I'm at a fundraising conference for 3 days this week. So far I'm realizing that really, I learned a lot about fundraising at the KC. But a refresher is always good, plus, we have privacy laws here which basically don't exist in the States so it's harder to find out personal information about donors etc. (it's scary, in the States so much information is just a google away).

However, the main thing I learned was that theatre people drink way more than fundraisers. At the strange cocktail reception this evening, their were 3 of us (all theatre folk) standing next to the open bar, and pretty much everyone else was at the other end of the room listening to some sort of motivational speech. I thought perhaps it was because fundraisers made enough money to buy their own drinks. My friend said it was because fundraisers knew to get everyone else drunk in order to get them to give them money. Both valid points.

No spoilers

I saw the new Harry Potter movie tonight. It's scary! I mean, I've read the book so knew what was going to happen (though I'd forgotten a couple of things), but I think it got in to my psyche because on the subway I thought this hooded guy was following me (I even switched cars!). I'm sure he wasn't a Death Eater, but better safe than sorry...

Full Moon Hangover

These last two days have made me and those around me grumpy. Yesterday I was grumpy grumpy grumpy. Today it was hard not to be inspired to TTC rage, everything was so full and people were nutso. So I'm coining a new term - Full Moon Hangover - for the crazy that lingers after the full moon. I think it has potential.

I bought pink toilet paper. I seem to remember coloured toilet paper being big in the 70s but I haven't seen it in ages. This is supposed to support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, but I have to admit I bought it because it was $2 cheaper than any other option. It sort of clashes with my bathroom though.

Diamonds!!

I can't believe I forgot to mention the diamonds. After work yesterday, I went with Laurie to look at diamonds.

It was the strangest set up. This bare office on the 20th floor of an office tower - only furniture in one room with a long table of consultants talking diamonds. It was total fly by night diamond sales!

And there were bags and bags of diamonds.

They weren't set in anything so you were buying (well one was buying, not me by any stretch) the diamonds to then be turned in to whatever you wanted.

We learned all about the four Cs - Colour, Cut, somethng and Carat. Apparently I wasn't paying close enough attention. Our sales guy was actually very informative, though I don't think he quite knew what to do with us. I tried to get myself a commission if I convinced Laurie to buy something large! The biggest diamond we saw was only $48,000. A bargain as it would retail at something like $72,000. (see some detail I remember...)

I've never been much of a diamond person, but these sure were pretty. So sparkly...

(no I didn't buy anything!)

the week that was

Thursday I had my auditor in. It is definitely not fun prepping for an audit when you haven't been around for any of the fiscal year - well barely anyway (we have an Aug.31 year end which is random). It was relatively painless in the end - only a couple of minor adjustments. I like our auditor well enough but she did one thing that turned me right off. I had gotten a written quote from her prior to her coming in - and then part way through the day she says that her fee is going up $500 (which would be a 25% increase over last year). I said that actually I was going to pay what she quoted me. She backed down but it felt sleazy. I don't know if she thought because I was new that she could push it or what. Next year I'm going to do some shopping around methinks....

Last night was the Steam Whistle Unsigned concert series again at the Roundhouse. This is such an amazing partnership for us. Basically a guaranteed $2000 every 3 months or so. I stayed for all 3 bands last night so was up way past my bedtime but I was enjoying myself - plus I had to make the speech from the stage last night (ugh) so I had to stay a good part of the night for that. Clearly all the older fogies like me were there for the second band (my favs of the night - The Young Empires I think they were called) as by the third band - Rich Aucoin (hugely popular) everyone in the room except for me was like 20 years old. And the girls were all wearing skanky pseudo 80s outfits with high heels. I must be old because I thought they were all dressed so inappropriately! and frankly just badly. Trashy is not classy girls! The guys all had a hipster cardigan vibe (instead of the hipster plaid from last show). Anyway, I felt old making my speech. They didn't have any stage monitors on so I could only hear myself through the speakers into the crowd so with a 2 second delay. Awkward to ignore that so I felt like I was speaking really fast! Anyway, it's all good, a little fundraising, a little PR. A few G&Ts. A good night.

New hair

Okay, so after much debate and a Facebook poll, I decided not to dye my hair brown. Sad really - I will some day. The clincher was when my hairdresser- who normally is all for the crazy colour - said "oh I love your blonde". Boring. She also pointed out how people kill for my natural colour.

Boring! Anyway, a compromise was reached. I am still blonde, but it is quite a dark blonde, with all sorts of honey blonde low lights which to me looks quite dark, though no one at work noticed.

It had started to rain when I got back to the office, so perhaps it was just because it was dark in the office...or maybe it looks exactly the same, who knows...

I should also say that if I spent less money on my hair, I could have an apartment full of furniture by now. Priorities I guess, but stupid!

It feels a bit like a right of passage that I know someone whose marriage was announced in today's NY Times.