Office Secrets

Now that I have the whole fancy shmancy Corporate job, I get a taste of it. A taste of pure ass.

The company I work for is family owned. Family owned would probably also mean nice and sharing and wonderful and turkey, right? (Don't know why turkey, just seems like a family thing) That's what I thought. The company is going through some major restructuring in my department. This restructuring most likely means demotions (without the cut in salary, thank gummy god) and perfect teams being split up. This restructuring will be effective next month. Has this been communicated? Fuck no. Have we been asked about our career goals and what WE think OUR strengths are? You see where I'm going with this, we've been asked nothing. No input, no communication.

Now the sad thing is our team lead knows what's happening but won't tell us a single damn thing. We're slaves to this family owned business, we have to go where they tell us to. Sure we can quit, but that's not really a great option for me. I spent four long months looking for a job before I got this one. I can't go through that again, emotionally or financially. More emotionally than financially.

My point being, decisions that affect our lives directly (decisions that have been made, mind you) are not being communicated to the ones who have to actually take on the change. Why? So that we don't loose the motivation with our current positions and ruin the company this month. Is this a good way to do business? Is there anything called morality in this business world? They drill their core values into our heads so that we remember them and communicate them to our stakeholders. We remember them and we know they're all bullshit.

So final thoughts, there's nothing I can do about this. I have to live with what I have and be thankful I get a paycheck. I have to live with all the nightmares of what my new position could be (I'm the newest, I am the one who will be treated like shit) who my new boss will be, what hours will I be working, would I be able to handle new overtime with a course load, etc. Sad thing is I've gotten so worked up about it that I forgot I still have four exams to write before the end of January plus 10 assignments to do before the end of this month.

Oops.

People Who Lack Human Decency

My next rant (actually my first rant in a really long time) is about people who lack human decency. Living in Nova Scotia, people are expected to be nice and over courteous, so it's really weird when people are assholes.

Take for example what happened this morning. A car dealer. Need I say more?

Ok I will say more.

My car dealer never gave me a spare key when I got my car. Not really a big deal, but it is something I should have at home. It could come in serious handy. So he's been calling me at least three times every week trying to book an appointment, and finally we decided that this morning would be best. I would be off work and be able to stay in contact with him all day. The super bad part for me though is that I would have to wake up at 7:45 on my sleeping in day to give him my keys. Fine, whatever finally the run around would be over. So what happens this morning?

He doesn't show up. 40 minutes after he's supposed to be at m y house, I call the dealership. He called in sick that morning and didn't bother telling anyone about my appointment.

Fuck car dealers.

Cheap Ass Vanity: Part 2

My second tip for my "Cheap Ass Vanity" posts is less of a tip really, but more of a word of caution. This word of caution also applies to my own Cheap Ass Vanity tips that I will post. This is geared more towards people who read other peoples posts on skin care, hair care, and even hair removal.

First, a little back story. My dad is awesome, and he listens. When I complained about my acne (back before I found my tea tree oil skin care regimen which works awesome for me), he saw an ad on TV for Proactiv. It sounds great, guaranteed to work, worked for all those people on TV, and also other people as well. So my dad being awesome as he is purchased it for me. I followed the instructions perfectly, used it for about a month only to end up looking like I didn't have skin, but a layer of boils on my face. Well, not really boils, but new pimples and lots of whiteheads. It was awful.

Moral of that story is that a product that claims will definitely work on your skin, work on your hair, remove your body hair permanently, really has a 90% chance that it will not do what it claims. Why, you may ask?

WE ARE NOT THE SAME, PEOPLE! We all have different skin, different allergies, different conditions, different hair, different hair growth, different everything. So before you go out and purchase a system that will make your problem "go away", request a trial. Go for something small before you buy the whole deal. Also, do your research. Google the product, there are some great customer (and doctor) reviews on the web. Even go see a doctor to find out what your allergies are and research the ingredients in the products. (Just a word to the wise: products that contain animal proteins tend to do more damage to the skin for some people)

Advertising is probably the most effective way to do business, but unfortunately for us lovely people who want to look even more lovely, the most harmful. When we have problems, we ache for solutions. When we see something on TV or the internet that worked for somebody, we want it too because we want our problem to go away like their problem went away. I will, however, not blame the advertiser. I will blame us, the ones who fall for it. Especially in this day and age where there is a wealth of information at our fingertips and also some amazing doctors who can assess what will and will not work for you with a few tests. Buyer beware.

Also, before you go out and buy a product, don't forget home remedies! There are some great home remedies out there that cost next to nothing and have proven to be very effective for SOME people. This goes for everything I listed above - hair care, skin care, and even hair removal by sugaring. What's great about them is that they're natural and have less of a chance of doing damage by synthetic ingredients your skin may have a reaction to.

One last tip: ALWAYS do a test patch. I recently had a really bad experience with wax strips where it somehow peeled off my skin and kindly left the hair behind. I really wish I did a test strip before I tried that out. Ouch.

