the future of healthcare

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GUYS the most awesome thing just happened!

I’m three days away from being completely out of crazy pills, and I am far, far too lazy to go to the doctor to get a new prescription. I know it’s my health and putting on clothes is really a small price to pay for some of that sweet sweet Canadian health care, but it is seriously a huge pain in the ass to get done – an hour+ out of my workday, a random doctor who doesn’t really care (“are you sure you’re not just depressed because you’re fat?”), having to convince someone new each time that I’m not six years old and can handle more than thirty days of medication at a time, and so on and so forth. I’ll gladly (well, maybe not gladly but you get the point) go see a clinic doctor if something else is wrong – say, I’ve grown a third head or my kidneys fell out – but the amount of hassle for a routine prescription really gets my goat.

SO! Instead of promising myself I’d go to the clinic tomorrow or maybe Friday but FOR SURE before I completely ran out of meds, I decided to give Medeo a try. Medeo is an online health care system that allows you to see a licensed BC doctor right from your computer or smartphone, and it is completely awesome. I signed in today for an appointment, and was immediately talking with a super-helpful receptionist. She took some information from me then booked me in for an appointment: in 20 minutes I could talk to a doctor, and all I had to do was keep the window open. I was able to keep working (aka sending dirty tweets and arranging a trip to Seattle) while waiting to see the doctor instead of idly leafing through outdated fashion magazines and glaring at the clock; a pleasant change.

My appointment time came and I checked in, spoke briefly with the receptionist again, and was talking to a doctor a minute later. I had already provided my BC Care Card number and preferred pharmacy, so after chatting for a few minutes the doctor filled my prescription and sent it right over to the pharmacy – I can pick up my meds later today. The doctor also offered to help me find a regular family doctor, and when I told her about my current IUD issues, referred me to a local doctor on Broadway and Cambie who is “the best IUD insertion specialist in all of BC”. Both the receptionist and doctor I spoke with today were crazy awesome, and I couldn’t be happier with the speed and service and amazing convenience of Medeo. Seriously, if you’re in BC, give it a try*. So cool.

Oh! And I just checked my Medeo account, and the doctor’s notes are already there complete with my prescription, where it was sent and when I can get it, the info on getting a regular doctor, and the IUD Expert’s contact information. This is amazing! I am pleased! And so should you all be pleased, as this means I will continue taking my crazy pills and therefore not go on any kind of rampage anytime soon!

*: Obviously using Medeo is for things that don’t require a physical examination – otherwise I would have taken care of my IUD issue right then and there – so please approach with common sense. Don’t use Medeo if you’re currently on fire or bleeding heavily from the eyes or you’ve fallen and can’t get up. DO use Medeo if you need a prescription or you have a non-life-threatening medical concern or you’d like to have some tests done (seriously, they can email you the test form and you print it out and go to the lab for various fluid work or exams). Check the website if you’re not sure, or call 911 if you’re on fire. Don’t just go on Twitter. I learned that lesson the hard way.

12 reasons to revolt in 2014

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I honestly don’t know which part of this “article” (it’s actually an advertisement disguised as an article; ‘disclosure’ comes by way of a single line stating it’s an “advertorial” at the very bottom of the cluttered page) is the worst, but let’s go through each terrible offence like we’re BuzzFeed:

  1. “There are jobs! A simple Google search of “tech jobs Vancouver” will show that there are over 1000 jobs on the first website you find.”

The link they provide is to Tech Jobs Vancouver, where there are indeed 1095 jobs listed. However, the job postings are not current: it’s a list of job postings in Vancouver going as far back as 2008. Most of the links are dead. I’m sure you could find a position to apply for out of the list – they’re sorted with the most recent on top – but to say “so jobs! much employed! very work!” using that site as “proof” is incredibly misleading.

doge

hooray for doge!

  1. “Supply and Demand = Money!  The average salary of a Web Developer in Vancouver is around $50,000. The lack of qualified professionals in the job market means this number will only continue to go up. If you’re going to work hard everyday and want to get compensated well, the tech sector is a good one to be in.”

