Too Monday

The day started normally. Up around seven, shower, breakfast, etc. I was at work at eight and started trying to resolve last week’s questions, update customers on their seed, and prepare for upcoming meetings. In essence, not an exciting start to the week, yet. The first and second meetings went off without a hitch. After that there was some action as I learned some things about where the remaining soybean seed was, and got some updated timelines to share with some customers. Their reaction was more aggressive than anticipated. I also worked on the last corn item, trying to fight it though customs so it could get to the customer. It was already way too late but that doesn’t mean I’m going to give up on it. Those battles lasted until around lunch time. I went down to the kitchen to snap you a picture of the meal board as it sat at the end of last week. You can see that I had my worst week ever, only hitting the mark once for the week. Not good. I cleared off my failure and drafted a new plan for the upcoming week and then made a paltry lunch.

The reason I called my lunch paltry because it was so simple. I cooked the last Stouffer’s Bistro Crustini Mozzerella and Meatball panini in my possession and felt that I could have a Dr Pepper if that’s all I had. So that was my whole lunch. This used to be a pretty normal meal for me when I was going to the office but for an effort in my own kitchen, even I recognized that this was a failure. In fairness to me, I didn’t have a long break between meetings to prepare a lunch but this is still weak.

During the morning meeting there was some banter about hockey and the big game seven coming up. I’d already written my beloved Leafs off. I figured in Game Five that they’d blown the series but I’m a diehard fan so I put up a couple of things in my office and took my meetings for the day with this motif. Much like Kevin Bieksa on Hockey Night in Canada, I thought it might be fun to change around the things in the background of my “set”. I’m sure I’ll pay for this display in the coming days but it was funny and I was able to bring some joy to my colleagues. It only took five minutes to prepare. The hardest part was going to get the hat by the front door. I shared this image with a few of my group chats too, just to entertain them and spread joy further.

My workday ended at half five and I decided to make sure I started the new meal board off strong. I had some time before the game started so I fired up the BBQ for the second time this year (more than last year already) and got my chicken started. These breasts had been in the fridge for awhile and I wanted to get into them. There was a whiff of stink starting in the fridge so eliminating the potential sources would help me keep things smelling appropriately. For the sides component of the emal I opted for some Knorr Chicken Sidekick. I generally make two packages and eat most of them as a meal. This time I cooked two but siphoned over half into the fridge. I nuked a can of beans to finish out the plate, again half going in the fridge. I’m getting better about that, helps me eat better and with more appropriate portions. I plated up a couple of the broken free tenders and one of the breasts that I cooked on the BBQ, the others joining the rest of the cast off food in the fridge. The combination made for a tasty meal that I demolished voraciously.

With dinner done and the dishes cleaned up it was time for the main event of the day. Game Seven of the Leafs and Habs. The first time they’d met in the playoffs since the late 70’s and one time had made a good showing and the other had collapsed. I’ll save the drama and just say that they never showed up for the game. Actually, it would have been better if they’d actually stayed home. It was embarrassing and predictable. Something is wrong with that group, they didn’t expect to win, they simply hoped they would. It was a crushing blow and I’m sure there will be consequences. Both in the media, the fanbase and maybe even the roster. This was supposed to be the year with the additions made, the “easier” path to the final four. It was hard to watch, but watch I did. Right to the final horn. My hat ended up getting violently thrown at some point mid-game but otherwise I took the expected defeat with minimal cursing. I’d be hearing about enough going forward to worry too much then. I quiety went to bed after the game, wrapped in a simmering rage and couched with frustration and defeat. Hell, it felt like I was at work.