80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #77

Today (Friday), I decided to take the day off and not go into the school. I slept until noon, putzed around for most of the afternoon and finally made my way to Wild Wings for our weekly cartel meeting. D is away on an Alaskan cruise so it was just the three of us.

Afterwards we went to see Death Sentence. It was by the author of Death Wish and pretty much was along the same lines as the old Charles Bronson movie.


We then had a protracted discussion in the parking lot about "Kids Today". To fully appreciate the sentiment of some of my cartel members, you have to say "Kids Today" as if you were an old Jewish guy trying to un-stick the words from the back of your phlegm filled throat. I could go on and on about the discussion we had, but I shall not. Basically I hate those two words "Kids Today". I heard that expression so many times when I was young that I now associate that expression with the old farts of my youth - old farts whose life had passed them by and whose bitterness prevented them from ever seeing the good in the youth around them. It makes me sad to hear that from my own friends - partly I assume because it reminds me that they, and by extension me, are getting older.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #76

The 80 days of Bob are closing fast. Too fast!

Yet again I was back at the school - to finish the job I had started yesterday, Today though, the ending was different. I decided to change my objectives. Since I had two computers working and with the promise from one of the parents for a donation of more, I decided to throw the rest of the junk out once and for all. In total, 12 computers and monitors hit the roadside curb for collection. It was tough work slogging 50 pound monitors out to the curb but it was extremely gratifying. Good ridance to Bill Gates!

Building upon this feeling of elation, I went and collected my two graduates H and M and we went out for dinner and a movie. The dinner was great but we made the mistake of allowing M to choose the movie and wound up watching The Nanny Diaries. Bad decision!

Both of these girls, as well as the rest of the graduates I'm sure, will be moving into residence this coming long weekend. It is still hard for me to let them go - I see them as my own children and I worry about them and try to imagine the school without them. I can't. I wouldn't be so bold as to say that I am more affected by their leaving than their parents - but it is close.

A funny story - H's mom was at the store recently buying food and when she picked up a container of cottage cheese she started crying - right there in the store. She had made the observation that her daughter would be moved out before the expiry date on the cottage cheese. As I said, I can't compete with the feelings of parents but I get a little misty eyed when I think of that first day of school with none of the graduates to help get me through those long speaches of Mr. E.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #75

I brought it upon myself - I have no one to blame but me. I had volunteered for this task.

Day #75 of my so called vacation was spent once again at the school but this time in the frustrating pursuit of getting the computers up and working. After 9 long hours I had managed to get only two computers working and had finally figured out that it was impossible to get the remainder up to standard for a variety of reasons. I had also cursed Bill Gates about a thousand times in the process.

I left the school at 7pm for dinner at a nearby parent's house. At least there was a great ending to my day. Good food, good alcohol and great conversation.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #74

Tuesday and another full day of meetings at the school. Again, another 1/2 day of vacation since I have no homework - well I do but have decided to put it off until the last minute.

Tomorrow looks like I will be back at the school. I had intended on going canoeing for a couple of days but with the foot the way it is and now that I am back in school mode I've decided to cancel. Maybe a weekend in September.

Tonight I think it will be couch and TV - Big Brother 8 naturally. It looks like this season may boil down to a Blond vs Blond competition.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #73 & 1/2

I've decided that today can only count as a half day since I was at the school for meetings from 8am until 5pm when I finally got out of there. It counts as a half day though since I left without any homework to do so I have my night free to catch up on my warcraft.

For those who care, the foot is getting better.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #73

Sunday - My Days are Numbered

OK - with a bum foot there was not much to do today but play Warcraft - and even that was troublesome since my foot ached after an hour of sitting in front of the computer.

Did I mention that I miss my houseboat - with a clear sky and near full moon shinning through my window tonight I am in a reflective mood (that and the Irish Whiskey medication I'm on). No more howling at the moon naked on the top deck while motoring down the lake. I owned that lake at night - I think I shall miss the nights on the lake most of all.

I added up the numbers (because I'm a math guy) and over 50% of the women I've had the pleasure to be intimate with were for the first time on the houseboat. Ahhhh - the wonderful memories of the old man and the sea.

My ruminations plus the fact that I have to go to the school tomorrow for meetings have put me in a space where I wish I wasn't.

Night All.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #72

Saturday - The Day of Rest

Warning: THE GRAPHIC CONTENT OF THIS POST MAY OFFEND SOME, IT MAY CAUSE EXTREME REVULSION, REPULSION, AND REGURGITATION IN OTHERS. PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

After a snoot full of Irish whiskey last night I awoke with no pain in my foot. That is until I decided to move it. I hobbled out of bed, made coffee and decided that I needed to eat. The cupboards were empty which meant I had to go to shopping.