No. No, no, no. Do you know what the salary range for a Web Developer is?:

numbers courtesy of Robert Half Salary Guides

numbers courtesy of Robert Half Salary Guides

don't look up your own salary range unless you want to be depressed forever

don’t look up your own salary range unless you want to be depressed forever

Ignoring the fact that as Canadians we get screwed in the salary department, the “article” claims that $50k is the AVERAGE salary – which means there are some people making LESS than that. This is not okay, people. Vancouver has the dubious distinction of being named the Most Expensive City in Canada/North American by a number of different publications, and you’re using our devastatingly low salaries as a reason people should work in tech here? That is BULLSHIT, and touting $50k as being “compensated well” only hurts the tech sector you’re trying to staff with superstars. The best tech brains in Vancouver DON’T WORK HERE. They go to the US, or work remotely (for US companies), or leave IT entirely. $50k is not a good salary for a web developer. It’s an insulting salary, and why Vancouver has a “tech talent crunch“: it’s because the salaries here are a FUCKING JOKE.

looking for this? you won't find it in vancouver.

looking for this? you won’t find it in vancouver. the money, i mean. you can buy green tinted visors anywhere in richmond.

  1. “Get in quick! Learning to work with new Technology has never been easier – the same applies to getting a job in Technology. You can now become a Software Developer in 8 weeks through innovative courses designed with a rigorous 40 hour per week curriculum. Why spend 4 years when you can get the same thing 16 times faster?”

Again, this entire stupid article is just an ad for the above-mentioned 8-week course, so take it with a mountain of salt. That being said, it’s still pretty insulting to think you can bypass years of education and experience with 8 weeks of cramming in knowledge. All these rotten whippersnappers taking shortcuts and stealing all our $50k/year jobs – it’s just sickening, I tell you what.

surprisingly, code core isn't associated with the university of phoenix

surprisingly, code core isn’t associated with the university of phoenix

  1. “Leave your suit at home!”

This is a petty bitch, but “you don’t have to wear a suit” is a perk akin to “free coffee”: it’s expected.

gpoy at work

gpoy at work every damn day

It’s not just the “article” that I have a problem with, actually. There’s more:

  1. VanCity Buzz deleted all negative or questioning remarks, then closed comments so no one else could chime in
  2. There was an excellent comment written by “Stephen”, who pointed out all the things wrong with the “article” in a much more articulate fashion than I have here
  3. It’s gone now
  4. I later learned that “Stephen” is actually a friend of mine, who works in the tech sector and is brilliant and has excellent things to say and oh is also female, but posts under a guy’s name in order to be taken seriously
  5. .. in 2014
  6. what the fucking fuck
tech sector sexism is my favourite flavour of bullshit

tech sector sexism is my favourite flavour of bullshit

So frustrate. I don’t understand how these people can’t see what a huge disservice they’re doing to Vancouver’s tech community. People are undervalued and underpaid and it’s driving the best of the best out of the city in search of not a fortune but an actual fair wage for the work they do. Vancouver’s local tech darlings are cashing in on people wanting to live here so they settle for shit pay, people dazzled by the name so they chalk it up as experience, and people who have roots and can’t simply pack it all up for greener pastures. Those that can leave, do. And then employers bemoan the lack of qualified candidates, and the whole goddamn thing starts all over again.

not even james baxter can fix this overnight

not even james baxter can fix this overnight

I don’t have any answers. I don’t know how, short of a massive nerd riot, Vancouver will get its head out of the owl’s ass and see there is a huge problem here. I just know that the VanCity Buzz “article” left a terrible taste in my mouth and I couldn’t simply bitch about it in private (or even publicly, since comments were closed) – I needed to share the outrage and also post some gifs (which, in retrospect, are totally annoying – how does BuzzFeed do this every day?).

glass

i don’t wanna leave the city to make a decent salary, but I AM portable ..

Here’s hoping that the addition of Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter to Vancouver is a move to expand markets and create jobs for the talent in this city, and not just a plan to take advantage of our ridiculously low salary “expectations” .. but if I were a betting man, I would have to wear pants a lot more often.

such as this jazzy pantsuit number

such as this jazzy pantsuit number

Okay, one more just to get it out of my system:

SpiceGirls

two by two, hands of blue

PS: I know there are fewer than 12 reasons; I was making a reference
PPS: I know numbering isn’t working and everything has “1.” beside it – it’s way past my bedtime and I am too tired to fix that right now
PPPS: sorry about all the gifs; I will leave the BuzzFeeding to the BuzzFeeders in the future
PPPPS: COLOURS OF THE WORLD SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

mmxiii in review

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Or: 2013, we hardly knew ye.

