Neighbours

I am a very privileged person. I have some great neighbours. One of them called me and asked whether or not I would like some soup that they made. Of course, I answered in the affirmative. A few minutes later, he came over with two containers of great home made soup. I would like to acknowledge the help that my neighbours have given me over the last several weeks. They have been very understanding and supportive. Thank you.

Privacy

The builders have left and I have my privacy back. Now I just have to clean the house which is dust from top to bottom. They cleaned up the area that they worked in, but the furnace spread dust all over the house. I'm glad that we got them in to do their work and I really like the new floor and paint job upstairs. The basement no longer looks like a basement. It is nicely finished and painted. I'll start moving some things down there in a couple of weeks. It will be a slow process, but there is no rush. I usually celebrate occasions with some music and this one calls for just the right music but I have no idea what I want to listen to tonight.

Friends

I told another friend about my problem and was, only mildly, surprised to hear that person tell me about a similar experience. I've talked to four friends and all of them have experienced something similar to what I've gone through. Maybe my problem is not as unusual as I think that it is. I just don't know.

It seems that there may be a resolution to it in the works. Things are tentative and will not be resolved soon, but there is movement in that direction.

I find talking about the event to be very tiring. I usually feel wrung out and drained afterwards, but I feel better for having shared my experiences with other people. It also helps to explain some of my behaviour over the last couple of months. Quite a few of my friends and classmates know that something happened and have been wondering what it was. They have all been very supportive. Some of them were willing to help in any way that they could, without even knowing what happened. It is nice to know that there are many good people out there. I am lucky enough to have several of them as friends.

Winter Weather

Forget about global warming, winter is here. The snow is falling and it is going to get cold tonight. I think that I've found a use for my down filled jacket. I used to wear it when I went out for walks at -30 and colder. It always kept me very warm. I am going to wear it to school. When I am standing around outside in the cold waiting for buses I can get very chilly. Not that I have to wait very long; at worst it is about fifteen minutes, when I just miss the bus to my neighbourhood on my way home. Still, that is a long time to stand outside on a cold winter day.

From my perspective, the best thing about taking the bus to the university, in the wintertime, is not having to clear the snow and ice off my car and then, driving in a cold vehicle half way to my destination. The buses are always nice and warm.

Valley Speak

One feature of Valley Speak is the use of high rising terminals. That is what makes it sound as if everything is a question? (I did that one on purpose) The voice goes up at the end of a statement, just as if it were a question. The use of HRTs is quite widespread and has been creeping into written English as well as being used in spoken English.

I noticed that one of my posts is written using an HRT. I could not believe my eyes when I saw it, but there it is in the last line of Wild Weather.

Sitting In The Dark

The power went off this afternoon while a few of us were waiting for stats class to begin. We sat in the light of the emergency system for a few minutes and discussed our options. One our class mates said that we could all go to their flat and, either study or party. We decide that the party was our preferred option, but before we could plan our escape, the lights came back on. Another great plan foiled. The whole episode put us in a jovial mood that lasted through the hour. It doesn't take much to get a bunch of stats students excited. We need to get out more.

A Little Bit Of Everything

It is Friday evening and there is just over a week of classes before we break for exams and Christmas. I get all of my exams over with in one week. I have four days to study after classes end before I write my first one. I write the hardest one first; I like that.

Our late Friday afternoon stats class is getting quite restless by the end of the hour. Our prof has a hard time with us. We just want to get out of there and go home for the weekend.

I got lucky this afternoon; there was a bus coming as I crossed the street to the bus stop. It was one of the extra buses, so it left right away. I had driven my car and parked it close to the campus this afternoon, so I got home in record time for a Friday evening.

I've been finding it easier to spend longer spans of time at homework or studying; just in time for exams. I spent an hour and a half at stats, took a half hour break and went back for another half hour of studying before class. I am quite happy to be able to do that. I've had such a hard time concentrating on anything for any length of time. I am beginning to feel much better; just a bit short of breath because of my lung infection. Oh well, as long as my brain is in gear, I won't complain.

The builders are coming along quite well. No significant problems, so far. It will be great to get them out of here. I like my privacy and the house is a mess; plaster dust on everything. It s cold enough that the furnace is running a lot and it spreads the dust throughout the house.

I told my classmate with the health problems (we are getting to be friends, I think) about my idea for a reverse Pandora's box. (See the comment that I left) She wants one. I do too. Maybe we can share one.

I wish that I had no scruples. I heard lots of nice, juicy stuff yesterday but, because I respect the privacy of others, I cannot write about it. @^^@%&%*&#@#!(&(!!! Among other things, suffice it to say that one of our classes, next term, will have a self identified, very interesting violent offender. I think that he may just be trying to impress impressionable young women, but who knows. He just might be for real. His reputation precedes him.

