The Cone of Silence
I’ve always liked the spy genre. The James Bond movies are favourites of mine. I’ve watched them all several times. And I’ve mostly enjoyed the Austin Powers spy spoof movies too.
On TV, I grew up watching Get Smart. Maxwell Smart was the perfect spy for kids. He had cool gadgets, like shoe phones (complete with rotary dial) and he was funny in his adventures... serious co-spies and villains being aided or beaten by Max.
My favourite Maxwell Smart gadget was... the Cone of Silence. Top secret meetings, started by the serious spies... and quickly interrupted by Max... “Wait chief! Don’t you think a meeting liking this should be held under the Cone of Silence?”
Grudgingly, the others relent. “OK Max, fine”.
And they’d all gather around a desk and lower a great plexiglass shield that encase them all. The problem with the Cone... it worked too well. They’d start talking in the meeting and none of the spies could hear each other.
This Wednesday at work. I decided I needed... The Cone of Silence.
I’m in a tight spot at work right now. My amount of vacation time is pretty much maxed out. From this Thursday to the end of March, I can take off about 45 minutes from work. Unfortunately, hockey games take longer to play than that.
Canada vs. Russia hockey is a big game to see. The radio won’t do. Getting updates from co-workers rings hollow. Hey, I bought an HD TV for moments like this. So even though the rest of my office are desperate to hear the game the moment it happens, I decide that I’d rather watch it in all it’s glory.
The trick... how to handle three and a half hours of work without finding out the biggest news going.
I don’t own a Maxwell Smart cone of silence. There is no plexiglass bubble to cover me. So I had to turn to my own variation of the cone... my mp3 player.
Wilco is my all time favourite band. Their music can bring the whole realm of emotions to me. The lyrics captivate and inspire. On this day, Wilco would have to take me away. Away from excited co-workers. Away from Alex Ovechkin and Sydney Crosby. Away from the emotion and excitement of hockey.
Normally, when I listen to music at work, I set my mp3 volume at around 30 to 33. Loud enough not to hear everything around me. Quiet enough that if someone asks me something, I know to take the headphones off and ask them to repeat.
On Wednesday, I could not take any chances. Volume set... 43.
Since my return to AFIS, I’ve had a hard time sitting at my station for extended periods of time. In CPSIC, you were up and down and all around. There was never more than ten minutes spent at any one spot or doing one particular thing. So returning to AFIS, where the best workers sit still working for two or three hours straight... well it has been hard.
Wednesday though, changes would have to be made from my half hour wanders. To get up and move around is to open yourself up to opportunities to hear about the game. People’s faces can tell the tale. Actors, my co-workers are not... at least I never thought so.
So I remain plunked in space, back to the outside world, Wilco blasting in my ears. Perhaps I’d make it... perhaps.
It’s a delicate struggle that can be shattered at a moment’s notice. If Canada wins, surely I’ll catch a glimpse of a dancing co-worker as they happily prance down the hall. And if they lose... well wouldn’t I see it in the dejected faces around me?
I can’t think that far ahead. Just plug in and let Wilco take me away.
Twice, in what I know is the first period, I hear the roar. It comes between songs, in that moment of silence on my headphones. I curse the silence and imagine the goals.
But then it ends. I hear no more. Late in the game (whenever I look at a clock I know the game must be at a particular point) I see people whisper to each other from time to time. But it’s subdued. And I believe it means the Russian team is too good. That an early Canadian lead has been erased and the dream of hockey supremacy is over.
Still, I hear nothing as certainty and indeed make it away, at the end of shift, with no more knowledge than those two early game cheers.
The Blackberry has sat unused for hours. Texts and e-mails will have to wait. Any of them may tell me what has happened.
And in time warp fashion, I’m home at 11:30, with the game on. It’s live for me. As if just starting. I even delayed my grocery store run after work for fear of a stock boy giving a hint.
Sure enough, Canada score early... and often. And then I wait. Waiting for the come back. I figure it will come. I remember the subdued later portion of work. The co-workers seemed down and quiet.
