shuttleneck

the happiness and joy of the day began with our as-usual aggro shuttle driver, who - in addition to his blaring "eastern" music so loudly that i couldn't cancel it out with my ipod - hit a speedbump so violently that i felt my neck shunt into the base of my skull, and i've been uncomfortable since.

you know how people claim to be able to tell the future with tea leaves? in my case, the tea itself seeped out of the bag and sat at the bottom of the hot water this morning. it was a sign, i tell you. maybe i shouldn't have drunk it.

i enthusiastically added search capability to my big project (so excitedly, in fact, that i didn't drink first coffee until about 10am). i did that until the new moron (trucker) in charge of me* brought in one of our project managers to talk to me.

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the project manager is the kind of guy who never gets his knickers in a knot; cool, calm and collected. he doesn't always understand everything, but he makes up for that with motivation and a level head. that's what made it especially unnerving when he walked in, furious with me and speaking in terms that were decidedly unfriendly.

i'm extremely proud of how i handled the situation. i didn't raise my voice, but i did raise all the points that were relevant and in a manner that left nothing unclear. i was perfectly confident in my position, and by the time he "got" me and we were both speaking the same language i felt the dual urge to both slap trucker very hard and to razz him with thumbs on temples and fingers a-wiggling.

he'd tried to pass the buck onto me for his incompetence and lack of a basic grasp of the situation. he messed with the wrong guy.

* he's not really in charge of me, because nobody is at the moment. nystire has been complaining about him for years, but because nystire complains about everybody i haven't really paid any heed. he's the guy i've been [fighting with], and this morning i actually told him that he's obviously unfocused and needs to get his act together.

incompetence is one thing, but add to that shirking his responsibilities in a manner that has the entire office (including our SC) throwing up their hands in vexation at every turn makes it a darker creature altogether.

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i seem to have made the dean's (from my alma mater) other honour list. he called me up today, asking me to take on his son as a tutor.

[what the hell did i mean, "fix woes"?? i have got to stop doing this to myself]
[ah, yes. the kinder laughed at me for sitting at the secretary's desk, then required my assistance in something that i excel at more than most secretaries. unfortunately, he hit another block after i helped him and no less than three captains and a lieutenant were forced to give up. the fax machine appears to be broken.]

lunch wasn't bad, and there was much laughter at the table. the guy who gave me a ride back to our building was shocked that i identified marilyn manson - sweet dreams within a second of him putting it on: is there any other song with a remotely similar beginning?

i have acquired an assistant, and amassed a number of ideas for amusing short videos depicting different aspects of my current situation :)

after getting a bit of wiki-work done (that's what the [fighting]'s been about), my head started spinning and i crept over to nystire's office so i could take a nap without bothering the unit commander. i was woken in time for coffee and "rescue chocolates" that one of the girls keeps for just such emergencies. good chocolate ^_^

the weekly meeting was amusing - a few of the guys were concerned that without clearance i shouldn't be updated along with everyone else. in a show of cynicism, i stood with my hands over my ears :P

the girl who i've had a few difficult run-ins with over the last couple of years? i've heard now from a number of sources that it's not just me, and today i witnessed her explode over an innocent question that somebody else asked. i made it worse, of course, but by that stage i didn't care any more. some people make their own lives shit. it's a choice, you know.

ten of us left early to participate in a memorial service for a fallen soldier who'd served in our unit about twenty-five years ago. the service at the cemetery was quick and painless, and the ride to the family's home was fun. the service at their home was alright, although a bit long, but eventually i got a ride back to ramat gan.

it took an exceptionally long time for the bus to arrive, and when it did it was packed. as usual, the people at the front couldn't breathe and there was plenty of room at the back - i got dark looks as i slowly made my way there, and when i stood up and stretched i got surprised and embarrassed looks from those same faces.

i don't get why nobody thought to join me.

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my eyes have been itching for a while now, and my legs randomly for the last couple of days. i don't think they're connected, but it's annoying. i believe it's mostly psychological, though.

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i need to nap before going out. i know i made the right call by not going to the climbing wall today.

korpiklaani - vodka - i think i like this song.

a new zealand attempt: good on you, guys! i really hope their project succeeds :)

i have to thank my mum for this link: horse's pass. it may not be true, but it's a nice story.