Making It Up As I Go Along #395

Not sure if I’ll be writing next Sunday or not. It all depends on if my laptop makes it to Newfoundland on Tuesday and on how busy the schedule will be while on the east coast. So perhaps there’ll be something written next Sunday, but if not, expect it to be there New Years Eve. With that...

Twelves Christmas Wishes

Twelve things I’d wish for this Christmas. In no particular order...
1... Stability. I’ve become even more of a homebody now because that’s where life is most stable. I am most solid within my own space with my stuff around me. I’ve worked in the same section for six years and, from the outside, that looks stable. But on the inside, it’s far from it. Rare has been the time in those six years when you can go to work and know exactly what’s happening. Case in point... after two weeks back in my old department, I’m told I’m getting moved to a new team in January. So within two months, I’ll have worked for one section... but two departments, with a partnership and two teams. The instability is tiring.

2... One more solid season of fastpitch ball. After an eight year departure from it, last summer I returned to the game I grew up with. It was a challenge to take on after a year of slow pitch. And it came with mixed results. A batting average that was solid but a lack of comfort in the field made me, for the first time since I was about ten years old, feel like a liability on defense. And when the game started to come back and I started to feel like I was entering a grove... I tear and fracture my thumb. In the end I played less than half a season and didn’t show myself that I can still play good ball. I hope I can play next season and feel satisfied with it once the season is over.

3... Continued family health. My immediate family has been lucky. Me, my parents, sister, brother in law and nieces have lived healthy lives. Recent problems with some extended family has stood as a reminder that life can’t be taken for granted. I wish for those family members to overcome and for such wishes to be unnecessary a year from now.

4... A dog. I’ve gone far to long without and don’t have an ideal life to include one in... long periods away for work would leave a dog fending for itself longer than it should... but I’m becoming like a little kid in a sappy Christmas movie... Little Johnny would like a dog.

5... A turtle. I can’t have both a dog and a turtle... but I wish for both. I’ve wanted a turtle since I was about eight years old... And I remember the disappointment when my parents said they tried but found them to be prohibited in Newfoundland. The prohibition is over and the lifestyle probably better suits it. Perhaps 2010 will be the year of the turtle.

6... Olympic glory. Not really for the obvious reasons though. I’m just so tired of the year long campaign of children on TV commercials saying how they “believe”. And I know the best way for the Olympic hype to quickly disappear is for Canada to do well. A bad winter games means another year of sports talk shows going on and on about it. Please, for the love of God, no more.

7... Hair. I’m allowed to be somewhat superficial aren’t I? I remember when I’d get two or three haircuts for a year and my father and girlfriend of the time would both hound me to go get it cleaned up. I want those times back again. A return of hockey hair, bed head, hat head, hair gel, and hair brushes. To be able to buy shampoo and not think about the cashier looking at me, and then the bottle, and then me again... all the while wondering “he can’t be getting this for himself.”

8... The Hike. Port aux Basques to St. John’s... all on the old rail bed. And the plans and ideas that come with it.

9... A hole in one. I’ve said it before and I’ll stick to it. If ever I get a hole in one in golf, it’ll be the last golf shot I ever make. It could be the first hole of the day and if I sink that ball in one stroke, I’m done. There’s no better way to end one’s golf playing days.

10... To be left so in awe of something, that I’m totally speechless. I suspect I’d be that way if I stood atop Mt. Everest... or if I viewed the Earth from the surface of the moon. I wish there is some scenario that is more realistic in making this happen.

11... To no longer hear people laugh with pride in making me blush. I’ll blush if I get out of bed too quickly people. It’s not that big a feat to cause my face to turn pinkish. It’s the curse of the fair skinned. Now if you make me get out on the dance floor and bust a groove, then take pride in it. Making me turn red should bring no person any joy. It may very well have happened without you.

12... A basement. Hard to believe the things we miss. But I do miss having a basement. Being able to block a little window in order to sit in a black room... being able to sit in the cool without need of air conditioning. Being able to store things without worry of cluttering up the rest of the house. My kingdom for a basement.

Merry Christmas.

MONDAY...
— Two hour sleep night going into first day shift in weeks. Oh dear.
— Get through it okay and then head to a clinic for swine flu shot. A pain in the butt as I am sitting and waiting for about an hour and a half before getting it done.

TUESDAY...
— Slept better and work goes ok. Kind of hard adjusting to sitting there all day compared to running around in CPSIC.

WEDNESDAY...
— Halladay is traded. My favourite Blue Jay makes me wonder if I’ll become a Phillies fan. I’ve always admired how they play and like many of their players. Have we seen the beginning of the Blue Jay’s transformation into the Expos? And if Montreal moved to Washington, where will Toronto go in ten years? Portland? Vegas?

THURSDAY...
— Well, looks like I probably didn’t forget the Columbia House decline last month after all. No Star Trek in the mail. No charge on my credit card. A stocking stuffer idea has re-emerged.
— Too cold today... too cold. Lunch across with Shannon and Annick is fun. Haven’t talked much with either of them in a while.
— Work in CNI today. Kind of fun for a change.

FRIDAY...
— Team change time at work. Cause anything more than 2 weeks in the one situation is a luxury they just can’t afford. And the two months of messing with Brown, goes on.
— I skip the office Christmas party. Heading back to the office a few hours after work is hardly my idea of a good time.... and the afternoon team change announcement solidifies the decision I made a week ago when it came to not buying tickets for the thing.

SATURDAY...
— Laundry day.