But the goals keep coming. And I’m left wondering if there’ll be a collapse of monumental proportions. They go into the third period up 7-3.
So I watch the minutes go by. And think of it in terms of Russian goals. As in “well they’ll need to score a goal every four minutes to tie it up”... then “every two minutes”. By the time it got to a goal a minute, I accept the win that’s about to come.
And perhaps my co-workers were better actors than I thought. Or maybe my imagination took over during work.
Either way, Wilco helped me reach the Cone of Silence. And the hockey game, in HD, is watched as it should be.
MONDAY...
— Work stats are getting too good. I’ll have to slack off some or they’ll expect me to keep this up.
— Morning Olympic coverage is horribly bad. It’s like an entertainment news show. Hardly a sports caster to be seen and giggling twits trying to glam up athletes. Shame on CTV for it.
TUESDAY...
— Keg with Geoff can’t be beat.
WEDNESDAY...
— The Cone of Silence attempted at work. Russia vs. Canada Olympic hockey but I’m at work for it. So I get my mp3 player out, and blast Wilco for the last three hours of work. Twice I hear cheers from co-workers (when music is at a lull)... but I don’t know what happens. I knew Canada scored twice in the first period but nothing beyond... and was actually guessing Russia came back by the way co-workers were acting. Nice surprise as I watch the game and see Canada’s 7-3 victory!
THURSDAY...
— Greek night at work.
— Good Olympic day for hockey and figure skating. Women’s hockey win gold and how Rochette did as well as she did after losing her mother. And to hear the IOC is investigating the women’s hockey team for celebrating on the ice with cigars, beer and champagne. This is how moronic and uptight the Olympic Committee is. Oh brother.
FRIDAY...
— Me and Roz alone in AFIS. Not a bad night.
— Hockey game on PVR... I knew what the score was after one period but didn’t know after that until I got home. Not a great showing by Canada... lucky to win and will need to be better in the gold medal game.
SATURDAY...
— More good Olympic stuff. Too bad the weather didn’t co-operate in Vancouver... snow board event was mostly in fog. But still good to see the win for vet Jasey Jay Anderson.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Making It Up As I Go Along #404
Achoo!
Achoo
So typical
It isn’t believed
The modified choo
Shooting moisture towards a friend
face sprayed laughter
Mouse squeaks
Repeated time and time again
Want to shake them
Violent bark
Sudden and loud
Angry dog behind chain link fence
Nose coughs
Bless you?
Or, maybe not?
Food shooter
Comes from the nose
Yet empties the mouth
Everyone does it
No two are exactly the same
A view to the world of the sneeze.
MONDAY...
— I’m useless luck to the Olympics. Able to watch downhill skiing... they don’t do so well. Able to watch Wotherspoon’s last skate... not so good. Don’t watch the snow boarding... silver medal. The ultimate test is if I watch Canada vs. Norway in hockey and the Canadians lose.
TUESDAY...
— Nice seeing Maelle Ricker win gold in snow boarding. She seems to be one you could point to and say they’re really in it for the love of the game. She seems to genuinely just think it’s all a really fun experience and seems quite modest about it all.
WEDNESDAY...
— The watch is now on. As I sit in the seat, at work, of someone who just got diagnosed with strep throat earlier the same day. Better not get anything!
— See the continued stupidity on Facebook. Someone gets a new job in a fairly secure position where you’d want to be careful who you tell what to... and they post a description of it all on their facebook status update. In my mind, that celebration of what they got should be enough to take it away from them... shows someone who obviously isn’t ready for major responsibility.
— Quiet night at work with just Mark and me in AFIS.
THURSDAY...
— Pizza night at work... Louis’ is always good. Nice to see another gold for Canada. I really enjoy the long track speed skating. Likely my favourite Olympic sport to watch. Although I must say, the HD TV adds a lot to any sport outside in the snow (skiing, snow boarding, moguls)... it’s all pretty amazing in HD.
FRIDAY...