Cheap Ass Vanity: Part 1

So since the title of this blog is "a gamer. a girl. not ugly." and I have clearly incorporated the gamer part of me into this blog, also the bitch side of me, I have decided to incorporate the not ugly side of me as well. So every once in awhile I am going to write up an article on cheap ways to glam yourself up, or as the title suggests, Cheap Ass Vanity. Because even those with little money need some glam.

So for my first tip, let's talk about old makeup you want to throw away. Particularly old eyeshadows that just really don't fit your style. Or maybe even old lipsticks that were too bright red that make you go "ugh, what was I thinking?!" Also, please note that I am NOT a professional makeup artist. I am an average Jane who does her own makeup and frequents YouTube looking for new tips. My favorite, and a must follow is Kandee Johnson. She's also my inspiration for the following tips.

First, eyeshadows. We really shouldn't call them eyeshadows because they make amazing lip colors! If the color doesn't work with your current eye style, use that sucker on your lips, if the color works. First, make sure you have a really amazing base, because eyeshadow is dry. I recommend using a lip buff (really amazing one at The Body Shop) before to exfoliate your lips, then put on your favorite super moisturizing lip chap. Really slather it on, feed your lips moisturizer. Now, you can do one or both of the following steps. A) Take a really fine tipped brush, dip it in the shadow and line your lips. I usually skip this step as my lips are pretty full and thick, but don't skip this step if you have thinner lips. It really gives you the extra oomph. B) Dip your finger in the shadow and color in your lips! For extra glam, use your favorite clear lip gloss (NOT A RUB ON, BUT A SPONGE OR ROLL BALL APPLICATOR) over this look. What's great about this stuff is that it doesn't come off! Highly recommended for a long night out where you need to look glamorous, or even a wedding so you don't kiss off all your beautiful lip makeup.

Next, old "what was I thinking?!" lipsticks. This can also be used for the old eyeshadows if the color matches! They make EXCELLENT blushes. Especially those bright red lipsticks. However, keep in mind that the key with those really bright red lipsticks used as a blush is moderation. I suggest dabbing a tiny bit on your finger and then rubbing it on the apples of your cheek. Blush is such a necessity to complete your look. Without it, I find a lot of girls look too washed out. We naturally have reds on our faces, it really gives your finished look a healthy glow.

Now, something I need you guys to keep in mind is that these tricks I have described above - the products are NOT made for these purposes! You can go overboard with the eyeshadow lip color as that's not going to make much of a difference, but when you're considering the blush trick, PLEASE try this on yourself the night before you plan on wearing it out. Using lipstick as a blush can be really tricky, especially with those bright reds. Paler skins might not even be able to get away with it. But even so, you should always have loose powder nearby to cover up any of those harsh colors you get on your face, or even cover up/fix eye makeup. So if it's too bright, conceal the blush a little with your loose powder.

Anyways, that's all for now! I'll keep on updating as I find more cheap ass tricks! In the mean time, stay beautiful and GLAM! And remember, the best makeup tip is confidence. Believe in yourself, believe in your beauty and it will shine through. This is the cheapest tip anyone can give you, but the hardest to achieve. LOVE yourself, everyone will love you for it!

People Who Complain About "Cheap Fighters"

All of us who have played Street Fighter over some online system (yeah I mean PSN, why the hell would you use anything else?) have had the opportunity to taste sweet sweet victory, only for it to be soured by some sore loser who calls your fighting technique "cheap." This, to me, is a way for the losers to console themselves. Because let's face it - cheap fighting is the first thing us Street Fighter enthusiasts learn to counter. Ever heard of blocking, sore loser?

Being beaten by a fighter who just uses the same move over and over again says more about the loser's disability to play a character rather than the winner's ability to perform a set of button combinations over and over again. The most popular of these? Spam hadooken/sonic boom/whatever fireball motion your character screams out. How do you counter these? Being a decent Street Fighter player myself, I have learned to counter with the characters I primarily use. For example:

Juri: dive kick/fireball back. Once you're down there and they're trying to shoryuken/flash kick, ultra the hell out of them.

Ibuki: slide under, throw knives, dive kick.

Cammy: spinning backfist.

The solution for all other players that never fails? Certain ex moves, focus attacks. Scared they're going to shoruyken you as soon as you get close? Fake jump, then punish it. Can't kill a turtler? Yes you can, there's still chip damage. Let them stay there, punish it.

I'll be honest with you, world. I've been playing Street Fighter for less than a year. If I get this, how the hell can you sore losers not get this?

So next time you lose, before you go hating on the other person for being a cheap fighter, ask yourself "what the hell is wrong with me? Do I deserve to play this amazing game? Wow, I obviously don't. I should just go kill myself instead of sending angry messages to the obviously better fighter. Topical idea and such classy word play, I shall do just that!"

The end.

Homeless People

Homeless people (or hobo's). Depending on the individual, a non-hobo will either say they are a nuisance, a functional member of society who refuses to do nothing, or they have just been put in a really sad situation so we should give them our money. Yeah, we totally don't need our money.

