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Lemme ‘Splain. No. Too Long. Lemme Summup.

Posted on December 29, 2006 by Jorge

The Year in Review

I suppose that at some point before the calendar page turns each of us should look back and take stock of what has transpired over the last twelve months. It’s not always an easy thing to do. Most things that we don’t need to do are difficult.

Some of us human beings are preoccupied with keeping score. Trying to make sure that we come out on top.

Interestingly enough, if we want to come out on top, we always will. We always have the option of eclipsing the bad with the good if we like. Of course, this can also work in reverse.

There are those among us who never deal with the negative things that they have done (especially to others). These people coast through life wreaking havoc, never stopping to clean up the messes that they leave.

I think it takes more strength to look back on the bad things and see what benefit you can gain from something that possibly took a chunk out of you.

I had originally written a long post about my trials and tribulations this year. After reading it for the nth time, I came to the decision to delete it.

It sounded too whiny. Too negative. The whole point was to try and find the positives in the bad things that happened. But there weren’t enough solutions.

So I’m going to keep it to myself. My own list of things to work on. Inevitably I can see a lot of you trying to put forth pep-talks and such. But I don’t really need those. What I need to do is take care of my own list by myself (maybe with a little help from my friends).

So in place of my giant article, I offer up this vague list to sum up my year…


  • Exercise disappointment
  • 24-Hour Movie Marathon goodness
  • Unspeakable loss
  • Great times with friends
  • Visiting our treasure in the South
  • A pleasant surprise
  • Unreasonable fears
  • Energy renewed
  • Another loss
  • A visit from our treasure from the South
  • A house
  • Hitting my wall for the first time in a long time
  • Coming up with a plan to overcome the wall
  • Making a new, very great friend
  • Counting myself lucky to have solid friendships


Trust me, you would have fallen asleep at the original post.

Filed under: Anecdotes, Friends, General Dialogue, Ponderings, Rants | 14 Comments »

Camping Lazy Dogs

Posted on October 25, 2006 by Jorge

Camping? HAH!

Looks like the camping trip is out. At least, the camping part.

The trip, though, has changed to one of cottage rental. It will still be fun, as the people attending are all excellent.

Of course, I hear everyone sniggering at their desks as they read this. Wimps you say? Yes. I can hear it resounding from your minds.

It’s not the same as camping. That is for sure. But I’m not sad.

I’d like to see you try and clean a huge tent and fly when it’s raining outside.

In any case, I’ll be close enough to Algonquin Park to take some pictures. The mists at this time of year make everything look amazing.



Animal Services? Lazy Dogs.

This morning I was about to go up the elevators to work when a grey furry movement caught my eye.

I almost dismissed it as being a squirrel until I took a closer look. There, on the outside of the window, was a little grey kitten.

I went outside, and saw another kitten scampering around. And another. A whole mess of ‘em.

I called the Humane Society, who pointed me in the direction of City Animal Services.

I called them and informed them of this litter of strays. The guy on the other side of the call told me that they don’t chase strays around. If I were to gather them in a box, they would come pick them up.

Um…

Animal Services?

Right.

Filed under: General Dialogue, Rants | 16 Comments »

Respect All Grown Up

Posted on September 17, 2006 by Jorge

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I was in the subway recently, making my way across the city to help a friend move to her new place, when I witnessed this exchange on the subway…


[Two girls in their mid teens are sitting on one side of the car. An older lady abruptly shuffles over from another part of the car for no reason and sits across from these two young gals.]
Girl 1: [Eyes the tote bag that the lady is carrying with obvious admiration.] Is that bag homemade? Did you make it?
Crotchety Old Lady: [Sneering.] What do you think?
[This abrupty ends the conversation. The train arrives at the next stop, and the older lady shuffles out.]
Girl 2: What was that all about?
Girl 1: I don’t know. All I asked was if she made that bag, it was cool. And she was all, like [Makes grouchy face and hand gestures (not unlike claws).] to me.
Girl 2: Weird.
Girl 1: Yeah. I don’t know why I bother being respectful to older people. I’m pretty tired of having so much respect for everybody.


That sucked for Girl 1, eh?

Of course, Girl 1 was sitting sideways across three seats with her dirty shoes up on the last seat.

Respectful my ass.



All Grown Up

It’s pretty much official.

Mrs. J and I are now proud card-carrying home owners.

As we handed our deposit cheque to the agent, I realize that the word owners begins with OW.

How appropriate.



Check out our new crib.
Click to enlarge…


Seriously, it’s a nice little bungalow in a nice neighbourhood.

I’m pretty happy about it.

However, anyone that wishes to give me money to pay down this little nest can feel free.

Filed under: General Dialogue, Rants | 22 Comments »

The Most Wonderful Convo

Posted on September 5, 2006 by Jorge

It’s the Most Wonderful Time…

My ass.

My commute to work this morning was decidedly more unpleasant with the increase in students on the subway.

That sounds so negative, doesn’t it?

I suppose I should ensure that my barbs go out to those who rightfully deserve it, so let me clear up who I am talking about, first.

