I felt really sleepy going to work this morning. It had snowed overnight. There was some snow for me to brush off my car. I got to work at 08:40. I saw iPod boy's (DJ) car already parked outside. He does get to work early in the summer. I can't tell you why he gets to work early now. Perhaps he was taking one of his daughters to basketball or something.

I said good morning to the accounts payable woman, who was walking in front of me. Curly girl is back from her grandmother's funeral in the U.K. She said hi to me. I asked if things were okay with her. They were. She seemed like her happy self.

I took off my hikers and got all settled in. DJ talked to me about five minutes later. He asked how I was. I said I was here. That's always a good start to a new workweek.

It's interesting how some folks word things. The new helpdesk manager sent me an e-mail, asking me to provide "procedures" on trouble ticket status. Huh? I don't write the procedures he thought I did. I writing user guides. I don't tell customers how often they should check their open trouble tickets. I show them how to use the software to obtain the information they need. He only knew to send me the e-mail because his boss, the vice president, had thought that I had written these procedures. I really don't think this new helpdesk manager truly knows who I am.

DJ showed me some drawings of signs for a Macau customer, with both English and simplified Chinese on them. I had preferred the white lettering with a darkish shadow on a yellow background. He liked the white lettering without the shading. It was nice that he wanted to show me what he was up to. He then told me that his green tea was cold, but still liked it. That was when blabber girl jumped into the conversation and said that she could "warm it up." Ah. No.

The moocher came over to chat with me. DJ looked intently at us. The moocher talked about watching Children of me, a movie that he recommends that I see, I told him about going to the Chantal Kreviazuk concert on the weekend.

Moments later, the president's son (PS) came over to chat. He brought in his Rogers bill. He was trying to figure out what it was saying. I told him that his cable rate would be going up to the amount quoted in the letter, but it did not include taxes. I calculated it for him, which worked out to him paying nearly three dollars more each month.

DJ needed one of the signs he had shown to me earlier enlarged. He was only given the PDF version of them. I suggested that he increase the size of these drawings in the PDF and then take a screenshot. He said that I was sneaky. I thanked him. We bursted out in laughter. So, I did that for him and even cropped the image, too. He said that I did great work and thanked me. I indicated that I liked being called sneaky more. He went on to say that I'm mischievous and devious. He kills me.

The moocher asked if I had a one-cent stamp. I did. I indicated that giving him one would cause me to go to the post office to ask for one lonely one-cent stamp. Yes, I was bugging him.

The sales coordinator and I were trying to figure out what blabber girl was wearing. We finally figured out that it was a bustier that looked like a tube sock, which she wore over a buttoned shirt. It was an ugly sight.

The president's wife came to talk with me. She showed me a letter from a graphics company, stating that we had used one of its images on our website, without its permission. We didn't get a licence. As a penalty, my employer would have to pay over $1000 USD. However, as an "early-bird" special, the company was generous enough to knock off fifteen percent of that.

Well, the image in question was there when the web hosting company had first designed the corporate site. I had no idea that it didn't have a licence. It's not my fault. I explained that to the president's wife. She was fine with that. However, she said that her husband would probably have to get rid of three employees to make up that lost money. Whatever. It's like pocket change to the president. It just shows that he's cheap.

PS came over and showed me a TV program guide. Jann Arden was to appear on CMT tonight at 19:00. The show would repeat at 23:00. The problem? There was no way I'd be at home to either watch or tape the show. What to do? I asked PS if he had a VCR at his dad's place. He didn't. So, I contacted the moocher and asked if he could do me a huge favour by taping it for me. He was fine with that. Yay!

DJ and I chatted towards the end of the day. He told me that my camera was on sale at Costco. He was bugging me by saying that he was going to copy me and get the same model. We then looked at GPS systems. I pointed out that he had typed a word incorrectly in his search. He then mocked himself, by saying that anyone can type faster than he.

He started to put his shoes on. They were new. With his old ones, he had worn the insides down. He has only had the pair of shoes for a few months. I asked if he got the trade-in shoe deal from Costco. He didn't. They were Clarks shoes. I took off one of my Clarks' shoes and said that mine were the same brand, too. He looked and said that I keep them in good shape. His daughters don't, for they take their shoes on and off without untie the laces.

PS went on a rhyming frenzy. He does that from time to time. He just can't stop.

"Are you done yet?" I asked him. He continued to rhyme some more.
"When it doubt,... ," he started off.
"...shut up!" I said. That made him laugh, as well as the accounts payable woman. There was perhaps ten seconds of silence.
"See, I did," he said proudly.
"Not anymore! You just ruined it!"
"Maybe we should have Watty's axiom, about shutting up," he told me, after we both stopped laughing.

He told me that he was going home early to rest his foot. It's still bugging him. I wished him a good evening and vice-versa.

I get a bit weary when it comes to going out with the sales coordinator after work. She is so slow. She finally got out of the building at 17:20, but needed to have a smoke with her smoking buddy. I went out about ten minutes later, talked with the accounts payable woman, and then the sales coordinator and I got into our respective cars.

It was pretty mild outside. There was fresh snow on the ground. We drove down to what is becoming our chosen parking lot a few blocks away. The sales coordinator parked her car, got out of it, and hopped into mine. She doesn't like driving downtown. On the contrary, I do it so often that it doesn't bother me.

We had the hardest time trying to locate the Phoenix. We saw the lighted drug store. It was only until I had parked across the street (parking fee was $4, which is a steal for downtown Toronto) that we actually saw the black sign with light-coloured words.