2013 was a rollercoaster of moderate highs and crushing lows. A few good things happened, but I’m still reeling from the suck and haven’t been able to truly appreciate all the good: I’m hoping that 2014 will bring some of the happy back into my pants, where things are currently sad and flaccid and small.

January was equal parts inspirational and itchy. I briefly started casting again, but didn’t stick with it because I couldn’t get used to the 5+ person casting crew. I bought sex toys. Work was both ridiculous and fun.

In February I tweeted as Canada for a week. I shared our secret to a happy marriage, and ranted about the minimalists. Was not impressed by self-serving and shady local bloggers. Went to the Aquarium for the first time ever, and bought a membership because it is awesome.

March had many good times, like back-to-back Astronautalis shows, the EMP, and a giant Ferris Wheel, all with my favourite Steph. My American Chris came to visit! Then there were the confounding tax problems, the beginning of what would turn into very Bad Times, and sexist game devs. Finally, the awesomeness that is CATIE appeared, and changed our worlds. Also, boners!

April: Balloons! Poetry! The Mystery of Edith Cornes! Trying really hard to be British by association. Completely forgot about high school. Dove sucks! Started playing Guild Wars 2 out of boredom. Wrestled with Quebec; had many deep thoughts.

May had GO SPORTS, the greatest candy bowl in existence, and brilliant ideas. I spent a lot of time outside, taking pictures of animals. There was a disastrous wardrobe malfunction. People were cranky.

June was the beginning of the end. It started out pretty promising, with a promotion at work and backfired joke. There were some brilliant walks around the city, exploring awesome graffiti and having all the fun there was to have. Unfortunately, June also cancelled our vacation plans, and 2013 officially took a turn for the fucking awful on June 28th, around 2pm.

July: People started leaving. The media did a Bad Thing. Money became so scarce we made a list of backup plans. More people left. Our backup vacation plan was also cancelled, and came with a $276 traffic ticket. Found out I was really, really bad at sleep.

In August, I failed my motorcycle skills test. People were silent on Twitter for stupid reasons. I got rejected by the Mothership, which made me very sad. Played through Gone Home in one sitting, because it is amazing and you should play it if you haven’t already. Missed London dreadfully, made tasty ice pops, cried angry tears of frustration and humiliation (that turned out to be the very first of so, so many). Had my soul stolen on public transit. Received some beautiful words of encouragement from a mysterious stranger.

Attempted to PAX in September, but our plans were killed by Ed getting the flu at the last minute. Moped about it. Looked into getting Botox for my face so people couldn’t so easily see how much I wanted to set them on fire. Dodged sperm like a superstar; made drug analogies. Continued to be angry at work. Laughed at Halloween costumes, and discovered that love really does taste like eggs. Oh, and I didn’t write about it, but I got rejected for a dream job in Seattle. Was very sad, on top of being so very angry at work.

October saw way TMI and a series of open letters. Even though I was reliving every minute of my teenage angst, someone wanted to fuck me for eight hours straight. Started daydreaming about what I want to do for my birthday next year. Wrote a protected post about the ongoing situation at work, mostly to get it all off my ample chest. Agreed to a clean slate and was the best stapler there ever was.

Made my annual November attempt at NaBloPoMo, but only got a couple of weeks in before running out of fucks to give. Went to Victoria for the weekend and took many pictures of animals because that is sort of my thing. Experienced like nine kinds of defeat. Bought a new computer; found out I was going to Chicago the following month.

Rang December in from Chicago, but without my luggage. Managed to get it back the following day, and spent the rest of my time in Chicago working and exploring my heart out. Took one for Team Science! Lost my wallet at the Christmas Market, but got it back the following day in an ongoing trend. Had delicious Maple Taffy! Unintentionally crashed the set of 50 Shades of Grey with Sam. Cheddar died, which broke both of our hearts. Ed started a new job. We tried to get into the swing of the season, but December had just been too hard so we celebrated a very low-key Christmas, followed by a fun NYE in Seattle.

And here we are, at the start of 2014. I’m curious to see what this year will hold for us – there are many things all up in the air, but one thing is certain: I’m going to London this year, and I’m taking some of you with me. Oh, yes. This will happen.

I was glad to see the end of 2013. Nothing has been resolved, but maybe a new year will bring about some new peace. That would be very nice, actually.

