The New Floodgates of the Mind

Yup, it’s that time again, the “let’s hear a story of an old co-worker!” After all, one can never get enough of those! 🙂 So, with the small intro of: “Now that a puppy will be joining our family, I’ve started to recall pet stories” I lead you into another Peter Story, he of the Cold Coffee.

You see, Peter used to own a dog that I always pictured as one of those little “yappy” dogs (I’m sure you can see the type in your mind right now). His wife loved this dog but, unfortunately for him, it had a bit of a destructive/ insane side to it. The dog hated to be left alone all day and would thus (often) let its destructive urges take control and go a little wild.

Well, one afternoon, Peter walks to his desk, dials a number, and immediately begins barking and yapping into the phone. I look at him with a “what the hell is he up to NOW” expression and continue watching him growl into the phone. After a few minutes, he slams the phone down and turns to look at me. His usual sheepish grin spreads on his face and he shrugs his shoulder. He had just called his house and barked into his answering machine because (if you remember answering machines as opposed to answering services) the message is broadcast while recording. Peter believed that if his dog were up to something, suddenly hearing another dog barking like crazy (and not knowing where it was coming from) would cause him to stop (or alternately not begin in the first place). Apparently, it worked.

Dog Psychology, according to Peter. 🙂

I sometimes wonder why my mornings are so busy before I even leave the house. I find that no matter what time I wake up, I’m always rushing right up until the end. So, today, I decided to take a look at the routine. This is what went on:

Couldn’t sleep so I got up at 6:30am. Washed my hair, shaved, got dressed, and went downstairs. I washed the coffee thermos, ground some beans, and set up the coffee machine to brew at 7:30am. Emptied the garbage can and went around the house collecting the rest of the garbage. Went onto the computer to print up the Treasurer’s report for tonight’s Parents Council meeting. Brought up a Winnie-the-Pooh blanket which has now been designated as the puppy’s sleeping blankie. Put the garbage bag by the door and went to wash my hands (and put on some cream as my hands were too dry). Back to the kitchen to pack a small lunch and make myself a quick toast. Put a bag back into the garbage can (not always a mutual thing 🙂 ) and headed upstairs to brush my teeth. Kissed and Hugged Chantale Good Morning. Went back downstairs and got my bag ready, put my jacket on, and poured myself a thermos of coffee (plus milk and sugar). Slipped on my boots, took the garbage to the drive, and got in the car.

The crazy part is I would have had to do the same things even had I gotten up at 7:00am!!! Sheesh. I can already see the extra things I’ll have to add to the morning routine when the puppy gets here 🙂 Ah well. At least with the change of seasons, I tend to get up early anyhow due to the sun/light streaming in through the bedroom window… 🙂

Nothing so dangerous today. Outside of the craziness of the weather! I mean, really now, it SNOWED last night. And is flurrying today. Man, a week ago I was getting ready to break out the shorts!! Crazy weather…

Hey, had something rather nice happen this afternoon. After my regular LOMA class, I went to see the Manager of the IT Project Office to give him a little update on a side-project I’m working on with him. We chatted briefly about some other stuff I’m doing and how things are going in general when he, completely out of the blue, states how he admires me and what I’m doing. He admires the fact that on top of my regular heavy workload of being a Team Leader, I’m making the time to take LOMA classes on top of the various sub-projects I’m involved in.

Now, I don’t know about you, but praise is nice, and unexpected praise from someone you admire is even nicer. So, that sure helps start the week off right 🙂

Well we did it. 🙂

Chantale and I went driving around today to visit kennels and breeders to talk and see about getting ourselves a puppy. We had gone through all the proper preparation in terms of getting the house ready (hepa filter/ air purifier) as well as the proper allergy-friendly breed. With numerous limitations in mind, we finally settled on a Bichon Frise. Thus, we went looking today.

Looking, mind you. Seeing what’s out there. Talking to people. And we did. From about 11am. Until we got to a reputable breeder out in Ste.Basile-le-grand on the south shore and were introduced to an 8-week old female. We held her for over an hour and she just snuggled/cuddled into us. Just like that (and with a few face/neck licks) she felt like family.

We spoke with the breeder and discussed what they were offering (courses, vet visits, etc) and we decided on her (as she had decided on us as well!). So, we put a down payment on her and will be picking her up next Saturday morning as we go to our first “class” together 🙂 They promise that by class #2, the puppy will be potty-trained. That’ll be cool.

So we finally left there at about 1:30pm with our hearts beating a little faster as this has been a long time in coming (and fighting to prepare for). We’re still discussing names (I’ve got a favorite and we’d been calling her that for most of the day although Chantale doesn’t feel it’s right) but it’ll come. We’ve told everyone in Chantale’s family but I’ve kept it hush on my side for now as I want to surprise everyone on Saturday 🙂 We’ll be dropping the kids off with my parents Saturday morning at 8:30am while we go get her. I can easily picture everyone’s face when we walk back in the house with that cute little face peeking out of our jackets 🙂

Needless to say, this is a big step for us (crazy as it might sound considering the recent Wedding and House purchase) because we’re working on building our family. Which just might mean another family addition by next year… 🙂

What a saturday. Huh. Actually woke up at around 11am (don’t know what time it was that we actually went to sleep). Got some comics and read in bed. When done, I just went back to sleep since Chantale hadn’t woken yet 🙂 Her sister called us at 1:30pm which got us up. Finally. 🙂

I went to see Secret Window with her this afternoon. Really not a scary movie. Can’t call it a Thriller either. Perhaps a stressy-Drama 🙂 Johnny Depp was good (of course) but somewhat funny in terms of spending the entire movie in a dirty robe and sleeping 🙂

Anyhow, time to get supper going so ciao for now!

