Making It Up As I Go Along #270

MONDAY...
— With little work in AFIS, many of us are forced to do work in QC tonight. It’s weird because QC work is normally not done on evening shift and I wasn’t geared up to do this tonight.
— Listen to the hockey game on the radio while we work. I’m not pleased with Buffalo. They’ll cost me the hockey pool and played without hard or guts. But Ottawa has been playing impressively.

TUESDAY...
— Dentist trip brings forth the declaration of a cavity! So back I go in July for a filling... jerks!
— Upstairs to barcode tonight with Melissa, Jaymie and Karen. That makes for a very boring evening at work.
— Megan and I at least go to the Chip Wagon... good to step out for a bit.

WEDNESDAY...
— A sick day. I felt fine all day up to about 1:00. Then my stomach is doing odd things, headache and some hot and cold spells come in too. I assume I ate something that didn’t like me too much.
— Some Wilco on DVD takes me through the afternoon. Amazon gets stuff to you quickly, I must say.
— Hockey and sleep take over the night. Buffalo lives for another day, but they won’t be able to beat Ottawa down three games to one.


THURSDAY...
— Off again today. I actually feel worse than yesterday up to about 5:30... and then I’m really tired up to about 9:30. But prior to that, it’s headache big time.

FRIDAY...
— Force myself in even though I’m quite tired still. 9 hours sleep didn’t do much.
— As the shift goes on, I’m improving. Laura and I barcode until supper time. Less boring than Tuesday as we chat a bit as we go (Tuesday, there wasn’t any talking going on).
— Supper outside with Laura, Janice and Dave is nice.
— After supper, I’m downstairs preparing my resume for the upcoming promotions. By 9:00, I’m dying energy wise. Just no stamina right now.

SATURDAY...
— Quiet day around the house as my energy level is still low. I head out for some groceries and supper but that’s it. Hockey on TV too... Ottawa makes it to the finals, poor old Buffalo is out again, and I’m now dead in the office hockey pool.


Week of a Sick Person
Well I’m not creative today. I’ve been sick for much of the week and still feel zapped. In fact, I’m wondering if I am developing an ear or sinus infection. I’ll give it until tomorrow to see if that gets better or worse but my ear doesn’t feel entirely right today and there’s a little something in my throat.

So feeling run down and without much creative juices flowing, I’ll cover a few things that brought me through the week.

An Offer He Can’t Refuse
Weeks after seeing the original Godfather movie, I finally watch Godfather II. Being sick allows you the excuse to sit down through a three and a half hour movie. And it was good and fascinating in the character development. But I just couldn’t help feeling as though this one movie would have been better off as two. Half of it takes place prior to the original Godfather while the other half comes after the first movie. I think I’d have enjoyed it all better had I gotten the story told by the two movies but, instead, as three movies in chronological order. Anyway, that’s irrelevant now. Bottom line is that these are classic movies.

Alone Time
There are drawbacks to life by yourself. I generally enjoy the solitary life and, in fact, there are times when I need it. I’m one who can get tired out by being around too many for too long. But when you’re sick, it’s not all that great to be alone. I guess it’s just one of those times when you want to be a little spoiled. Be it a girlfriend, good friend, or family member... when you’re sick it’s a nice time to have someone else to make sure you’ve got everything you need. Grocery shopping is a pain in the butt when you feel under the weather. And today I’m battling myself as I look at my floors and see that a good vacuuming is in order. Do I wear myself out through the simple task of vacuuming? Or do I let dust and dirt build up for a few more days? Ten bucks to the dear soul who comes over and does my vacuuming! Come on... do it!

Senator Hockey
The Ottawa Senators have made it to the Stanley Cup Finals. I’m not a fan of this team, and knowing that it costs almost $150 to sit in the nosebleed seats for the finals makes me feel disdain for price gouging professional sports. But still, I’d love to see a Stanley Cup final game. I’d love to see the Cup presented live to any hockey team. And I do want a Canadian team to finally win the trophy again. It’s been thirteen years since the Montreal Canadiens held the Cup. This is the longest time in the history of the league that the Cup has been held by American cities. It’s time and, as painful as it is to say, the Senators have been playing amazing hockey. There are even some fans that I’d feel very good for if their team wins. Those that have been standing by their team through thick and thin. And I do respect those fans who understand that when Ottawa beat Toronto in a November game, that doesn’t constitute a Stanley Cup style celebration.

This city is ridiculous for it’s pettiness regarding it’s team. I once heard an Ottawa vs. Toronto regular season game on the radio at work. Ottawa won and the station proceeded to then play “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions” (two famous Queen songs) in celebration of the victory. It’s garbage like this that makes me unable to stand behind my home team. Plus last year, a playoff game had to be rescheduled because Dora the Explorer was already booked for a children’s show in the stadium. You’d never see any of the other five Canadian NHL teams get caught in a situation like that.

But despite dumb fans and moronic local media, the Senator hockey team has earned my respect for the way they’ve played so far in these playoffs. Except for Chris Neil... he’s still a frosted tip twit of a goon who has no class. Oh... and Daniel Alfredsson continues to need to keep his mouth shut. Claims of innocense after a cheap shot hit from behind make him look bad, despite his good play.

Chip Wagon
For me, the best part of Ottawa summer is... the Chip Wagon! There’s a van in the Canadian Tire parking lot, a minute drive from the office. Evening shift in the summer is made by the ability to go there for some fries, and possibly a burger. And then to sit around either at the picnic tables next to the van or at the tables in front of our office, and chow down with a few friends. There’s nothing bad about it. In fact, this week I was prepared to go do this summer event twice. On Tuesday I went with Megan. But when Janice and Laura went on Thursday, I was home under the weather. Now... this comes back on the example of friends doing things for you when you’re sick. They should have picked up an extra order and driven the twenty minutes that it takes to get to my place. Sure it would have sacrificed work time for them... and they’d be eating in the car as they got to me rather than in the pleasant breeze at a picnic table... but they’d have made me happy. And really, isn’t that all that counts?