— Feel bad for Melissa Hollingsworth. Not getting a medal when she’s been so good this year... you could feel the disappointment. Montgomery is the first Canadian to get a medal that I didn’t feel warm and fuzzy over. I’m glad he won and all but the other Canadian winners all seemed humbled by it. He came off a bit more like one of the dudes that do the beer commercials. I did like his walk through Whistler though... really connected with the people there. (Edit: by Sunday, I’m sort of getting in to Montgomery. Not my ideal guy but there is something fun about him for sure).
— Tiger Woods press conference... without the press. Ugh. If he wants privacy, don’t get on TV to say it. If he wants to apologize for his actions, don’t scold the media for going after his family... and, for the love of God, there was no good reason to drag his mother out and have her sit, uncomfortably, six feet in front of him so she could give her boy a hug when he finished. Plus, most unneeded bit of talk from Tiger... “my wife should get no blame”. Thanks for that genius. So Tiger denies that Elin hit him... there was no violence at all... fact is, everyone I’ve spoken to has said “if she did hit him, good for her”.
SATURDAY...
— Olympics... bad day for Canada. Nothing terribly good happens. Losing when they should be winning or crashing or anything like that. Best thing I saw was men’s curling won again.
— A few of us at Phil’s for the hot tub. Then off to watch UFC at the bar. Relaxing night. Hot tubs are needed everywhere.
Achoo
So typical
It isn’t believed
The modified choo
Shooting moisture towards a friend
face sprayed laughter
Mouse squeaks
Repeated time and time again
Want to shake them
Violent bark
Sudden and loud
Angry dog behind chain link fence
Nose coughs
Bless you?
Or, maybe not?
Food shooter
Comes from the nose
Yet empties the mouth
Everyone does it
No two are exactly the same
A view to the world of the sneeze.
MONDAY...
— I’m useless luck to the Olympics. Able to watch downhill skiing... they don’t do so well. Able to watch Wotherspoon’s last skate... not so good. Don’t watch the snow boarding... silver medal. The ultimate test is if I watch Canada vs. Norway in hockey and the Canadians lose.
TUESDAY...
— Nice seeing Maelle Ricker win gold in snow boarding. She seems to be one you could point to and say they’re really in it for the love of the game. She seems to genuinely just think it’s all a really fun experience and seems quite modest about it all.
WEDNESDAY...
— The watch is now on. As I sit in the seat, at work, of someone who just got diagnosed with strep throat earlier the same day. Better not get anything!
— See the continued stupidity on Facebook. Someone gets a new job in a fairly secure position where you’d want to be careful who you tell what to... and they post a description of it all on their facebook status update. In my mind, that celebration of what they got should be enough to take it away from them... shows someone who obviously isn’t ready for major responsibility.
— Quiet night at work with just Mark and me in AFIS.
THURSDAY...
— Pizza night at work... Louis’ is always good. Nice to see another gold for Canada. I really enjoy the long track speed skating. Likely my favourite Olympic sport to watch. Although I must say, the HD TV adds a lot to any sport outside in the snow (skiing, snow boarding, moguls)... it’s all pretty amazing in HD.
FRIDAY...
— Feel bad for Melissa Hollingsworth. Not getting a medal when she’s been so good this year... you could feel the disappointment. Montgomery is the first Canadian to get a medal that I didn’t feel warm and fuzzy over. I’m glad he won and all but the other Canadian winners all seemed humbled by it. He came off a bit more like one of the dudes that do the beer commercials. I did like his walk through Whistler though... really connected with the people there. (Edit: by Sunday, I’m sort of getting in to Montgomery. Not my ideal guy but there is something fun about him for sure).
— Tiger Woods press conference... without the press. Ugh. If he wants privacy, don’t get on TV to say it. If he wants to apologize for his actions, don’t scold the media for going after his family... and, for the love of God, there was no good reason to drag his mother out and have her sit, uncomfortably, six feet in front of him so she could give her boy a hug when he finished. Plus, most unneeded bit of talk from Tiger... “my wife should get no blame”. Thanks for that genius. So Tiger denies that Elin hit him... there was no violence at all... fact is, everyone I’ve spoken to has said “if she did hit him, good for her”.