I never knew I had 21 steps to exit my building. 21 down, 21 up. Shopping was a long, painful process but I did manage with the aid of my collection of canes. I chose the snake for this occasion. Wanted to look cool for the babes.






Following lunch I decided to enter the realm of Warcraft but, at the suggestion of my friend D, relying upon the comfort of Janelle to ease the pain. Janelle was good to me - she was soft, she was sympathetic, and most importantly, she didn't nag me about going to the doctor to have my foot x-rayed (hint for LED).


After several hours of Warcraft, in which I kicked Horde butt hard core (figuratively not literally since my foot was sore), I decided to call it a night as the foot was a wee bit tender. I also decided to document the swelling - so that I can compare it to tomorrow to see if I should have it checked out.

I REPEAT: ------ Warning: THE GRAPHIC CONTENT OF THIS POST MAY OFFEND SOME, IT MAY CAUSE EXTREME REVULSION, REPULSION, AND REGURGITATION IN OTHERS. PROCEED WITH CAUTION!









Not Too Bad!

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #71

Friday - August 24th. An historic day!

Finally, after months of thwarted attempts, I was able to arrange the disposal of my houseboat. Again up at 7am, I was soon off to remove the last of my stuff from the boat before it was taken away to its final resting place - the big lake in the sky.

It was a morning of reflections - I have had a lot of great times over the past 23 years on that boat and it surely will be missed. I include pictures of this historic occasion as well as one final trip down the river into the lake.

Following the loading of the boat, I was loading up my car with the last of the boat items I had removed and because I was tired, exhausted, hungry, and perhaps a wee bit sad, I was not concentrating on what I was doing and managed to severely twist my ankle. Down I went and within a few minutes my ankle was the size of an orange.

But - being the trooper I am, off I went to the weekly Cartel meeting followed by the movie Superbad. Although it was a good film I don't quite understand why it is rated so highly.

Following the movie I went home, drank scotch until my foot was numb and fell asleep with dreams of the past 23 years on the boat.






Memories of the river.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #70

Thursday - The return to the real world.

My day began with my getting up at the unholy hour of 7 (am) for an 8 o'clock meeting with a parent at the school. It's all coming back to me - the reason I am a teacher - prolonged summer vacations!

Following the meeting I went home for a wee power nap and then off to meet a recent graduate for dinner. It is nice to have the chance to say goodbye properly to each of the graduates. I am very hopeful for this graduating class. Good luck Miss Di G!

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #69

Wednesday - August 22

My final day of exclusive Warcraft playing. I have a meeting at the school tomorrow so I must prepare for the intrusion of the real world. I leave you with my last screen shot of the game.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #68

Tuesday - August 21

One Word - Warcraft!



Ok - I have to add that playing Warcraft on my newer, faster PC is amazing. The 5.1 Dolby sound system coupled with the amazing increase in graphics capabitlities allows me to truly enter the fantasy world to the exclusion of all else. It helps keep my mind off the fact that school begins in 2 weeks.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #67

Monday - August 20

One Word - Warcraft!

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Days #63 to #66

It happened again this year. I was not prepared for it! The past few days have been hell!

As I write this blog entry Sunday morning, I now fully understand, more accurately appreciate, the full extent of the disease that once again affected me over these past few days. What I can't believe is that I never put two and two together before this year. It all started innocently enough, as it always does now that I reflect back on the past several years.

I was in Newmarket Wednesday with time to spare before going to the movie when I decided to browse in one of those big box electronic stores. That was it, just a quick walk through. A simple enough action. I thought nothing more of it and 20 minutes later left to watch the movie. I failed to recognize the early warning signs.

It started in earnest Thursday morning when I awoke with an incredible urge to buy something - something electronic - something for myself. Something to make me feel better. Off I went and within an hour I was lugging a 22 inch widescreen monitor up the stairs to my apartment. I was happy. I was in trouble. I hadn't yet recognised the disease that was upon me.

I installed the monitor - which amounted to nothing more than plugging it in (because I own a Mac), and I was off to play Warcraft in a new 22 wide screen world. I didn't care that the old monitor and its cables hung limply from my desk where they had fallen when I disconnected it. I was happy - or so I thought.