 

i’ll be in my bunk

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Ed and I spent New Year’s Eve on the outskirts of Seattle, at the new (as of around noon that day) home of Doug and Ali (official name: Sparkle Castle). The party had a Whedon theme, and everyone came through:

from Buffy the Vampire Slayer:

  • Cheerleader Buffy
  • Halloween Anya
  • Dark Willow
  • Oz
  • Cheerleader Cordelia
  • Giles

from Angel:

from Firefly:

from Dr. Horrible:

  • Dr. Horrible
  • Captain Hammer
  • the Pink Pummeler
  • Penny

from Cabin in the Woods:

from Dollhouse:

  • Dr. Saunders
  • Various Dolls

There wasn’t a single duplicate costume or character, and it was SO MUCH FUN. Doug and Ali always throw amazing parties, but this one was all that and more. It was an excellent way to ring in 2014!

I’m on vacation until Monday, so I’m getting away from the computer. I still need to do a 2013 recap (complete with pinpointing the EXACT DATE my year went to complete and utter shit), but right now there is no food in our house so it’s time to do groceries. Here’s to a grand 2014 for everyone!

i solemnly swear i am up to no good

i solemnly swear i am up to no good

go away, 2013

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Is there a word – perhaps a German word – for that thing where, less than two hours after starting your first real vacation of 2013, you realize you’ve caught your husband’s cold and that’s why you’ve been feeling so wretched all day?

I’m saying that word right now.

Get the fuck out, 2013. I hope the door gives you a concussion on your way out.

thanks, nerf

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At work, people frequently engage in Nerf battles. I’ve always wanted to join in their reindeer games, but I couldn’t because I am a girl and Nerf guns are for boys only. Luckily, Ed was paying attention this year and for Christmas, got me these:

it’s pink, like my vagina!

The guns (one for me and one for my BFF) come with pink and teal darts, so I know it’s okay for me to use them. Now I can play games with the boys! Hopefully they’ll go easy on me, because I’m just a GIRL!

I shot a pink dart towards the hallway to show Ed I could be fierce and warrior-like with my purple tramp stamped gun. The dart hit the wall and bounced back, landing .. in the kitchen sink. Which was full of water and dirty dishes.

Message received, Nerf: I’ll get back into the kitchen where I belong.

pie.

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It’s a bit early, but who can possibly sit still when there’s data entry to do and numbers to calculate?!

i was so good this year!

i was so good this year!

These numbers are a significant improvement over 2012 ( for which the grand total was $606.24). I know the year isn’t over yet – I suppose in the next week I could go hog wild and buy all the apps ever – but I’m fairly certain this number will stick.

Let’s manipulate some more data:

CAvUSAs you can see, I’m still relying on my US iTunes account almost a third of the time. It’s dumb, but it’s also cheaper: Canada taxes apps (but not music), whereas my US account is Oregon-based so everything is tax free. The year’s worth of tax came out to $27.12, which could have been an additional 27 apps or songs (give or take a few). Or, you know, that many more shameful IAPs. Shut up: sometimes you just aren’t levelling up quickly enough, and you need to buy cans of energy or hero points or a faster elevator.

In all, it was a calm year for iTunes spending. Next year, I’ll try to get it down even further, because what is a new year without a ridiculous challenge you’ll ignore mid-January?

Merry Christmas Eve, y’all.

 

all is bright

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On Saturday, Ed and I went to the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival at the Vancouver Chinese Gardens. A few years ago I went to the festival by accident, and had always wanted to go again but I never remember until it’s too late. This year I decided I would not forget again, so I added it to my calendar in October. Success: we lanterned!

lights!

Taking pictures of lights at night is one of my FAVOURITE THINGS EVER, so I was pretty giddy on Saturday and also wet because it was pouring.

one day i want my house to look like this

There were a lot of people there, but everyone was in good spirits. I even managed to not punch anyone (although I really wanted to because some people are obnoxiously oblivious of their surroundings), because that would be not at all in the spirit of the season.

yaletown glistening moistly in the background

I love the Lantern Festival. By the time Ed and I left, I was soaked through and freezing and still basking in the afterglow of remembering the event as happening. Going Outside! It is Good Times!