SATURDAY...
— Olympics... bad day for Canada. Nothing terribly good happens. Losing when they should be winning or crashing or anything like that. Best thing I saw was men’s curling won again.
— A few of us at Phil’s for the hot tub. Then off to watch UFC at the bar. Relaxing night. Hot tubs are needed everywhere.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Making It Up As I Go Along #403
All Tucked Away in There
Where you live changes everything. I spent the majority of my life in Wedgewood Park. A little enclave now within St. John’s was once a small community on the outskirts of town. A forested place where holidays brought parades through the streets and services such as trash collection and snow plowing was carried out by men who lived within the park.
Growing up there isolates from the rest of town. The outside world seemed like a days hike through the forest. Occasional trips downtown were exotic. It felt foreign there. I liked downtown but didn’t know it.
As years went on, the forest disappeared and the city overtook Wedgewood. Snow clearing was now a city responsibility. We had no idea when they’d make their way through our streets. And the ball field, which was always ours to use, was suddenly rented out to strangers... driving in from who knows where.
My home space was no longer isolated and I was at an age to move, so move I did. And on the edge of that exotic downtown I went to.
St. John’s suddenly became a whole new town. Those foreign streets became familiar. The type of familiarity that only comes from slow walks. Hidden alleys, unknown from car trips, suddenly opened up.
The uniqueness of my home town suddenly became evident. Gardens and patios appear out of nowhere. Lanes bring you within the city. The main roads avoid the character of the city. I grew to appreciate St. John’s in my three years living on Hayward Avenue. It became an entirely different city than the one I lived in for the first twenty-seven or so years.
But work brought me to Ottawa. Only one other time had I been any longer than a vacation away from the east coast. Some three months in Vancouver with my sister and her family brought a connection to the west coast. And again, a lack of a car helped to appreciate the city of Vancouver in the same was as downtown walking in St. John’s would do a few years later.
The sea wall around False Creek and Stanley Park afforded good exercise and amazing views while you get to where you’re going.
Now, in Ottawa, I still feel a disconnect. I’ve been here almost seven years now and yet three months of Vancouver continues to feel more me than this place. Walking can be done in my neighbourhood. The pond near me brings a much appreciated taste of nature in the summer, spring and fall. But there are no secret lane ways. No breathtaking views. And no hidden gardens to be discovered.
The closest you get to any of that is the experiences of a late night walk. When people are in bed and the rabbits overtake the neighbourhood. It’s just not the same as Vancouver, St. John’s, or Wedgewood Park.
I’ve always been drawn to the cozy place to live. As a kid I wanted a small room with the door closed. At my grandparent’s, I’d climb into a hidden room off the closet. I always thought it was a hidden room. It turns out my grandparents knew it was there. A storage trunk of old romance novels was a treasure chest of ancient texts... in my mind.
When I left my childhood room, I moved into the basement, and made that hidden away bedroom cozy too.
Moving to Hayward Avenue, I originally slept in the smaller of two bedrooms and spent most of my time in the loft, with an old wood stove, low ceiling, and small windows looking out to the rest of the world... while I was tucked away cozy.
Yes, cozy is best for me. It would carry over to daily activities as well. When berry picking on a hill, I was lost for quite sometime. Lost to my parents and their friends anyway. I had found a depression in the ground, with several big rocks on one side and a stand of trees on the other. I sat there, in the sun, eating blueberries... nice and cozy.
At a table, I pick the seat in the back corner. When looking for a place to stop during a hike, I look for a little gully tucked up against a grove of trees or, even better, against a glacially deposited rock... anything to act as a wall to break the wind and hide away behind.
In England, I liked the town of Bath. Where you were down in a valley and able to walk along small streets with small shops.
