Making It Up As I Go Along #317

MONDAY...
— Fine day. Quite morning around the house. Work in CNI doing some stuff for them until supper. Then to AFIS. I actually break in the middle of shift in order to watch the hockey game in the controller’s room with Scott. It means I stay until 1:00 AM to work the difference... but it’s good as Montreal wins 5-0 to move on to the next round of the playoffs.

TUESDAY...
— Was going to do a walk after work tonight... but was too tired so I decide a relatively early night to bed is best (early meaning 1:30 AM)... bless evening shift.
— Work itself is alright. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Do a walk at break with Amy and Stephanie. And I have my first go of the Chip Wagon this year. A fine supper on a summery night.

WEDNESDAY...
— Supper with Nicole and Shannon... we order Chinese. It’s a fine little time. Work is pretty quiet with just Nicole and me.
— Do an hour walk tonight. That goes pretty well.

THURSDAY...
— Lunch with Sheila, Nicole and Genevieve (Sheila’s friends). It’s not a bad start to the work day.
— Off to work from there. It goes okay. Lots of different tasks to do so it’s kept fairly interesting.
— Tape the hockey game but I know what happens before getting home. I over hear some talk of the score... and then one of the guys comes out and flat out says 3-2. So I give up and ask for who. From that point, I check in on things and see Montreal making the comeback to win in overtime. Good stuff.

FRIDAY...
— Work is okay. Busy early on with three people working overtime and Nicole there. I’m alone for the last couple of hours, as they were all in earlier. Come home to watch some hockey on TV and check around on the computer a bit.
— I’d like to propose a law against mail. That is... if the piece of mail doesn’t have a real name and an address written on it... don’t deliver it! I hate how the mailman, who used to deliver the mail no matter rain, sleet or snow, has become nothing more than a well paid pizza menu delivery guy. Every day I get junk mail... coupon books... free samples... advertising papers. If I added nothing to it, my paper recycling box would be almost full every two weeks just on the garbage the mailman and little kids with wagons bring to my door and super box. I’m bombarded with advertising. TV commercials (I think the channels have agreed to all go to ads at the same time too, so there’s no sense in switching)... junk mail... spam e-mail... telephone automated messages (where you’re phoned by a machine)... and internet pop-ups. Soon there’ll be advertising on the pages of books... then the only way to get away from it all is to simply lay in bed quietly.

SATURDAY...
— Two hockey games today and it goes as bad as it could for me. Colorado and Montreal both lose.
— Supper downtown with cousin Paula and her husband, Eddie. It’s a good time catching up and talking Ottawa with the newcomers.


A Sunday In Spring
I have a friend who got married.

I didn’t know it had happened.

I saw his profile picture on the internet,
Standing next to a bride in white.

Last time he was married, I was there as a best man.
This time I learn about it in the same manner as learning about online poker,
And t-shirts with funny sayings.

Not that it upset me.
Being left out from a friends big day.
Second marriages are often smaller than the first.

But with increased technology and abilities to be close to those so far,
It’s easy to see us slip between the cracks, and life happens while we’re unaware.

I saw a shirtless man today.

I didn’t enjoy the sight.

Sitting in the living room, I glance out to see him across the street.
Why is it more acceptable to see a half naked man?
No good comes of it.

Either he’s cut with muscles and appearing pretentious,
Ready to do an exercise ad on TV.
Or he’s not in shape and leaving me with more imagery than I’d like.

Living in a bubble is a fine thing where you only deal with the things that matter.
But your bubble can infringe on mine, and not seeing a hairy man jiggle matters to me.

Smiling means so much.

It can be good or even bad.

A friend’s smile can better the day,
A politician’s smile can breed anger.

I have several friends who smile completely.
Mouth drawn happy, eyes sparkling with energy,
Even a crinkling nose can tell so much.

I’ve seen many politicians who smile falsely.
They smile because their aid tells them they must.
A stamped mouth atop a false face.
Some smiles I love and trust, they bring warmth and calm to me.
Others are trying to scam me. Calling these politicians honourable seems so wrong.

The birds are chirping in tones much like smiling friends.
And since it’s not 4:00 AM, life is pretty good.