Every day it seems as though bad things happen to good people. And we are all left wondering why? It has been almost two weeks since my friend's boyfriend got killed in a head-on collision and yet, I still get quite upset during various times of my days. Some days I'm fine and others, like today, my thoughts get to me and I can't stop the tears. Does anyone know the right words, the things to say when this sort of thing happens? We all mean well in expressing our sympathy, but isn't asking, "how are you doing?" going to trigger tears? Not only did she lose her boyfriend, but we all lost our friend, she wont be the same and as hard as she tries, with her kind words over texts, I know she is hurting. She is strong, but sometimes we aren't strong enough. Sometimes being surrounded by family and just knowing that they care is all you can do. She had to quit her job and is moving back home to another city. And everyone keeps asking me if this is why I'm upset, honestly it is not. I haven't seen her since I started school. The reason is that she such a kind-hearted girl who shouldn't have to go through something as traumatic as this. She was always there in my troubled times and it hurts me that I can't do anything for her. I can't even imagine what she is going through, how she feels. I mean how traumatic can it be for you when you are on the phone as its happening? I can't even tell her how I feel because I'm worried about how it will make her feel. I just hope that her knowing that we are there if and when she needs us will help her through. I still can't believe this has happened. I remember how she used to tell us she couldn't sleep without him. Or as angry as he would make her, in their three years she could never go a weekend without seeing him. They used to have so much fun together, they were so in love. All it takes is a second and your whole world can come crashing down.
We live in an unfair, uncertain world and it saddens me.

This is for you Dina, it helped me through my pain. Hugs and kisses honey, I will always be here for you.

CBC News - Manitoba - Man, 19, killed in head-on collision

CBC News - Manitoba - Man, 19, killed in head-on collision

We will miss you greatly. Our condolences go out to your family and loved one. We will care for her. You will forever be in our hearts. R.I.P.
In loving Memory,
October 26,2009

Bad PPR

So, it appears that the title for my blog and its contents aren't working so well for me. Every weekend I work, I am proposed to deal with the same problem. I can't seem to find any good PR in Portage Place. Maybe it's the fact that I work in a bad environment.

This past weekend, the second customer I served, I kid you not, was unbearable.
Here is the play by play:

Women comes up to order.
She has a coupon (2 can dine for 10.99)
I punch in her order.
Comes up to 12.31 with taxes.
She hands me 10 loonies and a twoonie.
I respond, "It's 12.31."
She says, "That's 12."
I say, "but it's 12.31."
She says, "can you do it for 12?"
I say, "no, it's 12.31"
She repeats, "can you do it for 12?"
I respond, "well if you want you can get a combo and then an extra burger..."
She cuts me off, "No dummy! I'm asking you if you'll take 12?"
I just look at her.
She digs into her pockets and pulls out a handful of change, grabs a loonie and tosses it my way.
By this time all the staff is surrounding me, to see what the deal is.
I say, "thankyou."
And complete the transaction.
I smile at her, "And tell her to have a good weekend."
She smiles back.

Are you kidding me? I forgot what it was like working there. And honestly this kind of situation, in most cases much worse, happen to the staff almost daily/ three times a day.

My conclusion bad PPR.

Buyers Beware

Hey so for our ad class, we all got assigned into group to come up with an idea for the project. My group consisted of Jeremy, lisa and Tom. The four of us chose the topic of tanning salons, our teacher was skeptical on the subject but I think we did a pretty good job. We researched on how well tanning salons in the city do at informing their customers of the risks associated with tanning. We checked out five local shops:

Fabutan
TanFX
Sun City
Lava Suntan Studios
Golden Tan

We found that Fabutan and TanFX are both franchises and offer franchising opportunities,  they both have a selection of pamphlets, information posted in their lobbies and tanning bed rooms, and they both have websites. In fact TanFX has a tab on their site dedicated to positive press releases from the International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC)  They both have strict guidelines on tanning precautions, appointment booking and time limits on their beds.  Although, buyer's beware: some staff do not follow these regulations.  As in an interview I conducted with a fellow co-worker (the name of which i will not disclose) She is a middle aged woman, who has outdoor tanned most of her life and only used tanning beds for two years.  In her first year at Fabutan, she was allowed to tan almost everyday for a year.  In her second year, as a new manger took over, she was not allowed to tan this often; the result of this excessive tanning she says