I have to start thinking about something to eat. I've been goofing off since I got home. I've had too many pizzas and need a healthy meal. I bought some veggies and fruit this afternoon and have some cooked rice in the fridge. A stir fry sounds good to me.

I am listening to Norah Jones and Diana Krall as I write this post. I like their singing. Norah Jones is accompanied by the Peter Malick Group. There is a nice contrast between Norah Jones and Diana Krall. I find Norah Jones to be energetic and Diana Krall to be very mellow. The computer is playing their music randomly, so there is a nice mix of mellow and energetic music.

My partner is doing well. We have been talking a lot on the phone and she is feeling a lot better. It has been very good for her to spend time with her brother and sister-in-law. She will also be visiting her daughter for a couple of weeks, from the middle of December until the end of December.

I got her a something that she will appreciate for Christmas. A Mose Scarlett CD that we don't have. May be he will come out with another one before next Christmas. I hope so.

I will miss her this Christmas, but I think that it will be great to see my mum and the rest of the gang. I miss them too. It is always nice to see my grandchildren. I am looking forward to spending time with them. A week is not long, but it is long enough to be able to spend a fair bit of time with them.

I've told my profs about my problem; they have been very supportive and understanding. I have slipped a bit over the last three weeks, or so, but I have time to get it together before I write my exams. I am taking two half courses and will have to concentrate on them to make sure that my final mark is decent.

My friend, who entered the poetry contest with me, came up with some music to go with one of my poems. It sounded quite nice. I asked about the tune and she told me that she had just made it up on the spot. I really envy people with that ability.

My medication was interfering with my memory and I found it very disconcerting. I could not recall information very well. I was quite upset about it. Thank goodness that the effect was temporary.

I have never understood why I can remember stuff that I've read in texts, or heard in class, but I can forget to get a roll of paper towel two times after going upstairs to get one. I get distracted and do something else and come back downstairs without the roll of paper towel that I went upstairs to get.

Yeah! I finally remembered the paper towel and some Kleenex for the kitchen.

I've been writing this post for about 35 minutes. I hope that, those of you, who are suffering from post withdrawal, get your fix tonight, because I think that I have said it all. You know who you are.

If I were smart, I would have turned this into three posts. I'm not that smart, I guess. Judge for yourself.

Okay, that is quite enough for one post. Goodnight all.

Rob

All Dressed Up And Nowhere To Go

My friend and I enjoyed our evening of poetry. We had great seats near the front and another friend joined us for a while. She has to get up at 5:15 tomorrow morning so she left early. The two of us sat there until the last poet was announced. Neither of us was called. We both entered online, so we are wondering if there was some problem with their online system. We were disappointed but there was nothing we could do about the situation. We will definitely complain about being left out. Next time. I will use the old fashioned paper entry form.

Important Discovery

While travelling along a route frequented by many of the students on their daily movement to and from their gathering place, I discovered a possible adaptive change in the behaviour of some of them. Several of the students, who did not have umbrellas, had gathered underneath the overhang of a building to shelter themselves from the rain. It seemed to be quite effective.

I also discovered an ingenious, two hooded jacket system that was being used by one of the more creative students. She used the inner hood to shelter herself from the elements and used the outer hood to catch the rain for later use. I am sure that she had gathered enough rainwater to meet her needs for the rest of the afternoon.

It is said that some students are adept and quick to learn. Perhaps, this behaviour will spread. In that case, I would expect their survival rate to increase.

Upon our arrival at the main gathering spot, we were greeted by several chanting students who gave each of the refugees, from the storm, free hugs. I had to hug three of the group before they would let me continue. I am not sure what they meant by free hugs. I've never had to pay for hugs before, but maybe that is the custom here.

I ventured throughout the student gathering places this afternoon and have learned many things but I must end my report here. It is time to go and take part in a group ritual. It involves getting up in front of a group of students and presenting one or more poems for their enjoyment. I don't know what happens to the presenters who do not satisfy the crowd, so I am a bit apprehensive.

Wild Weather

It's November 21 and pouring rain. Global warming at work again, I guess. The buses were packed this morning and could not pick up everybody at the stops. There were more people getting on than were getting off until we got to the first main campus stop.

I came home to do some work and get ready for the poetry contest tonight. I might even get dressed up a bit. Make an impression, maybe, in case my poetry doesn't. I've had two people look at it and they both liked it but they are prejudiced. I trust their opinions though.

While I was waiting for a bus, I watched the other people there. Several of us had umbrellas and most of the others had jackets with hoods, so they were somewhat protected from the elements. I began to wonder what the protocol was for sharing umbrellas with other people that one does not know. How bad does the rain have to get? I find myself preoccupied by these sorts of very important questions from time to time and I need some answers so that I'll do the right thing the next time. Is there anybody out there who knows the correct umbrella sharing protocol? Or, is it another survival of the fittest test? The ones who forget their umbrellas die out and don't reproduce?