Strange markings on the pavement

This morning, I wake up, notice outside on the pavement in front of the house strange markings. Painted symbols and arrows towards the house, It's like I've been marked by hobos, or singled out for some ritualistic murder, the symbols to identify me to the initiates, the truth is much more mundane.  The new landlord has gotten his designs approved, there will be an eviction order pending...

And I have a damned lot of shit to move. 

Details

Category: Miscellany

Created: 28 January 2010

Vintage Navy Blue Overcoat

Day off.

Trip to the local thrift shops - today's find - a vintage navy blue overcoat, double breasted with a high collar, 3/4 length, a row of brass buttons on each lapel, (anchor and Canada logo). Heavy, maybe 20 pounds.

It's expensive, close to $50.00, but it's a sale day and I can have it for 60% off. Which, in my world, is still expensive, by I'm seduced by the false economy of the word "Sale", and I've rather come to detest my old overcoat, the muted, nondescript checks, lack of cut and color ... 

I try it on. It's excellent. By which I mean I now resemble some sort of Japanese anime character, or with the right lighting (dim) and the collar turned up, a teen vampire. I check with the sales assistant. She agrees that the coat is indeed excellent, but is reluctant to go on record as saying I look like a teen vampire... "One of the lost boys, maybe" she offers helpfully, she's loathe to commit to the word "teen"...

I leave my old overcoat behind. This will be the new me ... (photos will follow)

 

Details

Category: Miscellany

Created: 27 January 2010

Sense of Urgency

We've been trying out a few waiter and waitresses to fill a new vacancy on the team.

Now this restaurant, it needs experienced waiters. People who know what they're doing. But we've tried a few that were experienced and they didn't work out. So we try somebody new. He's Chilean, good looking, young, "experienced" as he tells us.

I go through the drill with him today. I explain the rules, treat him as if he's never done it before. He has, in New Zealand,  which is to say he hasn't really.

I explain "Sense of Urgency" and "Walk with a sense of purpose". He nods as if he's understanding, but he's not really.

It's a shame, I rather like him, he's amiable enough.

I explain to him the rule of never leave the kitchen empty handed, and never walk into the kitchen empty handed.

He doesn't understand this. I explain further, he gives up and pretends to understand.

Some people don't get it. They're suited for jobs that pay them a flat rate by the hour. They're innately laid back, nothing stresses them out. They'd be great on construction sites or working for the Union.

Waiters, they're not concerned with their hourly rate of pay, they get paid nothing per hour. They're concerned with getting the job done as quickly as possible and going home. The hourly rate, it's a pittance, it doesn't matter. They're paid (in theory) by the customers for how well and how swiftly they do their job.

The Chilean, he doesn't get it. I explain it to him again, I like him, he's personable enough, bright, and I try to share the "Sense of Urgency" with him, his job depends on it, he still doesn't get it, moseying slowly through the dining room, missing obvious details and service points...

He'd probably work out really well at an Earl's. 

Details

Category: Miscellany

Created: 27 January 2010

Broken

Sometimes some things get broken,
Broken beyond repair;
Sometimes some things get so lost,
You forget they were ever there.

Sometimes, some people, they wear out;
there's nothing left to say,
and just when you'd wished they'd disappear,
You find they've slipped away;

Sometimes some words get so obscured,
and what is said
isn't what is heard,
and all this writing only serves
to add to the confusion;

Sometimes the grandest gestures,
are doomed to crash and fail;
sometimes the finest actions
are played out to no avail.  

Some times drag on forever;
measured lifetimes without end;
Sometimes some things get broken,
So broke they'll never mend;

Sometime when all your tears are wept,
and spilled into the sea;
Sometime when you have erased your life,
and swept up the debris
Sometime when you have fixed yourself
You'll turn around and see
That I was never broken;
that you abandoned me

(that you discarded me)

Details

Category: Uncategorized

Created: 25 January 2010