how real survivors would fare if war or some natural disaster ended life as we know it on earth? I don't really know how to build a good shelter or forage for food or find clean water. Not that knowing why one keypad layout is one way and why the other is another would help me if armeggedon hit, but that was the original question, so check some possible answers on
How Stuff Works. I guess I'll worry about the survival skills later because I have to get back to my modern life...
(Yes, it's Friday and I want to get the weekend started!)
Last week, I went to Waterloo for a meeting at the university. Everytime I go back to that place I get this funny feeling in my stomach and I become nostalgic.
All was good until we got off the 85 (used to be the 86 before it was all reconstructed) and drove onto University Ave. By that time I was saying things like, "Hmmm...I wonder if they've finsihed building such-and-such yet, and I can't believe it's already been four years since I graduated...and there's the townhouse complex I lived in in 4th year, when I'd roll out of bed 10 min before class...", etc, etc.
My co-workers and I headed for the Davis Centre for our meeting, where I was reminded of late-night study sessions at the library and line-ups at Tim Horton's. Afterwards, we decided to eat bad Chinese food in DC (for posterity's sake and because of it's close proximity) instead of going to the Math C&D (I'm sure they still have cheap soup and bagels). Then to get back to the car, I took us on a route which passed the science buildings where I spent so many of my days.
In no time, we were on the road again...but my head was still in Waterloo...still thinking about the good times...
Last Friday, I got together with my university friends. I told them about my visit to Waterloo and we launched into a "remember when..." conversation. Remember when we got caught in that huge snowball fight with the engineers...remember when we t-peed Jay's bike and snuck into Sid's room...remember (various distrastrous incidents in) chem/bio lab...remember trying to get a hold of old exams...remember Frosh...remember all those talks about boys...remember the SLC and Fed Hall and drunken nights...
Today...
--ring, ring--
Me: Hello?
Unknown person: Good evening, may I please speak to Sonia?
Me (hesitating...is she trying to sell me windows?): This is she...
Still unknown person: Hi Sonia, my name is [I don't remember], and I'm calling from the University of Waterloo Alumni Office. How are you tonight?
--chit-chat about how I was doing, where I'm working, and whether I was receiving e-mail Alumni newletters - I know what she really wants to ask - when will she ask it?--
Alumni Office: ...and the last reason I'm calling you today is because we are in the midst of a fundraising campaign...
--she takes a very big breath and launches into a lengthy spiel--
Alumni Office: ...right now the government has agreed to donate matching funds to the program. If you donate $250, the government will match you dollar-for-dollar. This would be a great help to new science students. Would you be able to contribute?
Me (crap...how convenient that I'm in a "good old days" mood...and yes, it would be right to donate to my school...but I was laid-off for two months and I just got my job back!): I don't think I can make that kind of commitment at this time...
Alumni office: Ok, well, even if you made a smaller donation, it would be fine. How about $50?
Me (ok, I fold...I'm not THAT tight on money...I had a good time at UW...and I used to complain about the lack of scholarship/bursary funding for undergrads at Waterloo...so...): Ok, that's fine.
--she takes my credit card info and thanks me--
Sometimes things just happen and you end up with $50 less in your pocket.
Hey, it's almost Christmas anyway. Why not get into the spirit?
That I would be good
Even if I did nothing
That I would be good
Even if I got the thumbs down
~Alanis Morissette, That I Would Be Good
You live you learn
You love you learn
You cry you learn
You lose you learn
You bleed you learn
You scream you learn
~Alanis Morissette, You Learn
OK, it's time to come clean.
I don't know that many people know this about me, but I'm actually a sore loser. Shaky has seen this side of me quite a few times now. Although he remains supportive and loving, I'm sure it's getting to him. Often times, I'm also feeling low in the self-esteem category.
I won't even go into the details, because it's embarassing. Growing up, it took me awhile before I understood what "constructive criticism" meant, and even then, I had a hard time stomaching (and sometimes still do) anything remotely close. If I'm not good at something in a relatively short time, it really bugs the hell out of me, and it bugs me even more if someone else gets it first. I expect a lot from myself and I also don't like letting people down. People tell me I'm doing a great job, but sometimes I just can't believe it. Can't I do more? Why am I not a superwoman?
Oh well, it's all in the past now and I can laugh about it. You live and you learn - I've lived almost 28 years now and I'm still trying. How long is it going to take?