" It did wreck my skin.  The owner didn’t care how long I went.  I found a spot on my leg and that's why I went to see a dermatologist.  He said it was nothing but found a precancerous spot on my nose.  No doubt that was from the tanning bed.  All that intensity right in your face!  I couldn’t even believe it! He came into the room with a silver bottle, it was very cold and he zapped it off.  I see him every six months now."

She also said that she was not fully informed of the risks of tanning.  As hard as I looked I couldn't find anywhere associated with indoor tanning the actual risks and harm it could do to you.


The last three places: Sun City, Lava Suntan Studios and Golden Tan, did not offer brochures, they didn't have any posters up in their stores about the risks and precautions.  And one place even told me, "Its is not any different than being out in the sun, you have to protect yourself."


Our conclusion is, if you choose to use indoor tanning, go to Fabutan or Tan FX, but even so make sure you are aware and follow their guidelines.

Is Journalism Dead?

We live in a world where competition is unavoidable.  Whichever career option you choose, you have to fight to be the best of the best.  The best chef, the best lawyer, the best engineer, the best teacher.  It's all about your resume, experiences, portfolio; everything that 'you' bring to the table.  Journalism is no exception in this rule.  Yes, it may be true that Journalism is a really hard career to get into, but honestly is it an easy job?  No, I don't think so, the idea of Journalism in itself is competitive.  In order to be a good Journalist you do have to be the best of the best.  The jobs are out there and if you're good at what you do; love it, enjoy it, fight for it, fight for it, fight for it, you will be just fine.  Journalism is far from dead.

Turkey Weekend

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  First off the whole idea of this holiday is confusing to me.  Why is it that in the states, they celebrate a month later?
Anyway... So my turkey weekend, did not consist of turkey at all; More like rushing out at last minute to grab a roasted chicken from Safeway ( and might I add, was the last one)  I have decided that with all the family drama in my life ( and I'm sure everyone else's) that I will just plan my own holiday dinners, since I do have a family of my own.  It's not nice to get shafted for the holidays, but some things can't be helped.  So our turkey was a bust, but our scalloped potatoes were totally homemade.  Potatoes are the highlight of my life and I can't live without them.  Yes, I used to be a farm girl; in the summers anyway.
Not much else to say, only that this three day holiday was much needed and enjoyed, we made our own dinner and non-traditionally sipped frozen pina colada.

The Legislature Has New Meaning?

Yes. According to Dan Brown's new book "The Lost Symbol".  The book states that Freemasons are responsible for symbols and hidden cryptic messages throughout the historic monument. 

Freemasons are the world's largest secret society and in his book, Dan suggests they are occult ed, practice sexual deviancy and are in contact with extra-terrestrial life.  Scary right?  Did you ever notice the black pentagram-like star in the white marble room? Or the fact that there are sphinxes located near the top of the building just outside the roof. Sphinxes? In Winnipeg??

These are just the odd ones, of course there are many Romanesque statues and paintings as well.

In Washington, Masonic buildings are located throughout and form the grid of a pentagram.  Is this the work of Masonry's or just coincidence? 

There are these two buildings in the city, one in St. Boniface (crumbled old church) and the other is a mall type of building connected to the Fort Garry Hotel.  Both have a circular symbol on their roof top and both are straight across from each other separated by the Red River.  I always felt that to be very strange.  Could this be a form of Freemasons too.  Perhaps the eye that was meant to be in the pentagram, of the floor of the Legislative building that was denied.

I truly think this book is worth a read. I mean come on not many things such as this happen in Winnipeg!