“Rainy days and Mondays…” again

Didn’t really understand what was up with today – spent most of the working day, decidedly, not working and chatting instead with a dear friend and the trials that the week-end brought on him.

Another colleague of mine ended up shedding a few tears – also fallout from the week-end.

The flirt of last week suddenly played it safe, cutting paper into squares and shying away from danger, where last week was playfully flexing muscles and diving head-first.

The culmination was my four-year-old niece, suddenly sighing between bites of her dinner and saying “Today was a long day.”. Oh, the insight of children.

No idea what was up – until a friend’s post said it and said it all “Rainy days and Mondays…”

The weather turned over the week-end and it seems we found the missing days of winter.

For my part, well, I’d be a liar indeed if I told you my eyes remained dry, my heart remained unmoved. Yes, tender around the edges and weepy as well, especially listening to friends go through what they go are going through.

It irks me to blame the weather. I don’t live in a novel, this is not pathetic fallacy, it is just, at times, evoking pathos? but, today, I make the exception and quote: “My features form with the change in the weather…”

Lament for the Left

Before heading out and off to the impromptu and very last-minute training session today I did some catching-up on FB and heard the news that Jack Layton passed away this morning at his home, with his family.

For those who don’t know who Jack Layton is, was, quite simply he was the one responsible for the recent renewed interest in the political Left in Canada, which is represented by a party known as the NDP (New Democratic Party).

The NDP for years has been considered “the third party” in Canada, a party with official status (meaning $$) but not a party that Canadians considered seriously for either government or as the Official Opposition. Our last Federal election that changed and the NDP, under Jack’s leadership became the Official Opposition with Jack as the leader. It was, for many who lean like myself, an election whose results left us with mixed emotions – our Government was Right, but the NDP had its best showing ever.

Jack will be missed, he brought me and those who roll along similar thoughts and views, hope.

Rest in peace, Jack and thank you.

RIP Blake Edwards

Sorry, I didn’t even say.

Heard the news Blake Edwards died . Long live Blake Edwards!

Mr. Edwards, thank you for the laughs, thank you for loving the world enough to entertain us and thank you for loving Julie Andrews – we all do, but you got to marry her – lucky you!

You made our world a lot more funny with you in it. The world is a slightly less funny place without you.

Thanks, Mr. Edwards.

“Because my love for you would tear my heart in two”

(title shamelessly stolen from David Bowie’s “Lets Dance”)

That was me -  crying at my desk this afternoon. Sobbing and wishing for different words, different news. Yep, me.

And yes, that was my dear friend, on the other end of the line, being a cucumber, explaining things using words I understand and being patient with me.

I want the people I love to be happy and cared for and in thriving relationships. I want everyone to have the kind of love that my parents did (do? did? help me out here) to kiss each other after work, to play footsie under the table after 25 years of marriage, to be able to fight and still come together. Don’t we all deserve this in a relationship?

So, yes, I’m a complete cry-baby when relationships bust up.

This made that job I had working with the family law lawyer very difficult – mostly separations and divorces, give me Estate Law any day.

And yes, she told me not to worry about her and we both accept that I am going to worry.

On the upside – she is doing the right thing. You can only fight for a relationship by yourself for so long. I know exactly how this is. This is a good thing. Sometimes some relationships just run their course. Sometimes you either fall together or your fall apart.

Sometimes you have to re-focus and ask “What would make me happy?” and be prepared to answer honestly.

Another upside – one of my colleagues brought me some chai. Little bit of sweet, just enough milk. It was lovely and surprising. It was just such a nice surprise – I almost cried I was so happy. Cared for.

This post could have been titled “Cry baby Monday”.

Additional upside – that radio station played David Bowie’s “Let Dance”. I love that song. It makes me feel so cool. Connected.

Also, I bought a gas cap for my car  – where did the old one go? – and found out that I don’t need an appointment to get the car’s oil changed, and I was all nervous about phoning and making an appointment. Gesh – all that wasted emotion!

Feeling not-so groovy

Try as I might, I just figure out the “upside” to feeling like this.

After getting all caught up on writing on Sunday, I made some plans for a hot stone massage with a friend in mid-November (some people are just that busy!), had some tea and threw up.

Four (4!) days spent in bed, losing bits of nutrition in very messy and painful ways. Sleeping too much. Being bored out of my skull when I’m awake, ‘cuz it isn’t like I can do anything.

Three days of waking up at normal time, only to either lose my breakfast or feel like my breakfast would be lost at any moment.

Two days of being able to get into the shower and get clean, for work.

One day, today, getting to work, only have to leave four hours later.

It is enough to make a person cry.

So, the positives.

I’ve spent a lot of time with my plushies.

Here is what I have learned:

Rufus, the toque-wearing puppy-dog has matured enough to now be a fine example to stuffed-animal dogs everywhere. When Rufus was new, he was a “bed gypsy”, he wandered all over the bed at night and I would find him in very unlikely (and sometimes very comfortable!) places. Rufus, now stays put and cuddles nicely. Good for Rufus!

Carlito the Caribou is young but wise. When I complained and asked Carlito why I was sick, Carlito simply said nothing and stared at me until I stopped asking stupid questions. Pretty smart for a tiny caribou!

