Harro everyone.

Weekend was pretty good. I managed to steal Jeff from Liz on Saturday. We both had lunch at this french restaurant in Richmond Hill. I must say the restaurants at Main Street Richmond Hill, kicks both Markham and Unionville's Main Street restaurants. Yep, while Shimes and Liz have their fun in Waterloo, me and Jeffrey are hitting it up here! Aren't you jealous ladies? We're cooler, suckers! But you're right, Shima and Liz, I miss our Wednesday night dinners. We have to carry this on for the Winter Term. :P

Me, Mark, Leo, and Bow went down to Ashbridges Bay and walked around the beach, and admired the new Duany-like-Seaside-New Urbanism-ness in the Beaches area. It was fun, but this couples-venue makes me really really bitter. Sigh.

Today has been a pretty good day, too, despite being super not-busy. (It's been widespread in the department in the past few days.) Yes, it's been awesome, I finally have my first report reviewed with no edits! YIPPIE! HOURAH! SHOUT FOR JOY! Oh my, you don?t know how happy I am!

This is a milestone for Matthew Lee. WOO!

I feel so happy that I wanna go home and put a shiny sticker on my report. Mind you, the report was shorter than the others, but what matters is that my boss said it was ?very well done.? Haha, I feel like I?m back in elementary school. You don?t get an ?A?, you get a ?Well Done?, ?Developing as expected? or ?Progress Emerging.? I?m supposed to get a legislature tour tomorrow, however I have to miss it because of conference calls. Grr.

I think I need a start a new Union. The "CHP: Canadian Hot People Union", or the "Local 783129274923874932749238". I want to bargain for this tour and meet the Honourable Dalton! Oh Dalton!

Oh yeah, speaking of the Honourable Dalton, Tiff wants to name her son Dalton! So there?s Dalton Loh, Marshma Loh, Bunga Loh, and also Waterpo Loh. Haha!

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Not your ordinary Tim Horton's:

OMG, I have stories about a ministry coworker, let's call her "Cher". Well, Cher, unlike the real one, is one of those really attractive girls-- y'know, the very slender, hourglass shape, super tall, sexy voice-- she has everything physically going on. But anyways, with the attractiveness, I must say that she's quite the diva. If you're not catching on to what I'm saying, just picture a car dealership receptionist. They look nice and pleasant, but you can just tell that are the people you don't want to piss off.

Anyways, I forgot my passcard one day, and she dared not to open the door for me! I wanna inform you all that there is a button at the desk that she simply can push. But she didn't, she goes and picks up a phone call and completely snubs me; there is no way that she didn't not see me. UGH! Since then, I've grown very not fond of her. Give her the nod of acknowledgement every morning and walk on. Yes, I already have work grudges. Haha.

Then today, as I got my needed coffee in the kitchenette, I catch her pouring liquor in her morning coffee! HELLO KAREN WALKER! Oh my, this is a first for me. I pretended not to look, but I was like "oh my". Haha. She literally snuck out a mickey of what I presume to be vodka and poured and poured. Interesting interesting. Hmmmm.

Drinking at work. Maybe I'll take up drinking at work. Better yet, I think I'm going to spike the company coffee! Maybe then, I can stir up some social activities in the workplace. :) Maybe I can then influence the big shots to fund the projects I like :P

Hey everyone, hope all is well with everyone. :)

I don't have much to blog about, but I just wanted to have a different entry on the index page. The previous entry was too bitter.

I think I passed that bitter point. I've noticed that I am always bitter in the beginning of every term-- school or co-op. I think that I'm one of those people who are wiery of change. I hate change. Yes, change is always for the best and I understand that. Change is inevitable for continuous improvement (I've heard enough of this in Business Admin Classes) but at the same time, I like familiarity, I fear what is unknown. I like to be in control.

Work as been a lot better. The other co-op students and interns are great, but perhaps the only social people in the Ministry. I had a good lunch with Laurence today, it was good to update each other's happenings.

