Resolution Self-Evaluation

So it's been about 4 weeks since I started on my various self improvement programs and now seems like as good a time as any to take stock. So, how did I do? Well, if you've bothered to check this blog since I started, you've probably noticed which resolution I was least successful with. There are various excuses I could dredge up to account for my lack of bloggy-ness, the fact that L is monopolizing our one computer probably being the most pertinent, but dreaming of my own MacBook Air isn't really helping anything and I'm happy his writing, editing, composing and trying to find a new job.

Oddly enough the two resolutions I am having the most success with are the most mundane: flossing and eating more apples. I am also doing pretty good on avoiding sugary things (I have pretty much cut out all snacking) and exercising (4 - 5 times a week). I've even managed to drop 5 pounds and keep it off for a whole week. Yeah me! I try to do three to four 20 - 30 minute workouts during the week before I get ready for work and then one hour long cardio workout on the weekend. If our weekend activities include cardio heavy activities such as dancing or ice skating, then I usually skip my extra weekend workout. The side benefits of exercising so frequently are that I sleep much better and I have more energy. I don't even need my morning tea anymore (I gave up coffee years ago due to stomach acid issues I nicknamed the "proto-ulcer"). When not felled by a cold I can get up at 7:00 A.M. with no problems and I don't really start to feel saggy until 4:00 PM or later, which usually just means I need dinner. Also, my jeans fit better, even when I'm wearing long-johns under them!

The eating allergens thing has been going okay, but I do admit to drinking a few beers here and there or forgetting to tell servers to omit certain things. Most recently I was confronted by the fact that both of my herbal teas at home contain lemon peel, which does in fact make me itchy. But the fact that I have been able to resist the temptation of eggs bennedict for an entire month is some at least I am proud of.

As for the blogging, I'm going to try a couple things over the next month and see how they work out:
1) Take advantage of my slow periods at work, of which there are many right now, to make notes or start/finish posts in gmail.
2) Stockpile posts developed in this manner to improve my consistency.

I had been hesitant to blog while at work, but for some reason writing my posts in gmail and then posting them later when I get home doesn't seem as bad to me. I am fortunate to be working somewhere that understands that we have slow periods and doesn't mind if you use that time to check Facebook, write emails or catch-up on your gossip as long as the work you do get assigned gets finished in a timely fashion. My workload can change drastically from one day to the next, so instead of trolling the nets for some way to entertain myself, I figure I should get over myself and take advantage of this gift of time. Of course this would be a different matter if I was posting trade secrets about my company, or making money off my blog, which given that it is invite only would be pretty hard.

My First Two Days

For the nerds (like me) who actually bothered to watch JPod tonight, no, working for a video game company is nothing like that. Well, it's a little bit like that, but our desks are much smaller and we do a LOT more work. It's also much quieter. And the view is better.

My first two days have gone well so far. I do still feel like I am wearing a sign that says "girl" on it, but I work on the team with the highest percentage of girls so it's not so bad. I don't really even have to talk to the programming nerds. In fact, I don't even have to talk to my co-workers. As a bi-product of the open office concept, everything is very, very quiet and most communication is done by e-mail or MSN. That's right, I'm supposed to use MSN at work.

Highlights include fooseball in the lunch room, the fact that I get to walk to work and the fact that I don't have to answer a phone as part of my job. Ironically, there is no dress code, yet I am treated more like a grown-up than at any of my previous "office" jobs.

Quebequois Slang Part 1: Cursing

NSFW or children

Admittedly, having completed a large portion of my schooling as part of the French Immersion program (pre-school to first year university) has been a huge asset to me these past three months. I would also have to say that my accent and confidence have improved tremendously in the short time we have been here, and my ability to speak and understand French has made my life infinitely easier in every way, from finding a job to shopping for groceries.

However, because school is supposed to teach you how to do things properly, there were a number of essential words and terms that I had to pick up on the fly. I am referring of course to slang, and the Quebequois of course have their own very specific and unique terms for all kinds of things. In lieu of just listing every bit of seeming gibberish I've picked up since October, I've opted to split the topic into several posts, beginning with the most fun: swearing!

I had an interesting bar conversation with someone not too long ago about swearing, and specifically how a culture's curse words actually reveal a lot about the particular hang-ups of that culture. For example, in English, most curses have to do with sex or bodily functions (ex: Fuck, Shit...); while in Polish a lot of curses have to do with disease and illness, a hold over from the plague days. In war ravaged areas of Eastern Europe the curses are generally very convoluted and violent (an example along the lines of "skull fuck your mother through the eye with a dog penis" comes to mind). So, it should come as no surprise that the majority of Quebequois curses have to do with the Catholic church, specifically: deliberately mispronouncing the words for sacred things.

Below are some of the most popular Quebequois swear words along with explanations and examples of their use. Please note that some of these words have multiple spellings as the issue has more to do with the pronunciation.

Tabarnak: [tah-behr-nak] This one is a play on tabernacle (same in English & French) and is probably the grand-daddy of Quebequois curses. The usage is similar to that of "Fuck" in English, although it probably isn't quite as harsh. Variants include "tabarwhet" and "tabarmoush", which are basically the same as saying "fudge" or "fiddlesticks".

Ostie: [uh-stee] A play on ossuarie or ossuary. Generally used in the declarative, or as a preposition: "Ostie,que t'est con!" Not as bad as tabarnak, it can also be shortened to "'sti" as one would shorten "Goddamn" to "damn".

Calisse: [koh-lee-ss] This one comes from calice or chalice. One of my current favourites. It is very fun to say and immediately gets across how you feel.

This of course is just a sample, I do plan on posting lots more in the future as well as some less offensive slang. While not extensive, these words are more than enough to get you started, and you can of course combine them in a host of ways to come up with new curses as demonstrated by Tom Green in the clip below:

Happy New Year!

I know that most people my age have given up on such things, but I've decided to make some resolutions this year. I've tried to stick to things I'm pretty sure I can accomplish and I've made them specific enough to yield measurable results. In some cases I have even added time frames so that the resolution does not seem as daunting.

1. Floss every day
2. Eat one apple a day (pears and apple-pears are also acceptable)
3. Blog every day
4. Exercise 5 times a week for 30 days (I am hoping to fit in morning work-outs before work since my commute time will be a mere 10 - 15 minutes)
5. Eat nothing I am allergic to for 30 days
6. Cut out sugary deserts and candies for 30 days

To help me reach my goals I have implemented a few tools and hacks to keep me focused. The first one is Sciral Consistency, which is more of a "fuzzy to do list manager", but I am using it as a sort of "don't break the chain" style motivator. It should also help me to remember to water my plants as I carry the curse of the black thumb.

I have also added To-Do List to my Google homepage as a further reminder. And, if all else fails I have the mantra "How does this help me achieve my goals?" for whenever I am feeling weak.

If you've got resolutions or tips/tricks for staying focused, please post them in the comments.