If Life is a Bowl of Cherries Why

If parts of this entry fail to make sense remember; I had to break down last night and start taking an anti-histamine. Matters finally reached the point at which I had to decide that my reactions to tree pollen were sufficiently severe that taking the drugs wouldn’t make me feel worse. I know that for peak effectiveness I should have started taking the things about 10 days ago but I wasn’t ready to feel that dunderheaded at that point. I also had to come down this morning and switch my furnace back to heat—I felt cold in bed last night. Heck, there’s even snow in the forecast for later this week and a call for some form of precipitation every day except Sunday. At least I managed to sleep in this morning; I’m so lethargic I’ll need a coffee to find enough energy to brush my teeth.

Regarding the week that was what can I say? I keep putting off shopping so I ate out three times. I’m not sure that there’s that much difference in cost except to my waistline. I tend to eat everything put before me disliking the thought of wasting good food. On Tuesday I had to drag my weary bones down to Town Hall—I walked down and got a ride back—to attend a committee of adjustment hearing. We attended to beat up, metaphorically, on the local bar owner who would like to establish a beer garden out back. Given its location it could be argued that it would have minimal impact on my building but 60 more drunks are 60 more drunks. We get to have a say in this matter because adding the extra commercial space would exceed the landlord’s allowable maximum. If the landlord wants to close down the Burger King with its drive-through window open until 4 AM we could live with the beer garden and he wouldn’t need our indulgence. Them’s fighting words! Our position won the day on a tie vote but the matter had us holding our breaths for three hours until 10 PM. For the rest, despite day’s worth of new DVD’s I decided to rewatch several movies I’ve already seen. At least that way if I fall asleep I won’t miss anything.

At work I’ve been busy typing up tie-out sheets for RSMC routes. Every time the delivery service people throw in a new call at a Community Mailbox Site, (CMB), they upset the tie-out list. I’ve also been retyping the Mobile Route’s list of customers; this was last done in 2002 or earlier. Getting the addresses and business names of 1500 customers correct is no small task but once I retire I don’t give it being done again much chance. Mid-week a functionary from Canada Post showed up with case plans I’d submitted as far back as January whining that his office is backed up to October and that we used administrative influence to jump the cue. There aren’t enough onions around to make me raise a tear for him. I worked hard to have those plans ready in time and get nasty looks daily because they didn’t show up when expected. I’ve also been sorting through junk stored in various corners of the building to clean out materials we’ll never use that are just occupying space. I know, I know, I’m the last person who should be disturbing furniture buried under up to half an inch of dust but no one else would do it. I am winning. After our superintendent complained to upper management about the quality of cleaning in our dump we received more attention from our cleaners in the last week than we’ve received in the last 6 months. This weekend they’re going to strip and refinish the floors in our work area. I warned everyone to put away things they’d miss if they disappeared but I fully expect to hear wails of woe come Monday morning.

Now, if I want to hear my antique clock strike I suppose I’d better go wind it. Before I can have another coffee I need to go buy some so after I brush those teeth a road trip would seem to be in order. Wal-Mart here I come.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

From April 12^th

Once again I got awakened at 2:30 AM by the drunks from the bar across the way. To add insult to injury yesterday I received notice that its owners are taking another kick at the cat to obtain permission to open an adjacent beer garden—they tried previously 5 years ago. I strongly resent the evenings I’m going to have to drag myself out to meetings on the subject and the fact that my public appearances will make me unwelcome at a local restaurant I might otherwise patronize now that I can do so without dying of smoke inhalation.

I have a parcel to pick up at my local Postal Outlet. The ecologist in me tells me I should walk down to pick it up for the good of the planet and my health; the fog and rain I see from my balcony window and the aches in my joints make driving down a more appealing option. It’s Saturday morning and I’m picking away at my weekend chores and exploring the web. In the background Weekend America from last weekend is playing on iTunes. Next up will be CBC’s Quirks and Quarks; interestingly enough the show becomes available for download nearly 12 hours before it is broadcast on radio. Among my chores are unloading the dishwasher so I can load the dirty dishes into it; cleaning up what won’t go in it and then doing laundry when the coast is clear.

In writing this I’m still struggling with my laptop’s keyboard which has distinct differences from my desktop computer’s; in particular the location of the shift keys. I’m using a Bluetooth mouse so I could use its mated keyboard, I just haven’t decided how to manoeuvre the various bits and pieces and the wires that connect the other peripherals.