In Greece, Mykonos was my favourite town. A maze of small white homes and shops, woven together along streets too narrow for cars. A hill on one side of town, the ocean on the other. Borders to hold you within the maze. And it literally is a maze. Dad and I lost mom on our walking. You knew which direction you were traveling in but there were a half dozen streets that could take you there. And some side streets would lead you to those hidden courtyards or patios. Those places that look very different from the ones I’ve mention in downtown St. John’s. But representing the same hidden treasure feel. Places you wouldn’t guess would exist until you’ve rounded the corner to find them there in front of you.
Just like the walking vistas along the sea wall of Vancouver. And that hidden room at my grandparent’s, with the treasure chest of romance novels.
MONDAY...
— Awake too early this morning. 4:10 and I don’t get back to sleep.
— Morning at work is alright but I’m quite spent after lunch and have to get up and move around every 20 minutes or so. Continue fight to stay awake in the evening... need to keep up for a good night’s sleep.
TUESDAY...
— Wake at the same time as yesterday, but luckily, get back to sleep.
— Work is alright. I’m tired in the morning but perk up in the afternoon.
WEDNESDAY...
— Work... is work... go to lunch with Shannon and Janice and that’s nice.
— By the end of the day, I’m tired and just feeling worn down so... start the weekend now!
— Home for some hockey and TV. Montreal ends Washington’s winning streak and Republic of Doyle is fun. And I can stay up late again... a relief.
THURSDAY...
— Sleep well again... nice to rest up.
— Some movies in the day and the return of Survivor tonight.
FRIDAY...
— Olympics with troublesome beginnings. Georgian luge athlete killed in training leaves questions of that track and amount of training available on it.
— On a less serious front, part of the cauldron fails to raise up for the lighting. Feels like these games could be in some trouble. I wonder if rain will cause problems. Hopefully there’ll be no more injuries or worse.
— The effects that cause the floor of GM Place to become ice fields and an ocean... then prairies and mountains... it’s all very impressive. Especially seeing whales swim through.
— Crazy Heart is seen tonight. Sarah and I go and only four other people are in the cinema... but what a movie. Jeff Daniels is incredible.
SATURDAY...
— Olympic day at home. And I’m really still not liking Jamie Campbell. The moron made me almost unable to watch Blue Jay games (thank goodness Sportsnet got rid of him for Buck Martinez) but now he’s calling the women’s moguls event and spends half the air time proclaiming how Jenn Heil would win gold and be the first Canadian to do so on home soil. This whole Own the Podium plan by team Canada has drugged our sportscasters... turning them into blathering meat heads. I felt good for Heil’s silver and wish we could ditch the fools being paid to present these games to us.
Where you live changes everything. I spent the majority of my life in Wedgewood Park. A little enclave now within St. John’s was once a small community on the outskirts of town. A forested place where holidays brought parades through the streets and services such as trash collection and snow plowing was carried out by men who lived within the park.
Growing up there isolates from the rest of town. The outside world seemed like a days hike through the forest. Occasional trips downtown were exotic. It felt foreign there. I liked downtown but didn’t know it.
As years went on, the forest disappeared and the city overtook Wedgewood. Snow clearing was now a city responsibility. We had no idea when they’d make their way through our streets. And the ball field, which was always ours to use, was suddenly rented out to strangers... driving in from who knows where.
My home space was no longer isolated and I was at an age to move, so move I did. And on the edge of that exotic downtown I went to.
St. John’s suddenly became a whole new town. Those foreign streets became familiar. The type of familiarity that only comes from slow walks. Hidden alleys, unknown from car trips, suddenly opened up.
The uniqueness of my home town suddenly became evident. Gardens and patios appear out of nowhere. Lanes bring you within the city. The main roads avoid the character of the city. I grew to appreciate St. John’s in my three years living on Hayward Avenue. It became an entirely different city than the one I lived in for the first twenty-seven or so years.
But work brought me to Ottawa. Only one other time had I been any longer than a vacation away from the east coast. Some three months in Vancouver with my sister and her family brought a connection to the west coast. And again, a lack of a car helped to appreciate the city of Vancouver in the same was as downtown walking in St. John’s would do a few years later.
The sea wall around False Creek and Stanley Park afforded good exercise and amazing views while you get to where you’re going.
