highlights

Today's excitements (in no particular order):

let's see...

Made Pad Thai with T and stayed over for dinner with him and his wife. Creation of the gingerbread Hummer followed. It's looking less and less like a Franken-tuck, and more like what it's intended to be. Icing and final touches are scheduled for completion later on in the week. It's a delicate and time-consuming art, this gingerbread sculpting!

Bitched about various annoyances with "the wife" while we hid out in my office late in the afternoon.

Started my current mapping/wayfinding project today, and thought I was making some real progress until I went to the computer and plotted out an initial mock-up. I was confused as ever by what I saw on the screen, and will need to start from square again tomorrow. A full day to realize that what I had was crap! Ah well, not all was in vain. At least I now have a light table for my office. (At least it's mine until someone tries to claim it back.)

Found out how much the folks at the external ad agency make doing the same thing that I do, but more shoddily. Let's just say that they make more money putting together one lousy flyer than I do in a single year! Oh the injustice of it all!

Called a friend in Calgary and had a good long chat...mostly about work, but also a little silliness and gossip thrown in for good measure. Had a chat with an English girl on the other end as well. Being the lover of accents that I am, this had to make it on my list of daily highlights. "Spoke with a Brit. Check!"

Discovered that a co-worker has shingles - otherwise known as herpes zoster, or a version of adult chicken pox. Not sure how contagious it is, but my fingers are crossed that it isn't too catching since we were sharing a bag of candies in the office late last week. I kept scratching nervously today, but I think it's just psychosomatic. I hope.

Found out that a co-worker's partner was just diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over the weekend. It's a big deal, particularly because he's a pilot - and this news means that he is no longer allowed to fly a plane because of the possible effects of the illness. It's what he's worked for long long to be, so the news is pretty devastating. Although he seems to be taking it in good stride so far. This serves as a reminder for me that no matter how bad I think things may be in my life, it's not really all that unbearable.

I'm going to go count my blessings now...