A Week Off

Well, that was unexpected. I was away from the computer for a week. Ironically, I was back in the south, right next to my computer I use for this, yet nothing came out. I don't know if I was feeling the pressure to knock it out of the park since I had so much time on my hands. I finally was able to fully unplug from the world. No worries, no drama, no concerns, no cares. Just like a child I was able to frolic in complete oblivion. It was a glorious time. I guess I will give a high level, sweeping overview of that transpired from the last time I dropped by. I could probably make each a post but I know GRP hates long posts so I'll stretch this one out as much as I can. 

Boxing Day and Fam-Jam Fiesta - So we moved as a group to huge dinner three of four. This time the Admiral and Dutchie would be present. Laceton also made it home. So this was a larger group that the previous two nights. All went well, Christmas cheer and laughs and nothing of note until the ride home. One sister needed a toilet, the other was our DD. In a calamity of errors compounded by weather, it took us 45 minutes to make the 10 minute drive home. It was not all in good fun. Which further proves my theory that in our group, 2 kids present seems to be okay but when the whole pack assembles things get heated. I won't get into detail but it was not a fun ride and I almost bit through my tongue trying to keep it civil. Nobody can piss us off and push buttons like those who know us best. Am I right? The next night was the fourth meal of four and we were down a sister. It all went like clockwork. Very methodical. It's disturbing how good we've gotten at putting on a meal for thirty plus people with seemingly no effort. That ended the family times, well after I watched Jurassic World with the family that night. Departure was slated for the next morning.

South - I got away in good time due to concerns about the weather. It was forecasted to snow and rain in the late afternoon so I left just after seven in the morning. This is much sooner than normal. It was a fresh -25C when I left and still dark. I made good time and sang my heart out until I reached Guelph. I called ahead as normal and asked what was for lunch. Brown and I decided to go. She was having a private meal with old friends that pre-date us and she wanted to keep us out of it. Me especially, for obvious reasons. So we ate and ran a couple of errands and then I left. I had to meet Cheese later in the day to watch Star Wars. We went in the midst of a ice rain shower. I don't want to spoil anything on here so I will just say that my thoughts on it were positive. I started a side conversation in our BBM group to allow for open discussion without ruining it for those that haven't seen it. Booj and Beer Guy, looking at you... Either way, Cheese and I had nice evening out and then a meeting in the am to discuss Conversations and what we could do deliver a better product. Hopefully we can stick to it.

Leisure - I had no groceries left before I left for the North so after a few days of living like a contestant on Survivor, I went to a real, full-on grocery store and got some. It was the first time in almost a year since I had gone shopping in a real grocery store. It was quite a change. That was the only productive thing I did. The rest of the time was spent reading, napping, or watching crappy movies on TV. I didn't get into many marathons at all, just movies. Bad ones mostly. It was glorious. I would do it again too.

New Year's - I spent New Year's alone for the first time in a handful of years. I was going to do the classic Tugboat, get drunk and pass out at 11 pm on the living room floor but I made a critical error. I ate too much food and couldn't drink much. I was in considerable pain in the tum-tum and did spend most of the night on the floor like a wounded animal. I watched Pretty Woman and went to my bed at 11:30 pm. I didn't get to sleep right away and tossed and turned until five after midnight, as if I felt obligated to ring in the New Year. Winter showed up as the calendar turned over. So I've been adjusting to that, cleaning and just enjoying my time off.

That brings us to the present. Against my earlier vow, I did sneak back to watch the Canadian Junior team. They lost against the Finnish team. I would have been hoarse from yelling at them if they were my team. I don't think they were well lead by the coaches and especially from within the player group. But I'm an outsider. All I know for sure is that it was very disappointing to watch them shame our nation, no matter how hard they tried. So on that sour note, I will cut this short, having made it plenty long enough to annoy the GRP.