When I finally crawled into bed, in the back of my mine, in some deep recess that only gets accessed once a year, the disease crawled forth and whispered - it is time to prepare the nest, Bob. It was only a whisper and I ignored it - I was after all still in a different world. The World of Warcraft. If only I had listened more closely. If only I wasn't so tired that night.

On Friday I awoke with the disease in full flight. The urge to re-arrange the furniture in my apartment was unbearable. My new Monitor called to me, begged me to rearrange my computer desk. It wanted the old monitor gone. It wanted to have its own pedestal.

I was beginning to recognize the signs. This had happened before - always in late August. The desire to rebuild the nest. Not simply to move a few pieces of furniture about but a massive undertaking involving changing the entire layout of my apartment. This would involve cleaning, throwing out furniture that didn't fit the new regime. Buying new items to replace those thrown out. The need to rebuild from the ground up. I had begun to recognize the disease but I was unable to stop it.



In previous years I have always rearranged my apartment in late August. Over the years I have purchased new computers, chairs (remember Janelle), beds, and even last year - a new car! Always in August! The disease must be genetic in nature. Perhaps a cancerous strand of mutated DNA that comes to the forefront once a year to cause harm to those men who do not have a female in their life. God's cruel trick on those of us who are happy for 11 months of the year.

In short I thought I could beat the disease by joining the Cartel Friday night but alas when I returned to my apartment I began to rearrange the furniture. The quiet calling of that morning had become a full out scream in my head by the time I had returned. The computer desk had to be moved. As did the bed, the bookcase, the couch, the television, everything!

As I went to bed Friday I thought the worst was over. Sure I had to get up early Saturday and finish the job of cleaning and rearranging minor items but the worst was over. The big pieces of furniture were in their proper place. I thought I finally understood the disease and had gotten through the worst of it. I was wrong.

Saturday I awoke in a slight stupor - perhaps alcohol was involved or perhaps it was the beginning of the full out assault of the disease on my senses. I awoke, had coffee while checking my email on my new MONITOR and to my horror I came to the conclusion that I needed to upgrade my computer. My new MONITOR called out to me - demanded that I get a new computer worthy of the new look apartment - worthy of ITSELF!

What follows next is hard for me to write. I am heartbroken. I am riddled with guilt. My actions on that day went against everything I believe in, everything I hold true. I am embarrassed, no - ashamed, that my moral fibre was tested that day and I failed. I have tears in my eyes as I write this.

By noon on Saturday I was trudging up my apartment building stairs with a new computer in my hands. My shoulders were stooped in shame as I entered my apartment and began to unpack my new HP PC complete with Windows Vista.

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As I tell this tale Sunday morning I know I have lived through the disease for this year. The new HP computer is not yet fully up and running. It took 3 hours yesterday to try and get the new MONITOR working and after having downloaded countless drivers ( a new experience for a Mac user) the PC fails to recognize the wide screen format of the new MONITOR. It took another 6 hours to get Warcraft installed (it was 30 minutes with the Mac). Several hours later and several driver downloads later, I was finally able to get sound through speakers attached to the new PC.

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Though I am ashamed, I come out of this experience with a new found understanding of the disease and of the world. First, I know that next year I am going to plan to be away for the latter part of August. I also have a better appreciation for the frustrations of PC users though I fail to understand why anyone with half a brain would choose to use a PC as opposed to a Mac. Yes I am one of those mindless idiots who have a PC but as I write this blog I am using, and will always use, my Mac. The voices emanating from my new MONITOR have taken on a form of contentment as it recognises that it is more complete with the Mac than with the PC.


Perhaps I shall keep the PC, perhaps not. If I do, it shall be used exclusively for Warcraft. I must admit Warcraft plays better on the PC.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #62

Wednesday

I awoke starving as I had been fasting for my blood work. With no coffee nor nicorette gum in my system I had to undertake a 40 minute drive to the lab. It wasn't pretty - luckily the wait was minimal and by 11 am I was driving away from Tim's with a coffee in my hand and a cigar firmly planted in my mouth - Heaven!



Next stop - Newmarket for a movie - The Transformers. I had to see it before it fell out of the theatres. Although a 'kid' movie it was pretty darn good. It was especially nice since I was one of only three people in the theatre. Once again - Heaven!

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #61

Tuesday - a day of dread - off to see my doctor. It has been 4 years since my last visit.



It was to be a simple visit - all he had to do was to give me a prescription for high blood pressure. Instead I got a lecture on my lifestyle, pressured to wear a 24 hour blood pressure monitor (which I ultimately refused), another lecture on how Canadians believe health care is free - it's not - apparently you have to work on your health, you can't just take pills to make you better.

