Scottish Highlands

Scottish Highlands

Saturday, February 08, 2014

Making It Up As I Go Along #573

Some Thoughts

Writing took a back seat today.  It happens sometimes.  Being all ready and willing to get at it only to have other things get in the way.

Today there was the Olympics.  Seeing a Newfoundlander figure skate.  Watching sisters place one and two in moguls.  Getting their stories… one from Marystown, a single hero who got a parade before the games even began.  The others a family of Olympians… three girls pushing each other forward.

When the games switched to hockey coverage, I had my chance.  But then a look out the window took it away.  Sunny skies and temps that won’t freeze skin on contact draw me out.  And for a second straight day, it’s an hour of snowshoeing that awaits. 

If I can keep up on the snowshoeing… even just twice a week… I should get myself in reasonable summer shape. 

The Christmas fat is beginning to fall.  Today the last of the Christmas chocolates has gone away (of course, by “gone away” I mean “In my mouth”).  The eating routine is basically back now.  And increased exercise will help shed the winter blubber.

Speaking of changes, my sleeping change has gone better than I could have imagined.  A few weeks ago, I decided I had to get off my stomach.  With my head turned to one side, each night, my neck had begun to rebel. 

Funny how such things go.  I’ve slept on my stomach, neck crooked for years.  But it was as if the warranty had run out and, over the past few months, I three times had to deal with muscle pains and tightness.

So I moved away from the flat pillows and brought in the higher ones.  Planning for back or side sleeping while expecting long nights staring up at the ceiling, desperately wanting to roll over to that position I’ve come to know so well.

But the transition has gone smoothly.  The back is too big a step.  I simply can’t sleep back there like that.  But the sides have worked out and I’ve found my neck much more loose and mobile.  It was actually tighter than I had thought.  I can more easily turn my head much further now than I could for many months. 

Simpson’s Lego sounds like a dream come true for many like myself.  My sister thought so too and looked it up on Amazon as an idea for a birthday gift for me.  $450 ($399 + $60 shipping) nixed that idea.  The greed in this world is incredible.  Maybe gold plated Simpsons figurines should go for such a price.  Lego blocks? Let’s get serious.  I’m afraid my birthday shall be Legoless. 

England is beginning to take shape.  Our family trip, this summer, now has apartments booked for the first week of London and a day trip all set up for a visit to the filming location of Downton Abby.   It all leaves me picturing things more so.  The imagery taking more concrete shape in my mind.  Episodes of the above mentioned show will have me strolling along, Labrador Retriever leading the way to high tea.  While Google Earth Street View has already allowed me to wander our London home neighbourhood several times.    

Inside Llewyn Davis was a great piece of film making.  There is a scene in there that will stick with me as one of those magical movie scenes that stand out in my mind for their uniqueness.  It’s not a key scene to advance the plot.  The memorable scenes sometimes aren’t.  This scene was of a subway ride.  A ride seen, for just a few moments, from the point of view of the cat Llewyn is holding.  A cat peering out the window, watching the name signs of New York subway stops fly by.  Scenes like that are what make me love movies.  The cat scene is partly seen in this trailer.

Inside Llewyn Davis Trailer


SATURDAY…
--- Work is just me and Claudio… Mona off for the block.  Pretty quiet day really.

SUNDAY…
--- More quietness.  And I go home to basically ignore the Super Bowl.  Just as well… sounds like a bad game.

MONDAY…
--- A & W For supper on night shift.  Always reminds me of home when I have it.

TUESDAY…
--- Uneventful at work.

WEDNESDAY…
--- Quiet house day.  Just sort of worn out from the shift.  So some TV and laziness.

THURSDAY…
--- Out to the movies.  See Inside Llewyn Davis.  Wanted to see it since I saw the trailer some six months ago.  Liked it… though probably wanted to like it more than I did.  Real good movie that I would like to be able to say is the best movie I saw this year when, in reality, it likely ranks fourth or fifth for the year in my books.

FRIDAY…
--- Snowshoeing.  Good day out there.  Nice workout.
--- Watch some of the Olympic opening.  Didn’t realize how many athletes Canada was sending.  Almost as big a team as Russia and America. 

SATURDAY…
--- A bit of Olympics in the morning.  Team Figure Skating? Oh come on.  Though I suppose if trampoline is a summer games sport now, it’s not a surprise.  But yes, one of the more unnecessary events in Olympic competition.

--- Said it before, Ontario has so much going for it… but they really don’t know how to advertise it.  Ontario’s tourism ads are simply horrible.  Marginal singers walking around singing a dinky song (one being a rapper who actually interjects “I’m in Ontario, dog”) makes me want to plan a vacation anyplace other than Ontario.

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