blatherings

blatherings
the shallow side

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1.6.07 22:37


Not THAT petulant of a pansy

I had such a lovely night. Part of it was hanging out with high-energy, happy people. Two of the people I was with last night for the concert and afterward were just so excited about everything. I mean, I mocked them for it, but I really enjoyed it. We all met here around 6, took the train over to the stadium and then walked AROUND THE ENTIRE BUILDING thanks to some poor directions from grumpy/useless staff. S wound up not working, which made him happy, and I missed Sloan which made me happy. We had seats right across from the stage which we “upgraded” once the concert started and it was clear that there were entire sections not sold out (or at all, really). The Police were good – not great - but I don’t disagree with Copeland about missed cues and some issues with songs. It shows that they haven’t really played this music in a few decades. They played all the hits, didn’t move around on stage much, didn’t have any theatrics and the video was meh.

To be honest the best part of the night was crowd watching. The people who had floor seats and didn’t even bother paying attention to the band – they just wanted to be there to say they had been there. The people who look as though they haven’t danced since the last time the Police played and were letting IT ALL OUT. My fav may have been the guy with binoculars who wasn’t using them to look at the stage – at all.

The work afterward was half annoying and half fun. Again, being with people who are happy and energetic makes all the difference. We joked around a little as we broke down the chairs and the evening was pleasant – even the bit of rain was nice. There were two problems. The first was that there was some ever so slight disorganization that led to a lot of standing around and it is hard to keep motivated when you either don’t know what to do or the instructions are conflicting. The other problem was the mix of the crew. It was 1) uni students who wanted to see the concert for free 2) some union people 3) temp workers hired from a downtown agency that may be considered the bottom of the barrel. And frankly, those guys were the best by far. Only one of them was useless while the rest were strong, got their shit done quickly without complaint and were pleasant. One of the guys helped me carry a stack of chairs, and then five min later I see him carrying a stack twice the size by himself. The union people – one of whom I have worked with at another job – drove me nuts. “we were only hired to do ----“ “I don’t see why we should ----“ "when are we going to be done?" and my fav had to do with the girl I know. “Do you still see ---?” “No.” Walk away, assume the tone of voice closes the conversation. “It’s been awhile, hasn’t it?” “Yes.” Walk further away, continue to work. “Did you have a falling out?” Glare. Sigh audibly. “Yes.” Walk away and start talking to someone else. While I’m impressed with the tenacity of the approach, take a damn hint! I don’t talk to you at the best of times, what makes you think I am going to suddenly open up to you while I’m working and surrounded by strangers?

At the end, we were paid very well, had breakfast with S and really, just had a lovely night. Which was because of the concert, but not.

3.6.07 23:32


OW! That hurts.

C and I went running yesterday – great fun in theory. Maya was a happy pup, the sky was overcast and we upped our times to 4/4 splits. From Mamma Moose’s we went down to Hawrelack Park, ‘round the lake – with a quick dip in for the dog – and up the stairs where Maya barked nastily at some very nice looking men who understood she was just being protective, from there, u the hill and back to the dog run and then a block from home I tripped and fell. My fault, really, for not picking up my feet even though I was tired. One of my knees is without skin; I’ve skinned the fuck out of my left palm, minorly on my right and somehow managed to take a chunk out of one of my thumbs. Which I think is bruised. My ankle is slightly twisted and my shoulder wrenched.

To be honest, the worst of it was being hurt away from home and alone last night. S had to work and P was busy. I hurt all over and felt bad about not being able to do any thesis work – at that point with the location of my abrasions I couldn’t hold a book or a pen. Its much better today – I have on enough bandages to allow me to rest my hands on the keyboard and while it doesn’t feel normal at least I’ll be able to get some work done today.

The nicest part of it was C’s reaction. She was very concerned and sweet and then started phrasing the fall in positive happy ways while we were walking the rest of the way home that I didn’t feel quite so bad. I tend to obsess over my rather profound lack of grace and skill at things that involve being both physical and upright. And before all my pervy friends giggle, let me explain – I was a competitive swimmer from the time they would let me till my porno sized tits took my out of the competition. When you’re swimming your centre of gravity rests differently than when you’re upright. It’s disturbing. Plus, falling while swimming doesn’t really happen. This may have explained my love for swimming despite not being that great at it – the only time I didn’t get hurt was in the pool.

But I have not sustained my first running based injury and will look at the scars-to-be as proof of trying. And until then, there’s Ben & Jerry’s.

7.6.07 17:43


hrm and grr

I’m really struggling these last few days. I’m not doing the things I want to. Why, if I want to, do I not do these things? Because there are silly little distractions that have minor pay-offs and are easier then the hard work with the big pay-off. I want to write my thesis, go running with the dog and do yoga. But then there is the siren call of a website I am spending far too much time on…
18.6.07 23:48


‘Security is mostly superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.’ — Helen Keller
20.6.07 06:06


A day late and a chapter short

I’ve finished the first draft of my introduction and handed it into my advisor. He wanted the first chapter that day too, but there was no way I could get both done in a month. The house sitting wasn’t quite as conducive to writing as I had hoped – the distraction of the dog, the telly – which I watched much more than I expected – especially as we had to keep bouncing back to the condo to feed the cat, work and such. A friend is facing some pretty brutal family stuff right now, so the last week we were there was interrupted by trying to be there for him.

But it’s done. And I’m fairly happy with it. The transitions between paragraphs are abrupt, but I expected that. It reads well, and I know its better than the last one. And it’s in. That’s the great part.

We’re home again and I start working full time tonight, which makes me stunningly miserable. Four days in a row and I start getting grumpy. How the rest of the world does it, I have no idea. Its been years since I’ve had a full time job and I keep reminding myself that it’s only short term… Essentially, I have five weeks of this and then a few weeks to get my first chapter in. This means I have to be doing thesis work while working. Oh, and C is back this week so we start running again. We were hitting some 8 minute runs which we won’t be able to jump back into, but I’m pretty proud of them. Part way through I hit that fabled zone where I feel we can go on for forever and then without warning my lungs try to leap out of my chest.

So the good for June – improving my running times, completing my first chapter. The less good – I managed to lose not an ounce of weight and we’ve returned to a messy home and my working full time. Oh, and my thumb still hurts from the fall I blogged about earlier.

29.6.07 21:13


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