Forgive the weird angle of this picture: people were crowding around it, and this was the only shot I could get. The lantern was amazing, and made to celebrate the upcoming Year of the Horse:

forgive the weird angle - people were crowding the horse and this was all i could get

There are many festive light events going on around town, and I want to go to all of them. Before the end of the year, I’m going to the Aquarium, the lights in Stanley Park, Van Dusen Gardens, and anything else I can think of, even if I have to go by myself. This will be a continuing trend in 2014 .. I’m tired of missing out on things because no one will come with me and I don’t want to go alone. 2014 is the year I will Embrace the Alone. Hopefully it won’t be as sad and depressing as it sounds.

There are a zillion more pictures on my Flickr stream, or you can check out my Instagram where I will be posting some as the fancy strikes for the next while.

Hooray for lights!

changing it up

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christmassy!

christmassy!

Normal Christmas trees are just so .. regular. We already have a tree in our living room year ’round, so instead of adding an additional tree (more than one tree is gauche), we decorated the Ridiculous LED  Tree with festive baubles and disco balls. Voila! Instant holiday spirit!

For the first time ever, I’m actually excited about a gift I’m giving my mother. Every year I wrack my brain trying to think of a suitable present – something that says “I mostly forgive you for all the abuse but you’re still crazy and visiting you is exhausting”, but is actually useful instead of serving to further clutter up her dank basement cave. I usually give her pyjamas and chocolate. Neither of those are all that exciting, but she likes dressing in layers and doesn’t actually have diabetes so it works well enough. I did buy her some particularly fuzzy PJs last month, but had been wrestling with what I could give her that would satisfy ME – let’s face it; she wouldn’t care one way or another but a small part of me still wishes for a Hallmark Family and all the trimmings and so I try to give people meaningful presents you could film a TV commercial around. I was browsing terrible music on Amazon and seconds away from ordering up something completely forgettable when inspiration struck me like delicious pie: mom doesn’t need more stuff. She’s never needed more stuff.

Instead of giving my mother things for Christmas, I’m taking over her phone bill payments. I called her up and asked for her Telus account number – she didn’t think to ask me why – and set up an online account, redirecting the bills to my email address and changing her pre-authorized payment information to mine. Starting in January, she won’t have a phone bill to pay. As a widow on a fixed pension, I’m guessing she could use the extra money a lot more than a DVD or another pair of slippers .. even if she spends the money on lottery tickets (which was the only thing she actually asked for, in addition to insisting that Ed and I also buy some lottery tickets because “you never know”). I don’t need to know. It’s not a lot to Ed or I, but I think it’ll really help her out and that pleases me. Appropriate (if distressingly practical) gifting! Hooray!

I will celebrate my excellent idea with lunch! I am hungry.

exhausted

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This week has been one of the roughest I can remember in recent times. I’m glad it’s Friday, but that’s really a very small comfort in the face of all that’s gone down – it just means there’s more time to sit around and cry.

Everything in our lives has been overshadowed by our sorrow at losing Cheddar, but there’ve been Significant Happenings that we’re struggling to deal with at this time:

  • Ed started a new job on Monday, which is awesome .. but overwhelming. In addition to the standard new job nervousness, he’s working from home for the first time ever. It would be a huge adjustment for anyone, but home is where Cheddar’s absence is most keenly felt – it’s hard not to look around for her or expect her to appear at your elbow patiently waiting for you to notice her.
  • While dealing with a new job, a new environment, the loss of the happiest cat in the universe, and the stress of learning a new industry, Ed’s slow transformation into some sort of Flukeman has once again picked up speed. His throat has been bothering him on and off since May, and a baseball team full of doctors have all said “pfft it’s nothing”. This “nothing” is causing him heaps of anxiety on top of everything else going on, and it fucking sucks so today I got Hulk Mad and demanded he get results or I’d drag his developing-gills ass to the ER tonight after work. He’s got a referral to an ENT specialist, so I am Hulk Sated. For now.
  • I had my Employee Review this week. It went better than I expected, but I hate these things.
  • Motherfuckin’ cramps, man. I have GOT to get my IUD dealt with, but I am too busy being stressed out and sad. How do women deal with these each month? Apparently I’ve been very spoiled for the past 5+ years.

In the grand scheme of the universe, it’s not THAT much. I feel bad for letting everything get to me, but I can only cope with so much at once before I start to come apart at the seams.

Definitely not feeling any holiday spirit this year.