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PLEASE DO MY PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE!
I personally compiled a series of ten questions. I made these questions becuase I really would like to know you all on a different level. Your answers are greatly, and seriously, appreciated.

If you submit your responses, you get a personal kiss from me?.

1.  What is your name?
2.  What do you, if anything, like to be called?
3.  What event did I have the luxury to know you from?
     (In other words, how did I meet you?)
4.  Using only one word, how would you describe yourself?
     (Hypenations are permitted)
5.  What is/are your biggest vice(s)?
6.  Which character on "Friends" identifies with you most? Why?
7.  Which song(s) touch(es) your heart, fill(s) you with emotion, or simply is/are your favourite?
8.  What would you be if you can be anything in life careerwise?
9.  What is your most valued material possession(s)?
10. Where would you reside if you can reside anywhere?

? For a limited time offer. Cannot be used in conjunction of any other offer, including loyalty discounts. Subject to availability. Sorry, no rainchecks. You will be asked a skill testing question upon redemption. The program may be changed or terminated at any time without notice.

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I guess it's only fair that I do the questionnaire as well. So here it goes:

1.  Matthew Lee
2.  Hottie, hot-ass
3.  I met Matt in his mother's womb, I've had the luxury to have his company since.
4.  Queer. mu ha ha.
5.  Two vices: insensitivity to others' emotions and not remembering things.
6.  Monica. She's a total control freak and always paranoid like me. I love her.
7.  Two songs: Josh Groban - You Raise Me Up, Robbie Williams - Feel.
8.  Be a member of Provincial Parliament.
9.  My cherished family photo scrapbook I put together when I was 10.
10. I will remain a Canadian for life: Vancouver.

Work has made me super emotional lately. I feel better now that hump day has passed, and I have the weekend to look forward to. It?s going to be an interesting 14 weeks.

So yes, work has really got me down lately. Just yesterday, my Vancouver Transit report submissions that I?ve made to my boss was returned?returned with a phenomenal amount of edits. When edits, I mean significant additions and omissions. As I scramble to revise all his edits, I received this horrible feeling that I?m not contributing. I hate this feeling. What?s worse is that not only do I feel that I am not contributing; I am essentially placing a burden on them having to edit my low-calibre work. I really hate feeling like this. I have no one to blame but myself.

Oh, as for the other York transit report submission?my boss and I had a brief meeting on Tuesday. He just said politely that I don?t get offended if the document is dramatically changed. Wow. That comment just completely took the wind out of me. OUCH. It really put a nice sharp dart to my chest, but at the same time I appreciate that he was straight with me.

It's one of those things that I?m actually glad I have a male boss. I find male bosses speak more directly, women bosses tend to take ?detours? to get to the real point.

Anyways, yes, I just want to crawl into my room, cry and never come out. The real world is really scary. If I?m unable to fulfill my co-op job duties, I can?t even think of how it must be like in the ?REAL-real world.? I?m feel uneasy talking about work-related problems with the other co-op students, but at the same time I?m curious to find out how they?re feeling. Thankfully, Tiff managed to electronically keep me company; Outlook can be your friend.

One thing I completely dread are meetings; meetings consists of these PIR bigshots talking about how they can?t afford to fund the massive amount of unsolicited projects. Btw, infrastructure funding is soooo inadequate.

Remember how I said that the intimidating bosses aren?t so intimidating? Well, I take that back. The meeting room was quite freaky: a dozen of middle-aged hardworking, charismatic men with very eloquent tongues. I take back my predisposed views about slacking civil servants, some are indeed very enthusiastic and diligent; perhaps the front line workers are the ones that makes us perceive government workers as rude and lazy.