From April 20^th

Went exploring and discovered the cost of designer denim. Who in their right mind pays over $300.00 for a pair of jeans? I noticed a pair on the minute frame of Toronto documentary film maker Rob Stewart and they seem to be the rage at Venice Beach but young people obviously have too much disposable income Since most of their models come in 30 to 32 inch waists only, only the young could possibly squeeze into them.

Last week I read about an eighty-year-old who went hiking in Cape Breton Highlands National Park and called search and rescue on his cell phone when he got played out and decided he couldn’t walk back out on his own power. Saturday two teens decided to climb Scarborough Bluffs and got stuck part way up. It took thirty firemen and seven trucks an hour to rescue them. What would their parents say if the city presented them each with a $1000.00 bill for that little rescue? Among my catch-phrases are, “There are no laws against stupidity,” and “Common sense isn’t very common.” With more and more people unable to judge their own capabilities and getting themselves lost and injured in wild areas the costs incurred in rescuing them are sky-rocketing. No one should be surprised that search and rescue agencies want to pass these costs along to the perpetrators of this stupidity.

Ruminations

It’s been the week that was. No, not much logic involved. The president of Canada Post got up early to rally her supervisory troops by conference call. We had Employee Appreciation Day complete with green and white streamers, balloons, coffee and donuts—I know, I set it all up single-handedly. We got the how we did speech and today I got handed my bonus statement. Please note it is not negotiable. No word on why my efforts are worth $10.00 less than others. I also got my money laid out to supply all the above goodies.

The first part of the week I managed to hit my home weight room and get out for some walks around the neighbourhood. I even made $.50 in returnable beer can deposits. Although I live across the road from Sheridan College it’s been some time since I graced the campus. Got to have a look at the newish student residence—from the outside; and stand on the mountain of dirt that was excavated to build the structure. It’s taller than the building itself. Walked over the half-acre sized small hill of chipped wood stored near the fitness centre; if they don’t do something with it now that the thaw has arrived it’s going to get rather funky. Smiled for the surveillance cameras which have sprouted everywhere and restrained myself from waving at the campus cop in the little truck? There are still windrows of snow holding out in the parking lot. Today I worked late so when I awoke at 8:30 the prospect of going outside lacked much appeal. It is still 44º F though.

On my way home stopped off for fish and chips at the Niblick at Upper Oakville Plaza and noted the 3-storey mountain of snow there has receded to merely 5 feet. The traffic around this ‘town’ is getting to be a bit much. That situation is not likely to improve as a drive around North Oakville today shows that the building boom continues apace. Before the year is out we will have Suburban Service Route 58 west of Bronte Rd on the old Golf Course; Route 59 in Lakeshore Woods at Burloak and Lakeshore Rd W; and Route 60 South-West of Bronte and Dundas. No word on how we’re going to squeeze all those new cases into our office.

Lately I’ve been rewatching some of the movies in my growing collection. At least that way if I rest my eyes during the show I don’t miss anything.

It’s spring and the tradition of busy times at the mortuary continues—the other peak time is Christmas. Received word of the death of a former customer who was in her mid-eighties. I saw her in Hopedale Mall just a few weeks ago. And the death of the wife of a retired fellow employee. Suppose I won’t dwell on that overmuch. Given that I’ve delivered mail in every corner of Oakville that gets door-to-door service I know thousands of people.

Rising from the Despond

Decided it was time I posted the entry below and started fresh.  It was at the end of March that I discovered that the majority of my problems with Vista Service Pack 1 devolved from the fact that Windows reset my swap-file during the update.  Since I took matters in my own hands and reset it to my original settings things have improved.  That and a recommended new Turbo Memory Driver which was required to maintain compatibility with the OS.  Also got reminded that it’s wise to check on what your E-mail service is doing with your correspondence—they seem to have their own ideas about what is and isn’t spam.  

 

I’m suffering withdrawal this weekend as for some reason this week’s Austin Chronicle remains unavailable for download.  This past week spent much of my spare time watching movies on DVD.  I did manage to finally finish reading a book of short stories by Ivan Coyote called Loose End.  I must write a review. 

 

April Fools Day came and went this year without incident.  Mind you I spent the evening in the company of three police officers at our bi-monthly Community Policing Meeting.  I’ve been commissioned to make coffee and lay in donuts for an Employee Appreciation Day next Tuesday.  It seems we’re actually going to be receiving a bonus cheque from Canada Post in recognition of our contribution to the year-end results.  After all the requisite deductions get removed I don’t expect much. 