Now, in Ottawa, I still feel a disconnect. I’ve been here almost seven years now and yet three months of Vancouver continues to feel more me than this place. Walking can be done in my neighbourhood. The pond near me brings a much appreciated taste of nature in the summer, spring and fall. But there are no secret lane ways. No breathtaking views. And no hidden gardens to be discovered.
The closest you get to any of that is the experiences of a late night walk. When people are in bed and the rabbits overtake the neighbourhood. It’s just not the same as Vancouver, St. John’s, or Wedgewood Park.
I’ve always been drawn to the cozy place to live. As a kid I wanted a small room with the door closed. At my grandparent’s, I’d climb into a hidden room off the closet. I always thought it was a hidden room. It turns out my grandparents knew it was there. A storage trunk of old romance novels was a treasure chest of ancient texts... in my mind.
When I left my childhood room, I moved into the basement, and made that hidden away bedroom cozy too.
Moving to Hayward Avenue, I originally slept in the smaller of two bedrooms and spent most of my time in the loft, with an old wood stove, low ceiling, and small windows looking out to the rest of the world... while I was tucked away cozy.
Yes, cozy is best for me. It would carry over to daily activities as well. When berry picking on a hill, I was lost for quite sometime. Lost to my parents and their friends anyway. I had found a depression in the ground, with several big rocks on one side and a stand of trees on the other. I sat there, in the sun, eating blueberries... nice and cozy.
At a table, I pick the seat in the back corner. When looking for a place to stop during a hike, I look for a little gully tucked up against a grove of trees or, even better, against a glacially deposited rock... anything to act as a wall to break the wind and hide away behind.
In England, I liked the town of Bath. Where you were down in a valley and able to walk along small streets with small shops.
In Greece, Mykonos was my favourite town. A maze of small white homes and shops, woven together along streets too narrow for cars. A hill on one side of town, the ocean on the other. Borders to hold you within the maze. And it literally is a maze. Dad and I lost mom on our walking. You knew which direction you were traveling in but there were a half dozen streets that could take you there. And some side streets would lead you to those hidden courtyards or patios. Those places that look very different from the ones I’ve mention in downtown St. John’s. But representing the same hidden treasure feel. Places you wouldn’t guess would exist until you’ve rounded the corner to find them there in front of you.
Just like the walking vistas along the sea wall of Vancouver. And that hidden room at my grandparent’s, with the treasure chest of romance novels.
MONDAY...
— Awake too early this morning. 4:10 and I don’t get back to sleep.
— Morning at work is alright but I’m quite spent after lunch and have to get up and move around every 20 minutes or so. Continue fight to stay awake in the evening... need to keep up for a good night’s sleep.
TUESDAY...
— Wake at the same time as yesterday, but luckily, get back to sleep.
— Work is alright. I’m tired in the morning but perk up in the afternoon.
WEDNESDAY...
— Work... is work... go to lunch with Shannon and Janice and that’s nice.
— By the end of the day, I’m tired and just feeling worn down so... start the weekend now!
— Home for some hockey and TV. Montreal ends Washington’s winning streak and Republic of Doyle is fun. And I can stay up late again... a relief.
THURSDAY...
— Sleep well again... nice to rest up.
— Some movies in the day and the return of Survivor tonight.
FRIDAY...
— Olympics with troublesome beginnings. Georgian luge athlete killed in training leaves questions of that track and amount of training available on it.
— On a less serious front, part of the cauldron fails to raise up for the lighting. Feels like these games could be in some trouble. I wonder if rain will cause problems. Hopefully there’ll be no more injuries or worse.
— The effects that cause the floor of GM Place to become ice fields and an ocean... then prairies and mountains... it’s all very impressive. Especially seeing whales swim through.
— Crazy Heart is seen tonight. Sarah and I go and only four other people are in the cinema... but what a movie. Jeff Daniels is incredible.
SATURDAY...