You two. Yes, I’m talking to you. The gals with the earth-toned clothing and conservative haircuts. You two are standing as far from the doors as possible, safely out of the way of people trying to exit or board the train. You are a-ok in my books.

Let’s move on to you, the guy with the t-shirt, loose cardigan, shorty-short-short jean shorts, faux-suede winterboots with the black hockey socks pulled up to your mid thigh? You’re sitting unobtrusively, listening to your I-pod. You’re safe.

And you guys & gals in the skater/grunge/lumberjack clothing. You’re having a quiet conversation off to the side as well. You are good in my books.

It’s you. That’s right. You two standing in the doorway. The doorway that is on the side of the subway that people are entering and exiting for the next eight stops. Canoodling away and pretending you don’t exist when the doors open. You are in the way! Move your damned asses.

Not to mention you guys. The gang whose level of conversation approach rock concert decibel levels. I don’t need to know the details of your parents house. Especially since I’m all the way on the other end of the subway car. I don’t envy that poor old couple sitting beside you. I can see them putting their hearing aids away and shoving cotton into their ear canals.

What happened?

Were we like this, as children? Us? Generation X? Because Generation Why certainly is.

If things don’t start getting better, I’m going to be eating a whole lot of kidney and lima beans for breakfast before I go to work.

At least I know for sure that I would have my very own subway car.



Convo? It’s Been a While!

When writing the above rant, I couldn’t remember what our generation’s name was. So I called up Dave…


Jorge: Dude. What Generation are we?
Dave: What?
J: What is our Generation called?
D: Generation…mmmmmehh….X?
J: Really? Generation X?
D: I think so. Don’t you feel Generation EXY?
J: I don’t know about Generation EXY but I sure feel Generation Sexy!
D: Blog it.


After that little exchange, I told Dave the premise of my entry, describing some of the stuff I see on the subway…



J: So what do you think?
D: I think that you should be called Generation Grumpy Old Man.


Maybe he’s right…

😉

Filed under: Rants | 17 Comments »

I Am Lao Flicks Superman

Posted on July 4, 2006 by Jorge

I Am…

On Saturday, I dutifully wore a red t-shirt and white shorts* to celebrate our country’s one hundred and thirty-ninth birthday.

Ironically, I spent most of the day in the car with Mrs. J and Tug on our way to Rochester, New York for a party, so no one other than my passengers saw what I was wearing in honour of my country**.

Of course, after a few hours in line at the border, I wondered why I was so proud of being Canadian. I can just picture your intake of breath. Your indignation. Allow me to elaborate.

So many people were breaking the rules. Driving on the shoulders, cutting people off, even utilizing the commercial trucks only lane. it was sickening.

I don’t like it when people break the rules like that. It’s not fair to those who have been waiting patiently in the line. In fact, a lot of the time these line-jumpers end up causing an even bigger delay.

What made it even worst was the fact that every single one of these inconsiderate people had an Ontario licence plate.

Not a great way to set an example, especially considering that a good chunk of the traffic in line with us were US Citizens returning home.

So, while I am proud of my country, I don’t know if I am always proud of the people that live in it.

Certainly you will point out that this happens everywhere, not just in Canada, but it doesn’t really matter, does it?

Wrong is wrong, no matter where you live.



Lao is the Time

After the eight hour car trip*** we arrived at the party to scattered applause and a plethora of questions regarding our tardiness.

I made my way to the keg and ran into one of my cousins, who poured me a refreshing beer and clapped me heartily on the shoulder in welcome.

After some mingling and drinking, word spread around the party of the formation of a friendly game of Lao Ball.

I’m not sure what the real name of this game is, but essentially it involves kicking a wicker ball over a volleyball net. In fact, the rules are very similar to volleyball, with the exception of which parts of the body you are allowed to hit with – that is, anything but your hands.

We played until it became impossible to see the little wicker bugger. It was great fun, and in hindsight I learned that the first rule of Lao Ball is to trash talk as much as possible.

If anyone knows what the real name of this game is, or where I can find info, please let me know in the comments.



Flicks

One of my cousins is a great film maker. You won’t see anything of his at Cannes or the Toronto Film Festival****, but they are masterpieces just the same.

I am not sure if I am allowed to elaborate on them, as they are in pre-production. However, I am going to see if I can convince him to put clips on You Tube when they are released in August.

This is really just serving as a place holder*****.



Superman Returns

I’m not going to spend a lot of time writing about this movie. It was a wonderful homage to my favourite superhero. Not to mention a tribute to the old movies.

Superman Returns picks up where Superman II left off******, thus eliminating all of the crappy sequels.

It is an epic film, and will leave you believing that a man can fly.




* – Well, they were off-white. Cream, perhaps. Either way, it was close enough to white to play off the red shirt that I was wearing in honour of our flag.
** – We actually had a large Canadian flag bandana in the back area behind the rear seat head rests.
*** – Normally the trip is about 3-3.5 hours.
**** – Yet.
***** – See what I did there, Steve? Yeah. I went there. Now you’re going to be famous.
****** – So I’ve been told.

Filed under: Anecdotes, Friends, Rants | 12 Comments »

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