Protocol. Procedure. Policy. New York State has it all.

After a long day 8 hour day of sitting, pushing papers around and taking notes, i came home to another coupla hours of preparing things... Preparing papers to deliver to different departments so they know i want what they have to give me. Like money. Benefits. An inter-office email address and user i.d.

And a mind full of new exciting information and options.

.. i am a bureaucrat, a member of a union, a government employee.

First day of 9 days of orientation was today. What i found the most interesting is that today was all about what i get, not what i will do. I filled out forms for unions, and benefits and perks and i got my negative tb test. I found out all about how to accrue sick leave, paid, unpaid and half pay; how to accrue vacation time. And when it all expires.

I heard all about the organization's history, good, bad and ugly. It was the most interesting part of the day. That, and finding out that i will be on a tough team... one with residents with possible behaviour and legal issues. Scary. Challenging.

It was a long day, sitting on my butt. How to office workers do it for 8 hours?

All cars look the same to me... and this one is lacking a rectangular orange thing on the back... but here she is, my new car.





Times, they are a changin'...

Yesterday, (e:Uncutsaniflush) and i both had the day off. We decided to spend it in Canada.

Our plans were slightly delayed (more on that shortly), so we went directly from Buffalo to lunch. We found this wonderful place, Carlos Cantina a while back. I dunno why we haven't shared pictures and our very biased opinion about this place sooner. I think i am going to send Bill Rapaport a positive review.

Much to the chagrin of the waitress (co-owner? manager?), we took pictures of our half eaten food. But we totally could not wait to dive in.


I had Juan's Taquitos, vegetarian, of course. So perfect. Potatoes with veggies rolled up in a flour shell and fried. Could not be better with a dab of sour cream and a bit of picco. The guacamole is as good as i have ever had a in restaurant -- full of flavour without that hint of bitter aftertaste i have had in some.


(e:Uncutsaniflush) had the Flautas Doradas with chicken, if i remember correctly. Corn torillas with chicken, rolled up and fried, sour cream, cheese and sauce on top.

Both served with the best chips and salsa -- 3 to choose from, hot, mild and verde.

(e:Uncutsaniflush) had a margarita, too. Says it was good... fresh limes were used, it smelled like to me.

After lunch, we went for a drive. Found a nice antique place. Meandered along the waterfront. Drove slowly through the falls. Stopped at the botanical gardens beside the Butterfly Conservatory. Very nice. Not fully in bloom just yet, but still gorgeous.

Of course, while there, this is the set of pictures i took. Plants? What are those when one of these is around?!?





So, back to the reason we were delayed. We bought me a car yesterday. Yep. I pick it up tomorrow after the dealer does all the dmv plates stuff and inspection and fixing a coupla minor things. It's an old car, a '97 Saturn SL2, but, it is my first car, and it was inexpensive... and... wow, i own a car! Two months ago, i didn't even have a driver's license!! We ended up being delayed because the old guy, aka "Grandpa" told us the place opened at 9am the next morning. But, they open at 10am. And his son, Paul, wouldn't be there until about 10.30. Then, we had to go to the insurance agent, and they were surprisingly busy. But, we got it done. All i need to do now is get a cashier's check for the balance and pick it up tomorrow. I promise to post pictures of her.

And, the countdown. Today is my last shift at Sally Beauty!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In every other city i have lived in, if the roads are going to be closed for any reason, there are signs ahead of time, warning of just such a closure.

Every year in Hamilton, there's a cycling road race that closes off a great number of streets. The signs start popping up about 6 weeks in advance. Same goes for London... sheesh, if anything there is closed down, the Queen had to come make, bless or knight the sign herself.

Not so in Buffalo... or Kenmore. Seems the Memorial Day parade is famous. To everyone but someone new... or newish enough to never have needed to drive up Delaware on Memorial Day.

Had the same experience downtown once. There was some foot race, marathon, or half marathon. Never did find out what it was, since all we knew is that we could not go anywhere and there were people with hand made signs saying "stop" standing in the middle of a downtown intersection.

I guess a sign would be redundant to locals... who cares about tourism or new residents!