— Olympic day at home. And I’m really still not liking Jamie Campbell. The moron made me almost unable to watch Blue Jay games (thank goodness Sportsnet got rid of him for Buck Martinez) but now he’s calling the women’s moguls event and spends half the air time proclaiming how Jenn Heil would win gold and be the first Canadian to do so on home soil. This whole Own the Podium plan by team Canada has drugged our sportscasters... turning them into blathering meat heads. I felt good for Heil’s silver and wish we could ditch the fools being paid to present these games to us.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Making It Up As I Go Along #402
Heading to Overtime
Overtime excitement is something I’ve never gotten. I don’t mean a hockey game. Playoff hockey that goes to overtime is matched by little in this world. What I mean is working overtime.
For several years now, our office has offered quite a bit of overtime. And I’ve rarely done it. Why would I want to drive in to the office six or seven days a week? Isn’t five enough?
Yet it’s a virtual celebration in our office when the overtime sign up sheets go up. It’s like Christmas with the giddiness you see on some people’s faces. And I can never help but feel like there’s something drastically wrong in life when overtime causes such joy.
More money isn’t a bad thing. Don’t get me wrong about that... I’d take it. But time away from the office is a valuable thing to me. I think I’d need to be offered quadruple time to make it worth my while. I guess it shows that I’m doing alright for money.
But it is a sad thing if people are so much in financial need that a full time, well paying job isn’t enough to make ends meet. Cause for some, overtime seems to be a lifeline. As if they were just about to lose their house before the sign up sheet offered them salvation. It shouldn’t come to that. And if it’s a legitimate problem... well maybe our jobs aren’t so well paying after all. At least not in today’s economy.
For others, it’s like they really don’t have anything else in life other than work. Overtime seems to be something good for them the same way as going out with friends would be for others. Like it will save them from many hours at home... with the family. I swear there are people who dislike their family so much, they’d look for anything to be away from them.
For others, it’s simply seen as a fairly easy way to get some extra bucks. Go in for a few hours and come out with an IOU for a few hundred bucks. I say IOU because our office is horrible at actually paying out overtime. All finances in our office is about two months delayed. Get a promotion... you’ll see it in two months. Work overtime... two months later it’ll be there... probably. I have heard of a few who have had to hound the finance department for three to six months before getting what they worked for.
Still, people flock to overtime. It’s usually a full line up on the weekends with people clamoring to find a space. Maybe everyone wants to get a new flat screen TV. Perhaps homes are falling down around them all and this money will help pay for renovations. It’s possible that ten year old’s university educations are getting paid for on these Saturday and Sunday mornings. Who am I to begrudge someone else going back to work for some extra money?
But one thing for sure, it’s not for me. I can’t say I’d never go work overtime again. But I’ll never treat it like winning the lottery. For me, I can’t help but think of years of overtime as a sign of poor planning. It overworks employees and takes away from people’s lives.
And for me, a day around the house with a record on the turntable or a hockey game on the TV, while the laundry is rumbling and the sun shines through the windows, giving the place a special Saturday glow... well that’s worth much more to me than a couple of hundred dollars.
MONDAY...
— Working with Terry’s team. Kiyomi being the desk buddy doing AFIS work. Not a bad night.
TUESDAY...
— Sickness getting into the office again. Tonight, Martin leaves after a few hours and Kiyomi and Bill both never made it at all. In the end, Devin and I are the only ones left in QC/AFIS by the time the night ends. Pizza for supper is good though.
WEDNESDAY...
— Feel sort of off today. Up early but go back to bed around 10:30 and sleep until 1:30 or so. Still off a bit at work... Devin leaves sick... Kiyomi is back and Martin is there too, but not 100%. Kiyomi and I do some Wendy’s for supper and it’s an alright night. I actually even feel kind of better by the end.
— See my old house during Republic of Doyle. Not a great view of it but it’s there.
THURSDAY...
— Feeling fine. Seems I skirted the flu thing rather than get hit with it.
FRIDAY...
— Greek night at work... yum. Next week... dayshift again. I’m afraid.
SATURDAY...
