the_vulture | Entries tagged with conversation

For the last year or so, I've been pleased to serve as a patron for the work of

ysabetwordsmith . I do so for a number of reasons. First, this is one of the ways that I try to keep creativity alive, especially when so many have to turn away from creative endeavours. Second, the relationship between us, as artist and patron, is one that has been fostered to provide mutual benefit and friendship. Finally, and perhaps most important, by not only giving action to my creative input (i.e., taking prompts for poetry), but also by inspiring and encouraging my own literary output, I'm allowed to taste a little of that creative magic.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: accomplished

Yep, now that we have good weather again, I'm back to watching Blue and Red haul off loads of dirt. Oh yay. As the excavator is carefully digging the ditches, it's taking them a long time to load the trucks. This is the second day of it. I'm so really, really glad I have access to a computer during all this.

Granted, being forced to stay in one place has given me LOTS of time to do sit down things. With it, I have:

Done a lot of work transferring my favourite journals from PDC to here
Tagged a number of postings from my memories
Tweaked my resumes some more
Applied to a few more jobs online
Started getting involved in an e-mail RPG
Gotten more deeply involved in Scarybirds - a dark fantasy fiction collaboration site
Started a short story at said site
Engaged in a lot of correspondence
Finished off Knife of Dreams, by Robert Jordan (The Wheel of Time series rocks!)
Played far too much Zuma for my own good
Recorded a little work on my didge and a try out for a bit of voice acting

Yep, lots done! (Oh, there goes Blue.)

Current Mood: accomplished

Yesterday, I went for a run for the first time in about three weeks. It was only about 2.5 miles, but damn I'm feeling it today. Yerg! Remind me never to get so slack ass; it hurts.

Still, it was good to be out running again. I took a different path through some farm fields and was treated to some beautiful English countryside as the sun lowered in the sky.

The packing front is moving slowly, but surely. Today, I packed away the contents of my altar, which was kinda sad. I'm glad I got that done, though. I didn't realize how much time it would take to pack away all the breakables with care. It would have really sucked to have discovered that at the last minute. However, now they're all well wrapped in a single sturdy plastic container, ready to be tucked into one of my larger shipping boxes.

In the trenches with the wretches, I'm still losing my sanity. A number of people have told the little toads that I'm leaving after spring break. I've been countering this by telling them that I'm leaving next year to return to Canada. Frankly, I don't need them acting up because they think they can get away with it.

Still, I'm going to miss some of 'em and, apparently, some of 'em are going to miss me. During a brief chat between classes, some of 'em asked me why I was returning to Canada. I told them part of the truth by stating that I miss my friends and family and I want to go home. One girl replied, "But this is your home now."

*blink*

Ah, bless!

Current Mood: content

I finally did it! I booked my flights for a 5 day trip to Germany during the spring break. Yay me! *big grin*

That's pretty much the singular bright point in my day, which was elsewise filled with sorting out coursework at school and sorting through paper at home. My flat still looks like the epicentre of some form of natural disaster, but I did wade through a LOT of paper.

At least there were no kids and I started off the morning right with an email from my Beloved. *dreamy smile*

The weekend wasn't the grandest; it was too windy, wet, and nippy to really go out and explore the countryside, though I made a brave effort to do a photo-tour of my neighbourhood. (I guess I should post those at some point...) I spent most of the weekend sorting through stuff.

Much of that effort left me in a bit of an emotional turmoil. I kept coming across things like letters from my ex and the handmade Christmas card from a child that, had things gone just a bit differently, nearly became a daughter to me. Of course, the whole preparing to leave my comfort zone is not a calming thing, either. Yep, I spent a fair amount of time on the phone with my Beloved, some friends, my mother, etc., in order to ablate a desperate need for human contact that I was often feeling.

Deep blue funks suck.

Ah well, at least I only have 8 days of school till the spring break and a mere 5 after that before I depart for home. *sigh full of longing*

Current Mood: Okay, kinda...

I'm still in dire need of new furniture, and other odds and ends, but I'm settling into life in the new flat quite nicely: I've found good trails to run on, I'm no longer so ridiculously broke and the nearby off-license carries a tasty brand of pear cider. I've also acquired some new work trousers, size 40. Yes, I did try to squeeze into size 38, but I've got a ways to go for those yet. (I did get the fly buttoned, though!)

Exercise wise, the upper body is solidifying nicely and the major masses where my six pack will appear are quite apparent.

( Cut for those not wanting to read about my cuts )

The most recent bit of good stuff, however, was the invitation I received yesterday evening to join some of my neighbours for an impromptu drink.

( Cut for brevity )

Yep, methinks I may come to really enjoy life here.

Current Mood: content

By now, my folks are about half way across Canada. They're on their way to see my paternal grandfather, who is dying of cancer and has been told he hasn't much time. They have to drive as they really can't afford airfare, but the driving really cuts into their available time for this trip (which isn't really all that much before my father starts work again). When I last spoke to Mom, she was a bit stressed out about the whole thing as there was so much to do before they left.