Anyway, a billion acronyms come flying across the meeting room: CSIF, RFPs, OMIFAS, ABCs, XYZs, WHATTHEFUCKs. Okay, I made some of them up, but yeah. I spent hours and hours on Google finding out what the heck they are. Apparently, my bosses suggest I take PLAN 320 to make it easier. It?s funny though, my predecessor was an Economics major and to my knowledge, he seemed to have done okay. The question is: why is the planner struggling? Perhaps I?m just retarded.

Anyway, today has been better, however. I submitted more documents today, so maybe I?ll cry some more tomorrow.

FIRST OF ALL, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIFF! You're Twenty! WOO HOO! You better start buying some anti-aging cream, honey!

So Week One has come and gone. So far, I have to say that it going pretty well, I say the co-workers are quite quiet, however they are generally very nice. The intimidating bosses aren?t so intimidating anymore, so I?m happy about that. It?s casual Fridays today, however, I?m surprise how ?casual? people look around here. Everyone?s here with their tight Club Monaco denim with complementary shirt (the young one?s at least)?which looks quite nice I might add. I can?t wait to look sexy in 'office' denim too, but I won?t do it quite yet?maybe in a few weeks?until I?ve really settled in with the office culture.

Picture of me in my Waterloo student ghetto in my ghetto toilet.

Yes, I enjoy taking a dump with my jeans up.

On another note, I have a small rant today: why do men persist to read when they?re taking a dump? It wasn?t that serious back when I was working in Waterloo, but it is pretty acute here. Surely, it might not be the most entertaining times during the period when your behind on a dirty toilet seat, but please, for the love of Peter, don?t read. I find it really distasteful.

Am I overreacting about this? I?d love your input. C?mon, do women do this in the bathroom too, or is this predominately a male activity? (Dirty thought just came to my head). It?s worse when I see my seniors come out of the stalls with the Star sports section in their hands. I don?t know, but I would be highly embarrassed. He just smiled back at me mildly, placed the newspapers back in the newspaper bin and back to his desk. Remind me not to touch the Star sports section.

Has reading on the toilet become the next big thing in office leisure? Perhaps the new yoga and pilates for the workplace? Hmmmm....

What is worse is those to decide to leave newspapers cluttering in the stalls. It looks awful. What if there are clients and visitors in the office? What would they think when they see this?

Is this what our world has come to? Do we need to be entertained or to have to be desperately doing something at every hour of the day? Or is bathroom leisure reading just a good way to ?legitimately? slack off? Questions, questions. Questions I?d like answered. I?d say that reading is a good thing, whether you?re catching up on current events or reading an exciting piece of literature, there are great places to read?let?s just avoid the restrooms. AIYA! For all the toilet bookworms out there, please. Can?t we just do our business in peace and tranquility?

summer is now over. yes. time to wash those eyes and face reality. good bye carefree-ness, goodbye staying up; hello responsibility, hello real world. life sucks ass.

so yes. today was Day One at PIR. I managed to get up at 7:00 and boarded the 7:40 Steeles Express to Finch. The entire ride, I didn't even get an seat opportunity. I got to work sharply at 9:00; that's an-hour-twenty. That really sucks ass. I dispise living in Markham for this reason-- probably the only reason-- but it's big.

There were 5 other co-ops working as well, however, none of the five work for my department. So again, I'm the sole co-op lonely warrior. On the bright note, my interviewer asked me which branch I wanted to work for back in June, and thankfully, i found out today that i got a placement in the strategic iniatives branch-- which essentially deals with public transit. so that i'm happy.

i was extremely anxious about working here. i don't know why. actually, i think i know why:

1. male dominated workplace
for some reason, i'm intimidated by powerful men. yes, this may sound surprising and weird to you. but yes, i'm afraid of men of authority. and no i don't mean kinky authority like cops and firefighters; that, i obviously don't mind. ;) all kidding aside, yes i find my seniors (all male) really intimidating. i was so scared and nervous. let me lead the dialogue for you:

Me: "Hi, I'm Matthew Lee the new coop student"
Boss: "Al XXXXXXXX, nice to meet you"
Me: "Nice to meet you too, Matthew"
[In my head: OH MY GOD. YOU ARE RETARDED]
Me: "Wait, that's my name"
[Giggles]

Talk about bad impression. he looks a bit like Donald Trump. and my other boss kinda looks like Ted the Food and Wine Connoisseur from Queer Eye.