We were hungry, so we walked to the nearby Domino's. We were thinking of getting pizza slices, but there were only two left and we really wanted more. Instead, we ordered a two-topping medium pizza with pepperoni and green peppers. We also got soft drinks. Ten minutes later, we had dinner.

Sadly, all the seats were taken in the joint, so we went back to my car and ate in there. I wolfed down four pieces. I think she had two. It was a good thing that I had napkins in my car. So, we ate, chatted, and sipped out drinks.

We walked across the street and walked into the Phoenix. We had to open our purses up to show the security guy that we were okay. We visited the washroom. There were only two stalls available. The washroom was rather small.

We decided to go upstairs. It was perfect for taking pictures, I must admit. We stood up for the majority of the night.

Mason Jennings opened the show, playing for roughly fifty minutes. I thought he was okay, maybe because I was looking more forward to seeing and hearing Guster. I think it was kind of a test to see if the audio was functioning at times.

Mason's from Minneapolis. He played his guitar and sang a number of songs off his latest CD. He said little to the crowd, until the end of his set.

During the intermission, I got a rum and coke. It was $5.50. Gone seems to be the days when you could get the same drink for under $5. I asked the sales coordinator if she wanted anything. She was fine.

Guster appeared on-stage just after 21:00. I was so happy to see the band and hear the guys play again. The same feelings I had when I first saw Guster resurfaced.

They started off with "Captain." There seemed to be a problem with the audio hook-up on the keyboard. You really noticed it in the song. Anyway, before the next song, the audio guy had resolved the problem. Everyone in the band threw their hands up in the air. It was cute.

I think Brian's bongo-playing in "Barrel of a gun" had the sales coordinator tune in attentively. That was exactly what happened when I went to see Guster for the first time. It's all about the bongoist/percussionist.

Ryan said that the band was happy to be playing its only international stop on this tour. He said that it was great how we knew what song they were about to play by simply playing the first few notes.

One of the highlights was hearing them play a song that they didn't write, "Brazil". Brian's bongo-playing was incredible. Adam clapped for a bit during the song before he played a trumpet solo. It felt all tropical and warm inside.

Joe picked up his banjo. Ryan said it was the greatest instrument in the world. They actually showcased it to everyone that way. Later in the show, Joe picked up a cowbell and Ryan paid tribute to that gem of an instrument, too.

The more I listen to "Come downstairs and say hello," the more I think it's brilliant. I love the different levels of movement and emotion. It's starts quietly, and then the guitars and drums are added. The song builds up nicely.

Needless to say, I was singing along to a number of songs, except for "On my own," which I'm going to say that Joe had written it. One of my favourite songs, "Center of attention," was sung. I was so happy. Sadly, I didn't get to hear "Fa fa."

Ryan talked about the band being environmentally conscious. They are busing it everywhere on this road trip, and even have bumper stickers about saving the environment. In a strange way, it felt like being at the Barenaked Ladies concert again, except that I knew the words to pretty much every single song here.

The sales coordinator and I moved to stage left on the balcony. We had a great view of the entire show. I took lots of photos.

Ryan announced the last song that the band would be performing tonight. Everyone in the crowd was upset. He then went on to say that a trend is sweeping the U.S. It's call the encore. If we wanted the band to come back on the stage, we needed to boo them. That will readily prompt them to return on-stage and perform some more.

So, after "Airport song," they walked off the stage, and everyone loudly booed them. It was hilarious. The band came back about five minutes later. Ryan comes out, flipping the bird with both hands and says, "F*ck you!" to everyone. I don't think I've laughed so hard at a show since Jann Arden.

The encore ended with "Happier," which is another of my favourite Guster songs. They walked off the stage again. The sales coordinator and I chatted for a bit, waiting for the crowd to dissipate. Surprisingly, Guster came back for a second encore! Wow, and we had all the seats up on the balcony practically to ourselves. They decided to sing "Jesus on the radio" acoustically and without any microphones. It was cool. I did the illegal thing by recording it as a movie on my camera.

Needless to say, I had a great time. The sales coordinator enjoyed herself, too. I was so happy. She said that I have to burn all my Guster music for her. That could take up quite a bit of time.

Guster
Phoenix - Toronto
Set list

Captain
Barrel of a gun
Ramona
Satellite
Beginning of the end
Brazil
Lightning rod
Come downstairs and say hello
Demons
Center of attention
On my own
What you wish for
Manifest destiny
One man wrecking machine
Amsterdam
Airport song

First encore
Ruby Falls
C'mon
Happier

Second encore
Jesus on the radio

We bypassed the lineup to the coat check and headed out the door. The sales coordinator needed to have a smoke, so I let her enjoy doing so as I brushed the snow off my car. We then got in my car. I had some of my pop. She drank all the water from her bottle.

She was then hungry as we drove off. When I had stopped at a red light, I grabbed the pizza box from behind the backseat behind her and she chomped on a slice of pizza. I joked that she should hold it up in front of the heating vent to warm it up. We laughed, talked, and eventually dropped her off next to her car.

I got home just before midnight. I'm a bit tired, but am happy that I got to see Guster again. Great show!

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Song that's stuck in my head: Guster's "Center of attention"
Yummy food eaten today: Pizza with pepperoni and green peppers
What I crave: Seeing the show again

Recent thoughts:
Readings, lights, and random thoughts - 2009-03-15
Thoughts about work, school, and peeps - 2009-03-09
Working from home and a mini life update - 2008-12-19
The weekend is here! - 2008-01-06
A new year - 2008-01-01