Before they left, I asked for my grandfather's telephone number. I'm not sure if I'll call or not; I picture the whole thing being quite awkward between the two of us (especially given that we do not share a language of proficiency (he is solely French speaking and my French "est la merde")). On top of that, we haven't really given a damn about each other for over a decade. In those years, the only conversation we've had (if you could call it that) was when I would answer the phone on the rare occasions that he was calling my father. Any attempts to engage in even simple conversation ("How are you?" "I am fine.") at such points met with failure. Just to be clear, I don't bear him any malice; I just don't really bear much of anything for him. I'm guessing the feelings are mutual.

But the opportunity to speak with him is now coming to a permanent close. And that finality is making me question whether or not I should break the silence. If I call him, what would I say? ("Hi, how are ya?" "Merde, I'm dying.") It's not like we can really sustain a meaningful conversation, given language differences (even with the translation help of my mother when she arrives). Should I even call? Would calling him give him him any comfort, knowing that I've thought of him or that his grandson has finally achieved some measure of success in a career? Or would it just uncomfortably remind him of the long standing distance between us? It's a bit of a conundrum.

I've still got a couple days to think about this, before my parents arrive back east.

In the meantime, I'd best get on with enjoying the last week of my vacation.

Current Mood: contemplative

In order to try and curb the "Beef Jerky" nickname (see my previous post), I would pull a pupil or two aside, whenever I was called that, to ask them why they were doing so. Most of them, not really privy to the weird mental workings of the year 10 girls, did not have a clue. This gave me the opportunity to explain why that name had come about. That seemed to discourage a few, as it lacked any real negative connotations, and may have something to do with the reduction of the use of that nickname.

Of course, the drop in the use of "beef jerky," especially amongst the year 10 boys, may also have something to do with one boy's unfortunate attempt to make something out of the nickname. This lad, among the naughtier of the older boys, interrupted one of my explanations by attempting to spread one of his own, namely that the term arose because I have a small penis (I could see how a masturbation referrence could be derived, but a small penis?). I wasn't able to deal with him the first time he said this, as he pulled a rapid escape before I could call him back.

The second time, however, was quite decisive. The next day, I found he and his mates gathered together during break. On seeing me, they all began calling "Beef Jerky!" In a friendly fashion, I approached the boys and began my usual spiel, expecting the one lad to again interrupt with his own. He did not disappoint me. Unfortunately for him, he failed to realize that teachers tend to be observant and can often recall things about pupils that the latter may wish to be forgotten, like say, in this instance, that the lad had acquired a nickname of his own.

I got as far as "You know, that's really quite ironic coming from someone nicknamed Gherkin..." before being drowned out by the laughter from the other boys. The lad hastily started an explanation "Wait! It's not like that," but was shouted down by his mates with "You got cussed by Sir!!!"

It was all taken in good fun, though, and, since then, I've noticed that I receive a much higher level of respect from the year 10 boys, especially "Gherkin."

Current Mood: amused

It's been a little less than a week that I've spent in Toronto. So far I have:

1) Taken a long walk down Queen Street West

2) Taken a even longer hike down Queen Street East, from downtown Toronto to the Eastern Beaches (a little over 7 kilometers, I figure; I went to bed with my legs mildly aching from exertion for the first time in a lonnnggg while)

3) Snapped a number of photos of landmarks and architecture (I'm so glad I have a camera this time!)

4) Scored a decent burrito, some jerk chicken, and even some crispy ginger fried beef (though it wasn't as good as Lin Heung's)

5) Discovered that the teaching job scene for Canada has gotten worse since the last time I looked

6) Wrote a bunch of lesson plans and dug up material on mythological tricksters (Raven, Anansi, and Loki) for my year 7s

7) Struggled to avoid being overfed by my host's mother

8) Found out that a little snag in the work permit process has cost a bit of time and has likely marooned me here for an extra week

9) Found out that said snag was rectified by the school taking me on to the payroll (as they have to be directly employing me for work permit purposes)

10) Had a lovely lunch with a friend I haven't seen in a long while

11) Read through Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (a great novel, though not as captivating as American Gods)

12) Started rereading Frank Herbert's Dune (which, after about twenty years and the development of a strong understanding of religious, social, political, and cultural matters, reads like a brand new novel)

13) Did an amazing amount of window shopping (including a lot of kewl curio shops and even a few "naughty" stores)

14) Caught up on a lot of rest

15) Engaged in plenty of conversation with my host and the other residents of the household (including a plethora of house-pets)

16) Picked up a pressie for a dear friend back in the UK

All in all, a week reasonably spent, methinks.

The weekend holds the promise of a trip to Ward's Island, which I've been looking forward to since my return. This time, I'll have camera in hand so I can show everyone just how amazing it is.

Current Mood: accomplished

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