2. Policy Work
I'm afraid of doing policy work. You know when you write essays at school, you just kinda don't really care, just get all the facts and do a half-assed job. but now the pressures on. i cannot screw up. not to mention, there's no one to blame but myself. as bad as it sounds, i really really really don't wanna be accountable for anything. i'm just not confident enough to do policy work. not yet at least. AHHH!

3. group introversion
I've never heard such silence in an office in my life. it is literally library. heck, it's worse. no peep, no talking, no music, no laughter. dead silence. corpses would enjoy the office, it's nice a peaceful. and my cubicle tucked away in the corner doesn't help with relieving group introversion.

4. two bosses
again, i have two bosses. what's with people and making people report to two bosses? it boggles my mind. just in the afternoon, i received two assignments from the two bosses. i'm starting to already freak up. they don't talk much (see group introversion), and i'm afraid they're both going to come at me with work, having no clue what the other has assigned. please let me be just overreacting :S.

on the brighter note, our department has a new intern that started today as well. she's a sweet girl: a graduate from WLU. she'd definitely the one i talk to most.

tho i can see how this term is going to suck. too much time wasted on commuting, long 9 to 5 hours. just 12 hours is spend commuting and working. that's half of the day. we have yet to include sleeping time. someone find me a free place to live in Toronto! PLEASE! and aid my misery!

is this how full time people live? if so, dear lord, please don't let that time come. by the time that i'm home, i'm just so exhausted to care about anything. i just sit there on the couch or my computer chair and just sit, sit, sit; just like my father. seriously, being at school is where it's at; despite my continuous rants.

that's all for now. it's 11:02, it's time to shower and get ready for bed. oh my gawd, i have no life. ack!

how was my summer in a nutshell? my apologies for not being on top of my updating. now that i have a boring life called full-time employment, i'm sure i will be blogging more. so cum back soon!

At the Falls.

This is for you, Suffling. MU HA HA!

Here at the Rainforest Cafe at Clifton Hill

had a blast in Niagara Falls. Went with Bow, Leo and Mark. Who knew there was so much to do at the Falls other than look at the Falls? I managed to tranform my $5 into $10. Aren't I great? YAY ME! WOOOO!

hung out in Waterloo with bow and leo and stayed at my place at 69 Anus. we took advantage of the abundance of XS sizes in the clearance racks in all three malls -- conestoga, fairview, and cambridge centre. managed to get a hell-lot of stuff, primarly shirts for work.

i saw a billion movies: princess diaries 2 (which was magically delicious!), collateral (which was kinda stupid, but has tom cruise), and the pitiful movie of all, Wicker Park (omg, seriously dumb-ass movie, with a dumb-ass lead actor).

me and bowie managed to happily waste time and we bought those fun "Colour By Numbers" at Curry's. Yay! I miss colouring sooooo much. Life was fun when all we did was colour. The days.... sigh...

Finally got a chance to see ThomASS! Me and Tom met up in good timing for the Unionville Jazz Festival in Main Street. We were discussing how the whole freaking country is having a Jazz Fest. Doesn't seem like a big whoop any more :p Tell me how dinner-coffee went, Tom.

oh yeah, also finally saw Ed, Nathan, Andrew and other others at Club 300. T'was fun :)

Oh yeah, my marks finally get in on QUEST. I didn't do that bad in Microeconomics as I thought: 65. However, because of it, my average is at an all time low: 78.

I think that was pretty much the gist of the summer. now onto the bad stuff of my non-summerness.....

... i promise, guys!