I left with the pills but I now have to get blood work done tomorrow - fasting for 14 hours beforehand, and I have to see him again in 2 weeks and then again in 5 weeks. Damn right health care is not free - what a price to pay - two more days of my life.

I left the doctor feeling as if I were a student in one of my math classes. The lecture was more or less the same - your results are directly proportional to the effort you put in, blah, blah, blah. I now have a better appreciation for the misery I put my students through. Why can't there be a pill for math? Life would be so much simpler.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #60

Monday - only twenty days left and work is slowly creeping into my daily routine. A lazy day of school work, shopping, and reading.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #59

Sunday - a chance to catch up on the Coronation Street episodes I missed earlier in the week and get ready for a movie and dinner with my three graduates.

M, S, H, and I went to see Stardust and I must say it was an excellent fantasy movie (you can't go wrong with both Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro). Quite a change from my real life of Warcraft.







After the movie it was off to the Winchester Arms for dinner. Ahhhh - steak and kidney pie - it was the completion of my Coronation Street day. I'm going to miss those girls next year as they go off to university - - but we are planning a reunion dinner and movie when the newest version of Beowulf (you can't go wrong with Anthony Hopkins & Angelina Jolie) comes out in November - it's a long story!

Thank you for the wonderful memories, ladies. I hope that this was not our last dinner together.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #58

Saturday - a day of rest and Warcraft. Had to get both characters above level 50 - it was my goal. We all need goals in our lives.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #57

Friday - Cartel Night!

The full cartel met Friday for the first time in quite a while. A lot has happened over the summer and a lot of catching up was needed and appreciated. This weeks Salt & Pepper set came directly from Maine - coincidentally the cleavage did as well.



After a few beer, wings and other food stuffs, the cartel was off to the movies - Bourne Ultimatum. A good movie with a great fight scene - in my opinion anyway.










Following the movie there was a discussion in the parking lot about the need for stupidity in all of our lives. Generally speaking, people fall into one of three possible categories.

1. - The lucky ones, such as myself, who can rely solely on alcohol for our weekly dose of stupidity - this gives us a ready made excuse and the stupidity is controllable in time by when we drink and by degree in the amount of alcohol consumed.

2. - The unfortunate ones who do not drink and have no excuse for their actions and worst of all can not control when stupidity will strike. These people can not be trusted since they are so unpredictable in terms of when the stupidity will strike as well as the degree of stupidity. 'Dangerous they are,' whispers Yoda.

3. - The third group is often the worse and should actually be removed from our society. These being the people who continually exhibit stupidity with or without alcohol. Unfortunately these people are in the majority and it is unlikely we can get rid of them though they do a good job themselves in culling their numbers.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Days #55 & #56

Tuesday & Wednesday, August 8 & 9

As I write this a week later, I don't actually remember what I did. Which in itself says something about how boring my summer has been. Maybe I should plan better next year.

I guess those two days could be summed up by three words - Laundry and Warcraft!

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Days #53 & #54

Monday and up early for a swim in the ocean from our ocean side room. Can life get any better than a morning 'toe-in-the-water' experience.


Into the car, north from North Carolina into Virginia to cross Chesapeake Bay via the 24 mile long 'bridge-tunnel' system (yes since we were back in Virginia the cost to cross was $28). It is a unique experience to be driving on a bridge and then ducking under the water as an ocean going vessel is crossing above you.



The rest of Monday saw us journey through Maryland, Delaware, and finally into New Jersey for the night.

Tuesday was 11 hours of Interstate driving - beginning with a massive traffic jam caused by the closure of the Washington bridge as we attempted to by-pass New York City.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #52

Sunday.

The motto of Virginia used to be (and still may be), Virginia is for Lovers. Based upon my experience - they should change their state motto to: Virginia is not for Drivers.

Although we were up early again, it took more than an hour to get gas, coffee and relocate the interstate to continue our journey. Virginia seems to excel in the concept of poor highway sineage, gas stations without gas, and excessive road tolls.

Despite the desires of Virginia to hold us captive for the remainder of the summer, we arrived early afternoon at the Outer Banks (OBX for the uninitiated) of North Carolina.

It was a spectacular day to enjoy the beaches, FREE ferries, and lighthouses of the OBX.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #51

Saturday - yet again up early. The journey continues eastward through the hills & valleys of West Virginia. Though the going is slow the scenery is spectacular.