Just remembered something about an old co-worker of mine. While I was working as a LAN Administrator at Phillips & Vineberg (law firm) I shared a large office/ server room with the guy doing the Hardware support. Now, most of my work was do-able at my desk on the systems with some physical maintenance on the workbenches we had set up. His, unfortunately, required a lot of walking around to user workstations. Every morning, we would get our coffees and sit at our desks catching up on mail and prioritizing our work.

Come 4pm, I’d look over and Peter would finally be back at his desk, checking his voicemail and sipping a coffee. Asking him how many he’s had already would cause him to reply with a sheepish smile. It was his first coffee. Stone cold. Yuck! And yet, he admitted that he preferred it that way. Insane 🙂

So, whenever I run away from my desk for too long and come back to sip (and gag!) at my cold cup of coffee, I laugh, remember Peter, and go make myself a fresh cup 🙂

Just got a return call from the contractor. I asked him on news about the vinyl flushing underneath the door on the side of the garage that’s been pending for way too long. He told me that he’d just spoken with the guy he’d hired to fix it and that it’s been done for the last 2 days already. And yet, I was sure when I looked last night I hadn’t seen it!! Sure, it’s supposed to be the same color, but come on! Where was my head at?? I told him I’d take a good look tonight and call him back if there was anything 🙂

Last year I contacted an old e-friend of many years prior. We’d known/met each other in the very early 90’s and were on a decent friendly basis for a few years. Then, as life changed, he moved away/out of town and I went on with my own life. Anyhow, after all those years apart, I managed to track him down and see where he was at. Like me, his life had changed dramatically.

He was living in Toronto, married, had a baby girl. I was still living in Montreal, divorced, with two kids. It was really nice/special to get back in touch and we did the email back-and-forth update for about a solid week with the promise that if we were ever in each other’s city again, we’d get together.

After that, though, we’ve gone silent again. He’s still there, I still have his email and he has mine. But, the realization did hit that outside of the electronic life we had and the few times we got together for some RL discussions, there really wasn’t anything else keeping us together. So, I remember him fondly and have plenty of stories, as does he. We’ve caught up on our family and mutual friends doing the “whatever happened to…” game. But now, there’s nothing new. It doesn’t take away the good times we had together, but, it does demonstrate the honest truth about live moving on.

Whether it is friends from High School you stopped talking with in College, or friends in College you stopped talking to in University, or friends in University you stopped talking to on the Work Force, or even friends on the Work Force you stopped talking to when moving from one company to another. The reality is: if you really WANTED to keep in touch with them (or they with you), a way would have been found. And, regardless of how important they were to you at that time, because they’re not around now is just the fact that they’re (or you’re) not needed at this time. It might be sad, but it’s all right. And the realization is true.

If you haven’t wanted to keep in touch with me, there’s no reason I should break my head to keep in touch with you. And if I haven’t wanted to keep in touch with you when you haven’t made any effort to keep in touch with me, that’s just the way it is. I’m very happy to keep a friendship/ correspondance going. Distance, however, does bring in to play the very ideals that if there was something about you which bothered me back then, you’re easier to ignore now.

Life moves on and people change. Friendships, which normally should mean more than they do, have become commodities. Important in the present, but possible to be traded in the future.

Reality bites and truth hurts. But it’s very true for me now. If you’re not willing to keep the contact, I’m not gonna bust my ass to force the issue. See you at the next reunion. You’ll know where to find me.

Interesting. I went to bed with a headache, I woke up with a headache. I think it’s probably because I clenched my jaw all night long. Yes, it’s come back. Work stress. Why in the fuck is it getting to me again now after all the good that’s been going around? Maybe because even my original workload (10x workload of last year, which was 20x the workload of the year before) has now grown exponentially by at least another 10x. Where I used to have to plan week by week, I’m now planning out month by month. At work. I only ever did that at HOME. Doing the same for work is just wrong. Absolutely and utterly wrong. And it leads to stress headaches. Worst part is I can’t even call in sick regardless of how I’m feeling because so much is depending on me that my own guilt drives my bones.

Needless to say, I’m heavily looking forward to the weekend. Yes, I have two little things to do (Parents Council Minutes and Comicopia) but other than that, I plan to (a) Sleep, and (b) celebrate St. Paddy’s. I might have to restock my Kilkennys, but that’s all right. 🙂

Last night: A Knight’s Tale. How freaking bizarre was it to watch a “Medieval” set story with 80s rock tunes?? Very disconcerting. Very.

Damn. I still have random thoughts to write about. Exorcising demons, perhaps? Bah. Lunch time is here-ish. I’m gonna go grab a coffee and some air. I need a change of scenery…

why is my bloody head ready to explode??!?!! I’m so tired of taking pills and just don’t want any more! shite. I wanna go home.

Last night ended in Guiness and pizza, watching Charlie’s Angels 2. What a total piece of fluff, BUT, what a hoot, too 🙂 Just park your brain at the door, sit on the couch, and have a blast 🙂

Hm. The night before was Kilkenny and leftovers while we watched High Fidelity. Another good and fun movie. I prefer Kilkenny to Guiness. Always have. 🙂

Oh well. Gotta pick some books up on the way home tonight, so I may as well get going. Other random thoughts can wait till tomorrow…