 

Went shopping for groceries at long last and received a few negative jolts.  Flour has doubled in price since I last bought any—luckily I have a 10 kilo bag in my pantry but that serves to explain why 12 dozen donuts cost me $70.20; a considerable increase over the last time I made that purchase.  They aren’t offering volume discounts any more.  Out of curiosity I spent some time looking over the specialty salts on offer in the deli section.  Near as I can figure it naturally occurring salts in various sites contain non-toxic impurities that add flavour and zest as well as colour to salt deposits left over from earlier geological eras.  I’m not sure if my aging taste buds could discern the difference and at $40.00 a pound for the stuff I’m not about to attempt to find out.  That’s a taste I can do without cultivating. 

 

It’s time I got myself organized and went for a walk.  At the very least I need to pick up coffee cream for Tuesday’s event.  Did that.  There’s still a lot of dirty snow hanging around the corners.  Just read that Charlton Heston died yesterday.  At least now Moses can stop promulgating the heinous NRA filth.  I suppose there’s no doubt how I stand on that matter. 

 

April Showers...

Friday, April 4

Certainly it is raining outside and it is April. Barring a global climatic catastrophe there will be flowers in May but what causal effect may be involved I can’t say. Am I in the doldrums—probably? The temperatures have warmed up and yesterday proved to be rather sunny. The dawn chorus was cheerfully exuberant and a Cardinal whistled all day outside our dock so the birds seem to think it’s Spring. Every watercourse is in full flood but still patches of dirty ice and solid snow banks linger to remind us of the Winter that was.

Saturday, April 5

Today, Saturday, a hazy sun is making a weak attempt at warming things up outside but dirty patches of congealed snow still persist. Since last night was Friday night there seemed to be a lot of noise outside my window and I did not sleep well. This morning I got up and went back to bed several times and still don’t feel particularly lively. The recurrent car alarm that has been splitting the air with its strident chirpings has done nothing to improve matters. Unfortunately this state of spring doldrums has persisted in my life now since the supposed arrival of the vernal equinox. Those who read this blog will have noticed a lack of entries of late. I must also apologize for not having taken the time to edit the entries I have posted after sending them in via E-mail.

Perhaps a long soak in the tub—fresh clean linens can’t hurt—at least I’ll feel clean. Bacon and eggs breakfast with freshly perked coffee—a full tummy can’t hurt either. Just cleaned my glasses, some days they just don’t seem to get clean no matter what one does. Stewart MacLean’s Vinyl Café is playing on the radio and upstairs the humidifier is soaking in vinegar against its annual summer hiatus. If things go according to plan I won’t need it next year. Just performed the weekly ritual of winding my striking clock; then went up to pour baking soda and the vinegar from the humidifier down my bathroom sink drain. The minutia of weekend chores. Perhaps another coffee? I should load the dishwasher as the sink and counters are getting rather full.

The last two weeks at work have been frustrating. We’re supposed to be getting our database ready for the coming volume count but the blighters have updated the program we’re supposed to be using to do it and yesterday we learned the laptop and computers we have won’t run the new version. In the past two weeks the office has averaged a million pieces of unaddressed admail a week—keeping the office staff busy printing control labels, LCA’s frantic attempting to process, and grumbling letter carriers burdened with the weight of them all. The DRS printer breaks down with predictable regularity, customers keep losing their mailbox keys, spend a fortune on postage but can’t use a viable address, and show up a minute before closing time with a ton of mail. Yesterday the computer decided it didn’t want to recognize the PDA attached to it. A call to tech support reached an oriental sounding wet behind the ears newbie who wasted 2 hours of my time reading a tech manual and getting nowhere. Later someone else covered much the same ground and established what I already knew—the software wasn’t working. Sometime in the future someone will arrive to re-install it. Days like yesterday make one thankful when quitting time arrives.

I’ve been following the progress of the movie Stop-Loss since word of its production first appeared on the web. Being a Canadian and too old and infirm for anyone’s draft I’m blissfully beyond the concerns expressed there but with both Channing Tatum and Ryan Phillippe in one movie what’s not to like? With those dimples, eternally boyish open face, curls-rather cropped here, and that agile athletic body and rippling torso who but Reese could resist? Perhaps having a husband who’s even more beautiful puts a stain on a marriage. Channing’s rugged charisma isn’t hard on the eyes either.

I’ll probably wait for it on DVD but it provides the greatest temptation I’ve had lately to go to a theatre. There are actually two that are technically in Oakville these days: AMC on the Mississauga border where our local police report finding your high-end car after the show may be problematic and the new state of the art Silver City on the Burlington border where tickets top out at $18.00; on second thought I’ll wait for the DVD.