#249 - Farewells and Flites

Up at the crack of seven, and the second crack of seven-oh-five.

We headed to the station merging into moderate traffic and caught an express train after only waiting ten minutes or so. The train was packed to the gills before we even got aboard, but up on the top level we were able to secure seats across the aisle from each other.

The train was nice and quiet, filled with like minded individuals who only wanted some solace before starting their workday. We arrived at the next stop and a young woman sat down in the empty seat across from me and had a small reunion with the young man sitting there.

As the train rolled out of the station an announcement came of the loudspeakers.

“The upper level is designated as a Quiet Zone. Please be courteous and refrain from conversations and loud noises.”

The young couple began their conversation getting progressively louder. The more enthusiast they got the larger the increase in volume.

Across the aisle I made eye contact with a man trying to read his copy of ‘Homo Sapiens,’ and we shared a look that asked, “What’s wrong with people these days?”

I let it go a stop longer before I lost my patience with the both of them.

I wanted to say, “Hey, I get the sexual tension you guys are building right now but could you possible keep it down. You are in the quiet zone after all.”

Instead, I said, “Would you be able to turn it down a bit. You’re in the Quiet Zone. Thanks so much.”

They looked like teenagers caught with their pants down.

The guy across the aisle gave me a nod of thanks and the rest of the ride was blissfully serene. Not a person dared to speak.

This is my superpower.

I Shoosh the un-shooshables.

The walk in was nice, the weather warming up but still cool enough to be enjoyable. We stopped at a Tim Hortons so Robyn could get herself a tea. It makes the rest of her day more enjoyable when she starts with a steeped tea.

The walk to the studio was unremarkable with exception the quality of the weather and the company.

A few co-workers were having their last day in the studio today. Emotions were running high in certain camps. I got down to business right away because I knew there would be some distractions today and I had plenty on my plate to get through.

Another co-worker, who had been off on vacation, brought us some chocolates from PEI that had potato chips crumbles. A stereotypical for the region, but I gave mine to Robyn and she loved it.

It could have been filled with Ann of Green Gables this or that, so the potatoes were a better choice.

I kept working as the rest of the team arrived. We had lunch plans to go to Boku in the distillery district at noon. And the time flew by fast. Next thing I knew ten or more of us were making our way to the Distillery to have some ramen.

We were seated outside in a mostly shaded area and couldn’t have asked for better weather. I ordered a bowl with edamame, rice, crab, salmon, and shore clam. It had some fish roe and a tasty dark sauce with it as well.

The meal was excellent.

Robyn got ramen with an egg added on.

I’d been here before and was awarded of the flight of saki they used to do. Just my luck, they still offered a flight of four. I liked three of them and the third was not to my liking. There was another option to get a flight of fruit sakes, and I think I would have preferred those more.

I’ll do that the next time I head there. We are more likely to eat at the Distillery during the summer season. There was a short search to round up some ice cream after the meal, but all the places that might have satisfied our need weren’t open until after 2 PM.

We were forced to admit defeat and retreated to the studio. There was work still left to do after all.

I started doing approvals and realized it was going to turn into revisions. I talked through some of the work with my supervisor and we came to understand what was needed to move forward. I made notes on all the effected paintings, choosing to delay any revisions until tomorrow.

Working this way allows you to take complex scenes and slowly work through and get to know their ins and outs better. I felt more assured and confident after going through that exercise and knowing the notes would be in the files for the next day.

At four thirty we stopped for the day to say goodbye to our departing president. One of the old owner’s flew into see everyone and to give the president a proper speech. Beer and wine started flowing. Emotions were peaked and some ex-employees came by to say hello. It was great to see everyone and munch on some cheese and crackers as I sipped on my pinot grigio.

We signed business card sized notes for the departing president and left them in a nice box for her to take home. I was a very pleasant way to end the evening, chatting with friends, old and new.

We stayed until six thirty and then headed out. Or we tried to but needed to stop and hug people as we left. After, we strolled leisurely down the street, staying to the shady side of the street and made our way towards the station enjoying the day and being outdoors.

A train was fifteen minutes away from arriving as we got to the station. Not a terrible amount of time to wait. We people watched and notice a large number of people seemed to be having directional issues, stopping to ask for directions or how to get on a train or bus.

We boarded an all-stops train, which was fine by me as I didn’t write on the way in or at lunch. We found seats without too much issue, and I took out my laptop, ready to get some words down while we rode the train back home to our station. My belly is full of all the good food and booze. My heart is filled to bursting as well, as I know what a lucky person I am. Not every day is going to be as full of goodness as this one was.

