Home
Boring...
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Blog
- Hits: 2
It has been the most boring last couple of weeks imaginable.
Started a painting, but it goes like they always do in the beginning, and so I take a break from it.
Work, not busy, long hours pacing the restaurant. Extra long hours, as I requested extra shifts and they kindly obliged, I'm inundated with bills that need be addressed sooner rather than later. As of today I am 3 pay periods behind; they always pay but they don't always understand the "urgency" of regular payments.
The neighbour, well, upstairs one has been in her own world, "Kramer" pops by on occasion to get a cup of sugar, "borrow" some cash, get me to cook for her, I'd given her a couple of books, including a Bible, which apparently she lost/mislaid so she pops around to indulge in a bit of "Bibliomancy", wherein you open to a random page and put your finger on a verse and try and divine some meaning in it.
My god there are better dates.
Autumn, here already, days bright, evenings crisp and cool, no need of the AC or the heater, a beautiful time of the year that would be even better if I had wheels, a destination, but first I need cash and when the bills are paid I can worry about this.
This winter, probably long, I need another job, something to keep my busy, keep the bills at bay, something that I can use to save up for the long overdue jeep, take some time off of work and get into the country, out of the country, something, anything, my life has grown far too boring...
Half Man - Richard Gadd
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Film
- Hits: 118
This, upon the recommendation of a friend. About 2 step brothers with various shades of toxic masculinity.
I absolutely despised it. Vile and degenerate characters, each and every one. Imagine 6 hours spent with the worst people you've ever met and you have some idea of how I felt squirming through this.
Richard Gadd, for those of you who might have forgotten, was the force behind "Baby Reindeer"; which was interesting only insofar I was living through my own stalking nightmare at the time.
Now - this review is not about quality, the series was well filmed, written, executed, and represented pretty accurately I'm sure a big slice of Scottish Life. But - damn, give me someone to root for, a plan, a light at the end of the tunnel...
But it's done and now I'm going to watch some snuff films or holocaust footage or maybe reruns of 9/11 or Islamic beheading videos, because all of those are a hell of a lot less damage than this was...
extra shifts
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Blog
- Hits: 140
So I'm behind on a few bills and have been picking up extra shifts at work.
I hate this, but here we are and here we go. If I want next summer not to be the write-off this summer was I have to do it.
Work, this weekend, slow, despite the "Road Kings" car show in town, we need more publicity, a better PR strategy. I was worried we'd be busy, not busy-busy but that run-off-your-feet sort of panic, never caught up, never on your game or caught up.
It never happened.
Long days that I brought upon myself, Monday, Thursday, Friday-Saturday doubles, Sunday, slow, 3 tables, a few to-go and delivery orders.
September, and while the tips have dried up I need the hours, need the jeep that will follow, need the time off that has to be paid for while I'm off putzing around in the bush, and this is the beginning...
Tuesday Off
- Details
- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Blog
- Hits: 175
This week Tuesday off and I'm broke as F***, the Tuesday off because I have a Doctor's appointment that effectively takes up my entire day, first stop is to the used bookstore with another 30 lbs or 3 feet of books which nets me a total of $23.00.
I really should get into the used book business. I hate parting with them, as that begs a reliance on the internet, and - well, we know that at some point in the not too distant future things are going to go sideways and the world will need to be rebuilt.
But there's no place for them in the flat, the place already cramped with boxes and things that can't seem to find a place, slowly slowly letting go of them all.
The twenty-three dollars, choices, choices, it's burning a hole in my pocket, Vodka, Cigarettes or Groceries?
I know what the Doctor would say, and my fridge is bare, but I settle on Vodka.
***
The Doctors Encouraging, results much better, heart rate steady, blood pressure normal, I spent the morning drinking a tea of my own devising, cinnamon, ginger, tumric sweetened with honey, my own quack-medical holistic approach, which probably helped fudge the BP, but - really, time to shed a few bad habits and acquire good ones.
He updates my prescription and I think to refill it - but I've only $23 and that's earmarked for something else...
I read the labels, some of them need to be taken with food.
These meds, I find out, I'll be on them for eternity. "Until Death does us part".
Then back down the long flight of stairs, past a man harvesting apples, he gives me a couple and I think to myself "An apple a day..." but - really, I don't like apples or doctors, even though they've been nothing but kind. What really annoys me is that this was entirely avoidable...
A big pile of bear scat on one of the landings, which explains the man harvesting his apples. This is a popular spot with the wildlife. Step around.
***
On that note, faced with the imminent possibility of my own demise I'm speculating on which next of my neighbours will go first. I, while I present as healthy need to get even healthier and mine own can not be ruled out but I have a few things to sort out first. The death pool - barring surprise, I have 4 top picks. The hard-living tenants of the building, or just plain old, you can see it in their faces, and of those 4 two have been strangely absent the past couple of weeks...
***
The day degenerates, the neighbour pops over, wants company that she doesn't provide, just wants out of her flat, brings her laptop over and makes a space on the counter for herself, sets up, and for this I need another drink, she has no conversational ability, just sits withdrawn into herself, and unable to start or carry on a conversation, and I'm ill inclined to, we each sit in our own little worlds ...
***
Today, now two paydays behind and out of cigarettes and vodka and food I text the owner. One cheque comes in and I do the smart thing, pick up my prescription, pay my credit card, pick up a very few groceries, a scrap of canvas and I'm once again broke. The tip cheque, all it would do is pay a few more bills, it's behind, but I hate begging to get paid, even when it's dire.
***
I've been interviewing staff, 2 girls last week. I get them to write out their availability. No sooner does the schedule come out with their training shifts on it than they both complain they can't work them. We worked around their availability and they still can't be bothered to show up. Fucking staffing in the Kootenays.
I'm picking up shifts left right and centre until I sort out these bills...
And, now, at the library, only $20 left in the bank and once again I have some choices...
The pills, checking the fridge, there is no food and do I take them or not? What would happen if I took a pill without food? Isn't a pill "Food" anyways? I mean...
Page 1 of 1124