FASHION OF THE MIND

Rise 12:46 PM

Five packets of incense isn’t much for you?

Leuven city activity up 300% with just three hours of finicky Belgian sun.

Food Maker’s pasta platter was delicious but the bitterness of the overpriced health food remains. 

Cover for my groceries please.

Where are these flume calibrations coefficients coming from?!

Salmon with quinoa and a side of salad. 

Don’t forget to activate your tank in siege mode.

I was ignorant of three.

Shower.

Peanut butter banana toast.

Vacuum.

Welcome to my room!

Indian buffet.

No office tours on weekends.

Multicoloured earflap hats and magnetic hematite.

So many varieties of cheese.

Our speciality is European rye bread.

Mini towers of apples.

10 tickets please.

Washing blueberries.

How do we get to Knyvet?

Nap.

Where is the number 27?

I think we get off here.

Tour of the house.

Tennis, bowling, and golf.

Salad! Bread! Lasagna!

You have a cat?

Come here, Caramel!

Just cream in mine please.

I’ll save the brownie for later.

Do you have a brick? For a wheat?

Beer-flavored resource cards.

Lost in Translation.

Soccer ball juggling.

Religious tendencies.

High school keeners.

Vivid dreams.

Lets play catch.

Lets go home.

Never ate the brownie.

Thanks for reading.

Apparently, ‘Adult Soccer’ night from 7:30 to 10:00 PM at the YMCA is composed of two time slots. The children played for the first hour, and then the remaining gym time is for the older guys.

Now, my friend and I went into the gym tonight without knowing these unofficial made-up rules and time slots. We arrived when the pre-teens were playing, so we decided not to join in. All of a sudden though, a group of old guys come rushing in and started howling at the rest of us to get us to leave. My friend and I were pretty sure that we were above 18, just in case they needed any formalities for joining ‘Adult Soccer’.

There was one stout man, presumably Italian, who was particularly ferocious. Like a true gentleman, he told us to “get the [profanity] off the court”. I’m guessing they have had the soccer times set up for ages, but couldn’t they’ve just explained it more gently to the new guys? It’s not too fun sitting on the sidelines for an hour not understanding what’s going on. I went to the weight room instead.

In the changing room, there was more age discrimination to revel in. The same boisterous Italian guy remembered my face, and lectured me with his finger in my face. No matter, his body odour was far too distracting.

And then! A young chap (who witnessed my misadventure) kicked his shoes into the shower room when he wasn’t looking.

Epic.

Thanks for reading.

I realized today that I have dressed as though Casual Friday was all week, which pairs fittingly with the workload I’ve received so far at work this week. The administrative work doesn’t bother me actually. I suppose it’s useful to understand how an office operates, it’s certainly different from a lab or a workshop. It lovely not having to deal with manure in soil samples or breathe carcinogenic powders anymore.

The stereotypical office moments are amusing too, especially the supervisor-with-one-arm-leaning-on-cubicle-while-sipping-hot-beverage-morning-greeting moment. Also, on an unrelated note, I’ve seriously started paying attention to ergonomics.

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And so, by following photocopying instructions, I made it to the weekend. I should spend my free time wisely. It’s not going very well so far because there’s supposed to be a pile of clean clothes on my bed 3 hours ago, and I’m supposed to be doing the butterfly at the YMCA pool right now.

I’ll have a shot at one of my resolutions and sleep earlier tonight.

Thanks for reading.

My days as an Assistant Watershed Planner with the City of Hamilton began this week! Got my own little cubicle, my customized voicemail message, and my door pass… I haven’t really had an office job before, so these are novelties to me.

It was smooth sailing for the first day. Meeting the supervisors and fellow co-op students tested my name-remembering abilities and conversation was generally jolly recollection of one’s holiday activities. The office is located on the top floor of a small shopping complex, or mall, and so lunch is conveniently just downstairs if I feel like it.

Work itself for now feels like… being in a car whilst in neutral gear. I’m hopeful that things will pick up quickly with more engaging responsibilities. I hope everyone else’s first day went just as trauma-free as mine did!

Thanks for reading.

I am finally settled into my new place in Hamilton! My room really is just a converted and walled off section of the living room adjacent to the front door. The room has three huge windows; they don’t have curtains so for the first night I was freezing! I have at my disposable: two wobbly glass tables, a beaten-looking wooden chair, a sink in the corner, a stack of mattresses, and a narrowish closet. There aren’t any shelves or anything so most of my things are on the floor against the wall.

I decided that shivering in my room was unjustified so I went to Canadian Tire. Now, my toes are quite toasty thanks to my cute mini electric heater fan! I hope it doesn’t catch fire when I’m sleeping or something… A good investment I think! I don’t have to wear five layers indoors now!

Thanks for reading.

Mingling with friends and friends of friends at Nathan Phillips Square for some skating was surprisingly comfortable. I usually do go out of my way to meet new people but there is always a bit of residual fear of awkward moments. Luckily for me, everyone seemed to have a (for a lack for better words and in the most pleasant connotation possible) weird sense of humour. Standing in line for the skate rentals was part of the experience I’d say, despite not being able to feel my toes.

I’ve never skated outdoors before and I haven’t skated for years. Don’t you love the sudden clumsy tugging of clothing to regain stability? Hot chocolate and playing tag on ice in the midst of downtown city lights and new year’s eve concert rehearsals made the night a memorable one. Thanks for the invite.

Thanks for reading.

It really has been a while since I’ve treated a lady to dinner. I must say it felt good to do so! Thanks for the Bailey’s chocolates.

Thanks for reading.

Last year, my immediate family flew thirteen hours during the holiday season to visit me, yay! At the time, I had not seen my dad, my mom, and my little sister for a little over eight months. Ah, last Christmas was so lively and warm! There was Christmas music in the background, the adults were sipping wine and chatting boisterously, the kids (including myself) were galloping around the house and playing random board games…

Well, this holiday season was a little less festive but I still enjoyed catching up with my relatives. I treated them to all-you-can-eat sushi to show my appreciation (amongst other things) for taking me in all these years since university started.

I think I’ll be enjoying the boxing day sales more this year! Merry Christmas everyone!

Thanks for reading.

I will be living in Hamilton for the next four months for my work term. Until today though, I have never been there nor have I seen the room I paid a security deposit for. I must say I’m quite relieved that I’ll be living in a secure and clean house, especially since there was no tenant contract for me to sign at the time. (Sketchy.)

My place is near a No Frills, the farmers’ market, and a couple minutes by walking to downtown. My room has this opening, a slit, by the door frame, so I probably won’t be bringing my speakers, sadly.

Can’t wait to start living on my my own!

Thanks for reading.