I am on the "they are functional members of society who refuse to do anything" wagon. In the downtown area of where I live, it is not uncommon to see hobos with a Tim Horton's coffee cup asking for some spare change, yelling profanities at you when you don't give them change, washing your windows at busy intersections, and just bitching about something. My problem is this - why can't they do something for themselves instead of making themselves the taxpayer's problem? I'm all for helping those who are seriously in need - the sick, the immobile, the handicapped (not including the ones who claim they're handicapped because they let themselves get too fat), but not those who can do something for themselves.

I really don't care what excuse they give. If you can move and talk, you can get yourself to a computer (the public library has these) or a career counselor (some of which are free) and get yourself a fucking job. Garbage collector, janitor, whatever. They need to have respect for themselves which they CAN NOT gain if we, the people who work the 9-5 busting our asses off, give them even a penny of our money.

Again, I know there are exceptions to this rant. I know there are people out there who are mentally ill or have some other kind of legitimate handicap. The others though? They're asking for our money because they know they can guilt us. We're Canadians. We're nice. Too nice. But my point here is that by being the person who gives the able bodied people money for no service, we are actually aiding their own personal regression. How can a person feel good about themselves taking money from a stranger who worked their ass off for that money? Without self confidence, you gain nothing. With it, the world is in your hands.

So next time you walk by a hobo and don't give them your change - don't feel bad about yourself. Don't think you did anything wrong. Just hope that they'll eventually come to a point when they feel they can do something for themselves. You don't have to. Don't get involved. Be nice. Be a Canadian.

Deception

Note: I suggest reading this through once without clicking on the links. Then read it again with the links. There is a hidden message in the body of this entry. Also, for those who don't understand it, I am not in an abusive relationship. Enjoy!

I woke up today. In my mind, the image of his smiling face still flashing before my eyes. Reality is no escape for my nightmares. How could he? It's killing me.

My insides yanked around. My outside torn. Oh, why has all this happened? Ah! Very evil. You outrageous ugly demon! Oh no, enough!

For years, I've looked up to him. I've waited for when he would give me something new. I would hold it in my hands like I'd hold my first born. I never saw this coming. Never saw this coming.

Regardless of how he has treated me, his symbol still lies around my finger. I see his creations in my dreams.

I still love. Even though he has done this.

If he's reading this, I want him to know something - I'm still waiting for you. I still love what you have created. I still hold our memories so close to me. I will love you forever. My demon.

My View on "Prostitots"

Hello world! I have chosen to start my blogging experience with my view on what has been referred to as "Prositots." Simply put, Prostitots are humans under the age of consent (which our society has deemed as 18) who act like whores. The most popular Prostitot, and the current center of controversy is the Disney Princess: Miley Cyrus for pulling a Britney - no underwear while wearing a mini skirt and getting out of a car.

Miley is a celebrity. Miley is currently a minor. My neice in India adored her. She was the one who introduced me to her, and I thought it was adorable how she would go around the house screaming "YOU GET THE BEEEEEST OF BOTH WORLDS!" Seriously, love her to death. I don't think Miley does Hannah Montana anymore, and frankly, I don't want to know what she would do on a Disney show anymore.

If my Hollywood-knowhow is correct, Perez Hilton deemed Miley a Prostitot first and posted pictures of her crotch online. Comments on Perez Hilton's blog were filled with outrage suggesting Perez should be thrown in jail, he is sick, he is trafficking child pornography, etc.

Now to where I stand on this issue. Miley knows what she was doing. Show me a self-respecting girl who wears a short skirt out in public without underwear and climbs out of her car one leg at a time and doesn't expect people to point at her cooter. Show me a girl like that, and I'll show you an attention-whore denying herself. So Miley, if for some reason you're reading this blog post written by a nobody in Nova Scotia, stop whining you rich Disney Princess Whore.

On to what Perez did. Now, I assume other bloggers/paparazzi people have posted these pictures, but because I can I will focus on Perez. I have nothing but respect for Perez Hilton because he doesn't deny what he is. He is a gay dude who writes shit about celebrities and thrives on controversy. He welcomes controversy. He wants more controversy, and he is not afraid to say it. He is not taking back what he did, because he feels that was not only his right as a celebrity blogger, but also because he knows people like me will write about this and give him more fame. Plus, the Prostitot deserved it. Seriously Perez, I 100% respect this about you, no sarcasm.

So should Perez be jailed for these pictures? If not jailed, given whatever punishment those who are accused of child pornography are given?

Hell yes.

Regardless of who is in the wrong, the law is the law. Who's to say others convicted of trafficking child prostitution pictures did so by taking an up-skirt picture of some little girl getting out of a car with a short skirt and no underwear who was obviously asking for the attention? We can't assume that because Perez did this as a celebrity blogger and Miley welcomed the pictures (though she may deny any welcoming - seriously Miley, come on) others who have been accused and punished were not put under the same situation. However, if there is a clause for this situation, Perez fits it and I take back this paragraph. I didn't go to law school, sorry.

So in the end, power to Perez for being open about his personality and sticking to what he believes in. Miley is a Prostitot and definitely saw this coming. I think she's in the wrong. The law won't, and these laws have been created so we can function as a society. Just because a blogger in Nova Scotia thinks Miley's in the wrong, doesn't make Miley in the wrong.

If a tree falls in Nova Scotia, does Hollywood hear it?