It has nearly been two months since I was laid off. It is a wry irony that I was given my 'restructuring speech' on Groundhog Day, as my days are definitely running into each other. During my exile from the rat race, I have found a few things that would definitely make me run screaming back to the Cube World.

1. Kirstie Alley - yeah, you're fat. We get it. Have you ever heard of over exposure? Remember, when you were learning grammar and writing skills in elementary school, the teacher taught you not to use the same word over and over again? There was a reason. When your latest endeavour into a TV series fails, it wasn't about pointing out the obvious. It was overexposure. Telling the same joke over and over and over again is not funny.

2. Vijay from Jack FM - probably only people in the immediate area of Vancouver will have any idea what I'm talking about here, but this relates to #1. Over exposure. When I saw the first commercial, I thought it was refreshing, different, and pretty funny. He's a pretty regular looking guy with a very strong Indian accent singing the praises of a local radio station. Apu meets the advertising world. But when you see the same commercial up to 20 times a day, it is no longer funny. It's grating. Too bad...too much of a good thing is not a good thing.

3. Signing into news websites - why do so many make you do this? You find a great story, you want to read more but nuh, uh...not until you tell us who you are. Sure, there's bug-me-not sites, but it's still an extra step. It's annoying.

4. Cambodia - I'm sure other Canadians can agree with me on this, and the Americans probably have no idea. If you have to register into any site, if you're in the States, the USA is usually right on the top of the country list. If you're Canadian, pressing "C" brings you to Cambodia, then you have to scroll down. It's a small thing but it's frustrating.

5. The ads for things we don't have here. Sirius, Tivo and most of the sites that only ship to the USA. Why is that? We're not that small. We have the technology. It's like being the shunned family member.

I'm sure I'll add to this list, but that's enough for now.