— Watch some TV and do laundry. Montreal beats Pittsburgh in hockey and Toronto pounds Ottawa. The Toronto game makes you feel good for sports teams as the Leafs really came together to get a win for Brian Burke (who lost his son by car accident Friday).
— UFC after the hockey... not a real good card but some fun all the same.
Overtime excitement is something I’ve never gotten. I don’t mean a hockey game. Playoff hockey that goes to overtime is matched by little in this world. What I mean is working overtime.
For several years now, our office has offered quite a bit of overtime. And I’ve rarely done it. Why would I want to drive in to the office six or seven days a week? Isn’t five enough?
Yet it’s a virtual celebration in our office when the overtime sign up sheets go up. It’s like Christmas with the giddiness you see on some people’s faces. And I can never help but feel like there’s something drastically wrong in life when overtime causes such joy.
More money isn’t a bad thing. Don’t get me wrong about that... I’d take it. But time away from the office is a valuable thing to me. I think I’d need to be offered quadruple time to make it worth my while. I guess it shows that I’m doing alright for money.
But it is a sad thing if people are so much in financial need that a full time, well paying job isn’t enough to make ends meet. Cause for some, overtime seems to be a lifeline. As if they were just about to lose their house before the sign up sheet offered them salvation. It shouldn’t come to that. And if it’s a legitimate problem... well maybe our jobs aren’t so well paying after all. At least not in today’s economy.
For others, it’s like they really don’t have anything else in life other than work. Overtime seems to be something good for them the same way as going out with friends would be for others. Like it will save them from many hours at home... with the family. I swear there are people who dislike their family so much, they’d look for anything to be away from them.
For others, it’s simply seen as a fairly easy way to get some extra bucks. Go in for a few hours and come out with an IOU for a few hundred bucks. I say IOU because our office is horrible at actually paying out overtime. All finances in our office is about two months delayed. Get a promotion... you’ll see it in two months. Work overtime... two months later it’ll be there... probably. I have heard of a few who have had to hound the finance department for three to six months before getting what they worked for.
Still, people flock to overtime. It’s usually a full line up on the weekends with people clamoring to find a space. Maybe everyone wants to get a new flat screen TV. Perhaps homes are falling down around them all and this money will help pay for renovations. It’s possible that ten year old’s university educations are getting paid for on these Saturday and Sunday mornings. Who am I to begrudge someone else going back to work for some extra money?
But one thing for sure, it’s not for me. I can’t say I’d never go work overtime again. But I’ll never treat it like winning the lottery. For me, I can’t help but think of years of overtime as a sign of poor planning. It overworks employees and takes away from people’s lives.
And for me, a day around the house with a record on the turntable or a hockey game on the TV, while the laundry is rumbling and the sun shines through the windows, giving the place a special Saturday glow... well that’s worth much more to me than a couple of hundred dollars.
MONDAY...
— Working with Terry’s team. Kiyomi being the desk buddy doing AFIS work. Not a bad night.
TUESDAY...
— Sickness getting into the office again. Tonight, Martin leaves after a few hours and Kiyomi and Bill both never made it at all. In the end, Devin and I are the only ones left in QC/AFIS by the time the night ends. Pizza for supper is good though.
WEDNESDAY...
— Feel sort of off today. Up early but go back to bed around 10:30 and sleep until 1:30 or so. Still off a bit at work... Devin leaves sick... Kiyomi is back and Martin is there too, but not 100%. Kiyomi and I do some Wendy’s for supper and it’s an alright night. I actually even feel kind of better by the end.
— See my old house during Republic of Doyle. Not a great view of it but it’s there.
THURSDAY...
— Feeling fine. Seems I skirted the flu thing rather than get hit with it.
FRIDAY...
— Greek night at work... yum. Next week... dayshift again. I’m afraid.
SATURDAY...
— Watch some TV and do laundry. Montreal beats Pittsburgh in hockey and Toronto pounds Ottawa. The Toronto game makes you feel good for sports teams as the Leafs really came together to get a win for Brian Burke (who lost his son by car accident Friday).
— UFC after the hockey... not a real good card but some fun all the same.
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