Finally, after hours of ear popping hills and tight knuckled driving, as the sun draws low in the sky and the road straightens, we enter Virginia.


Our destination for the night, the historic town of Colonial Williamsburg. We arrive late and tour the town on foot - much as our ancestors might have on a sweltering night in August.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #50

Friday - up early and on the road. Southward bound - destination - unknown.

Eight hours of Interstate highways and we arrive in the mountainous hills of West Virginia. The land that time forgot.

80 Days of Summer for Bob - Day #49

Thursday, August 2nd.

Since I had to get an oil change, in advance of my mini-trip this coming weekend, I met with Dr. DC for lunch at our favourite wing joint. Dr. DC had just returned from the wilds of Northern Ontario where he once again attempted to reach Copper Island on the north shore of Lake Superior. For those of you who wish to recall last years efforts, I include the link for his 2006 failed attempt.

At this point I turn over the keyboard to Dr. DC.


Older Man and The Sea...Waxing Philosophical....An Odyssey!

Sing O' Superior...many a brave soul have ye sent hurrying down to Hades.

As the early dawn touched the sea with a golden light, a ship came gliding out of the mist, and sped her way o'er the broad-backed billows. No sail or mast had she; but the dipping of the paddle came floating on the still air of morning with a rhythmic cadence. Swift as a bird on the wing, she lightly cleft the curling waves in search of the reclusive Isle. The ship drove fast, and southward she fled.

Hearing a magic strain upon the water, the good craft drew near the Isle of Cats wherein the Sirens dwell.

Having spied me, the Sirens began to sing in sweet voices their bewitching song; nubile wenches tempting the ship to its ruin.
"I recognize thee for what thou art! Temptresses! Changelings! I was once married to one as you! Away with ye!", cried the seaman. In an instant the seductive Norse twins transformed into birds and flew away.

Onward and forward the craft glided until contrary winds thrashed the sea and stirred the fiend of doubt in the very heart of the ancient kayaker. "How badly do you want this? How badly?...", moaned the wind. Wave on wave washed o'er the deck and lashed the face of the mortal. Neptune drove the vessel back from whence it had come.

"I will not dine on regrets! 'Tis better to lose life as a spendthrift than waste it as a miser! 'Tis better to wear out than to rust out! 'Tis better to live and be done with it, than die daily in the grasp of the demon Microsoft! " screamed the mariner.

On high, the immortals, well pleased with these words, cried "Cease, rude Boreas! Else, pray, rein the tongue within his lips!". As commanded, the winds eased, and the bark flew swiftly onward, on even keel with gentle gale. Waves tossed up their silvery spray, while rocked in the cradle of the deep lay many a ship that never returned to port.

The day was well nigh done when the craft glided into safe harbour on the Isle of Copper. Sands dark as Chaos greeted the belly of the vessel. The man raised his eyes to Heaven and said, "What a day has dawned upon me, ye gods; yea a glad man am I today"

With throat parched, and hunger gnawing like maggots in a week-old carcass, the Jack o'Tar set camp and prepared a mess of most savoury victuals (Note: Dr. DC only eats Pringles Original Potato Chips during harrowing happenstances and recommends (contingent on a multi-billion dollar sponsorship) that all young Argonauts eat Pringles Original Potato Chips).

This Isle was from another time; a time when demons walked the earth and molten rock belched forth from the maw of Pele.

Night brought on a deep, dreamless, peaceful sleep. At length, the glorious sun was reborn to the howl of a storm-blast.

The sea heaved, impending tempests charged the sky and the gentle craft sought safer haven.

Through the Swede's Gap passed the ship. Southward, ever southward. Soon the mariner espied a coast strewn with pulp log and boulder; a mix of black and white, forbidding and tantalizing all at once. Forward the ship glided to the shore until the very rock split asunder to allow safe anchorage.

But, of a sudden, the keel suffered damage.....possibly a portent of more sinister torments to come. As if an affirmation of the thought, a shroud of fog suddenly perched upon the water and rolled malevolently towards the mastless craft.

Setting camp above high-water, the mariner harked back to the trials of yesterday and the doubts that he had suffered. That anything evil could ever befall the man now was absurd. "Vex me no longer ye demons of the nether world!"

The next two days were spent in blissful exploration of the coast; of agate, metal and pleasing stone the land abounded.

These happy moments flew like a bird upon the wind. All too soon, the glorious sun arose, a fair breeze blew and the white foam danced the good ship home.

The faint old man bows his silvered head. A dream realized and a fear overcome. The deed is everything, the glory naught.