I am happy to have gone in to work today and that is not something I usually can say.

None-the-less, I am looking forward to getting home and lying down for a minute. As much as today was a good one, it has also tired me out as well. And it will be great to work from home tomorrow and get our daily lunch hour walk in. I could sure use the exercise after all that eating and drinking.

I am sure glad I skipped breakfast.

We arrived at our stop around eight. The difference in traffic was very noticeable, and the drive home felt relaxed and enjoyable, other than the fact that it was so much later than we’d usually arrive home for work.

As we pulled into the driveway our neighbours were sitting on their porch with thir new puppy, Teddy. I had promised to meet the dog so he wouldn’t bark if he saw us. I approached him slowly and gently gave my open palm up to his nose. He was a little hesitant at first, but I kept my hand held out to him and told him he was a good boy. He took a sniff and then I petted him and gave him some light scratches. In a minute he was licking my hand, and I made I new friend for live.

It’s a cute puppy and I am all for it not barking, so I was glad to spend a few minutes introducing myself to the newest member of our street.

Robyn went out grocery shopping with kiddo #2 and then stopped to get some food at Burrito Boys. They were kind enough to call and ask if I wanted anything, but I still felt stuffed from lunch and the party snacks from the after work gathering. Food is the last thing I need right now.

I watched a couple of videos on YouTube before getting bored. There wasn’t much new content that was of interest to me. I fired the laptop back up and got to work writing instead. I’d like to be free of all my obligations by the time my wife returns and end the day watching a show and the reading before calling it a day.

I’ve been reading one or two short stories by Mick Herron each evening as part of my reading and learning. Each story has been enjoyable, and I can only hope to be half as good as Mick in the future.

I really love his spy stories, but the Joe and Zoe detective yarns are growing on me as well.

Today was my writing mentor’s birthday! Happy Birthday KKR!

I have to get up early tomorrow to drop my car off at the shop. The turbo is no longer working, and I think it is likely a problem with the intercooler. And if I am right, then it is going to cost me up to $2000 in repairs. Money I would rather bank right now. Luckily, Robyn’s contract at the studio was extended from July to September. Much needed income for our family as we navigate the unsteady animation industry at the moment.

Any of us who are still working know we are the lucky ones, and we feel for our friends and colleagues who haven’t been so lucky.

It’s tough times out there.

Particularly if you are a car thief in my town. Four young men were arrested for stealing cars when the Halton Police captured them in Project Joker. According to the police, these four men are responsible for over 100 car thefts in the Greater Toronto Area and Halton. They have affiliations to criminal gangs from Quebec. One of the criminals is here on a student visa.

All have previous charges against them and are being charged with all kinds of new charges. The police seem concerned that these men will be out on bail soon, and since they have a history of criminal activity it seems a forgone conclusion that they will continue operations.

It certainly explains my recent post where I questioned whether I was seeing an increase in odd criminal behaviour or was it just my imagination. And now we know that a criminal element has moved into the area and is very active.

I hope they get what they deserve, not what they think they deserve!

Robyn returned from doing errands and we got comfortable in bed. The season finale of ‘Your Friends and Neighbors’ was up on Apple TV and seemed like a good place to start.

Or is it end?

We weren’t up for too much more, so we watched an episode of The Daily Show. The actress, Chase Infiniti, from the Testaments was the guest tonight. Her name sounds made up.

Google tells me her full name is Chase Infiniti Payne. So, for a stage name it’s probably better than Chase Payne. That sounds a tad bit too sadomasochistic.

I didn’t stick around for the interview because the Daily Show does terrible interviews almost all the time, unless the interviewer and the interviewee are friends outside of the show.

And that clearly wasn’t the case tonight.

I had my sleep aid routine to start, so I headed down to the kitchen to fetch some tart cherry juice to wash down my magnesium glycinate pills. May the sleep be bountiful!

One thing I have noticed with the sleep aids is that I wake up earlier, feeling refreshed but with not desire to get out of bed. I think this might be the answer to my get up early conundrum.

I’ve consumed alcohol yesterday and today, so I’ll need more data to make sure it’s not the evening booze that has me up early. I almost always wake up early when I have a few drinks. Shouldn’t be having any adult drinks tomorrow, so I can test things out starting then and follow through the rest of the week.

But it’s just after midnight and I need my beauty sleep.

Until tomorrow.