The other ones don’t seem to begrudge being on the shelf, I mean they have a pretty good view of things, including outside and from what I saw today, the leaves are lovely.

Funny, the more I think about it, the more this October feels like…February.

I’s so sick of being sick.

Wha-?

When did my blood pressure get so high?

I used to have perfect blood pressure. I could tell when it was rising and why and could get it under control easily and quickly.

It’s high.

Too high.

Like “I don’t want to worry you, but you may want to see you doctor” high.

Gesh.

When did this happen.

And where did my perfect blood pressure go?

Yes, I did join a gym yesterday – joining a new gym is totally stressful…I blame that for my high blood pressure.

So there.

Movie review: The Last Airbender

Making the most of the final day of a long week, found myself waking up early and off to the movies to finally see for myself the wreckage that is “The Last Air Bender”.

Ugh.

Loved the previews – “Green Lantern” looks to be a hoot, they look like they have finally expressed just how cool Kato is, which does my heart good. Loved the TV series with Bruce Lee. Another couple of animated features look like fun and I can’t wait to see “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, the next Disney feature based on a ride.

The movie itself. Interesting concept. I think I would really enjoy the series or even the comic book, but the movie was. Kind of boring. Whenever a movie starts with “Book 1″, it has already ticked me off.

This is a movie, first, not a book. At least call it “Chapter 1″ or “Part 1″ or do what Star Wars did and start somewhere in the middle, so we don’t feel like “man, I have to see more of these to get the full story?” I think this story is going to be…four movies long. Makes sense, right? Four elements, four movies?

The plot was quite uneventful. I mean, nothing much happens, we get some little battles between the major hero and met the minor and major baddies, which is always fun. We learn that fire = industry, which is totally evil – big surprise – and that water = emotion, which is totally good – another big surprise.

We got to hear about “chi” and the concepts of “yin and yang” and learned about how white people are the major players and the wisest among people and if you aren’t white you are either evil, a minor character or lacking in wisdom.

Hm. Interesting lessons being taught here.

I’m pretty sick of hearing about Eastern Philosophical concepts presented by the Hollywood establishment from white-cast characters. Seriously.

When I want a white man to talk to me about the imagery of water I will read Alan Watts.  I read Alan Watts. He gets it and presents it to us in a way that we understand and can feel and think about.

This whole thing about audiences not being ready to see “non-white faces in leading roles” is bunk. Many of us crave to see ourselves, our family, our friends, our neighbours on-screen.

Disappointing from a director who we know is non-white.

I hope the producers of this film get it soon – we can handle non-white actors in non-white roles. We want to see more of ourselves, of our society on-screen.

And Hollywood? Time to go back to Storytelling 101 – tell the story and get on with it, stop making films that involve us having to attend the theatre many times to get the whole story. I don’t want to invest four years of my life into a story that can’t even be arsed to tell an interesting first chapter.

Gesh.

Slip and fall

I wish I could see myself slip and fall.

Today it was truly spectacular – I said “hello” to someone right near the end of the day, hit a wet stop on the floor and took a tumble. I didn’t hit the floor. Grabbed the hand rail and leaned my hip against the wall. My feet went back under me and I stood up.

The person I spoke to said “I guess it is slippery there.”

“Yes. Pretty awesome fall!”

I took a bow and sent “Hope you enjoyed the show!”

Whoa.

I’m going crazy waiting for the WC to begin.  Seriously!

Go Brazil!

I think I’m pretty funny when I slip and fall – it is hilarious and I meet so few people who laugh when it happens.

Thursday, January 7, 2010: The Good, The Bad and the Whatever

Another Thursday.

The Good: Today is Uncle Basil’s Birthday!

The Bad: There is no ice cream cake.

The Good: The are lots of moose  in Newfoundland.

The Bad: People get hurt crashing cars into moose.

The Good: I don’t live in Newfoundland.

The Good: I own a moose plushie. So if someone crashed into this moose, no one would get hurt.

The Bad: Except my plushie moose.

The Good: Last night, I totally got up that climb that was giving me trouble.

The Embarassing: It was a 5.8.

The Good: It was on steep incline, so at one point I was hanging on with my hands while my feet where off the wall, hanging in space

The Bad: Doing that sacred the heck out of me.

The Conclusion: I’m still afraid of heights.

The Good: I’m climbing again on Saturday.

The Bad: Today is Thursday.

The Worse: Broccoli for dinner.

The Good: I don’t have to eat it!

The Better:  I just had roasted, salted cashews as a snack!

The Bad: I only got one thing completed at work today.

The Good: My colleagues know that I only got one thing completed at work today but they know that one thing is really, really important.

The Bad: I’m really, really behind at work.

The Good: My manager knows this, accepts it and assures me that everything is ok.

The Bad: The one thing was a survey.

The Good: I get to work with people I really like.

The Plan: A colleague and I are going drinking together.

The Bad: It cold and it is still winter.

The Good: The windshield wiper squirter on the driver’s side of my car works.

The Bad: I don’t know the right term for “windshield wiper squirter”.

The Odd: I own a car.

The Bad: I’m cold and sore.

The Best: I’m having a hot bath after dinner!

All in all, a pretty good Thursday.  One down, 51 more to go..