Monday, October 26, 2009

Just In Case You're Wondering...

...An update from two recent posts, yes, the mess is gone and no, I didn't go. I refer to two recent posts, the first one where I agonized about attending my high school reunion and the other about people dumping garbage on the roads etc.

I probably blew my only opportunity to see old class mates, but I couldn't be bothered. It's too easy to avoid or ignore things if people don't whine or pester you to do something, remember kids thank your parents or friends (if you have any) who make you do things you might otherwise not do. If these people weren't around to act as your conscience you might not have bothered going to school, take music lessons, get pets, talk to girls (or anyone!) or get a job. It's important to listen to the advice of others, but sometimes it's easier to not do anything than to make your life miserable thinking about.

I know there are bigger problems in this world, so I'll be brief, the pile of wood that fell off the pick-up truck was eventually cleaned up. I don't who did it, the city or a fine upstanding citizen, but whoever did, Fort Garry and Pembina Highway thanks you. If you're wondering why I didn't clean up the mess, good question, but you wouldn't see Gordon Sinclair out there picking-up debris from the road...or would you?

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Adventure Continues...!


If you attended the 2009's Fringe festival's hit, Advanced D'n'D The Next Campaign, you'll be delighted to know the adventure continues with Advanced D'n'D: The Unfinished Campaign. The quest continues on October 25th and 26th, 8:00pm at the Gas Station Theatre. Tickets are $8 for students and $10 for adults and this adventure will continue over two days, so I would assume it would be essential to go both nights or it might not make much sense.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Take Some Responsibility!


A classic episode of Winnipeg-slackerness took place last Wednesday when I looked out the window from my work (onto busy Pembina Hwy) and spotted a woman pulling pieces of wood off the road (the centre lane of three) and hauling them onto the boulevard with the help of a teenage bystander. After figuring out what was going on, I realized it was a desk or wooden bookcase that fell off the back of a truck. I glanced south down Pembina and saw a middle-age man running back towards the Subway restaurant with his pick-up truck stopped on the side of the road. He ran close enough to see whatever fell out of his truck was unsalvagable, he then turned around and ran back to his truck...he never returned to pick up his load! This begs the question, who's responsible for his mess? The back door of the pick-up truck was clearly open and I doubt he had the shelf tied down properly. Sure, people make mistakes and screw up, but how about taking some responsibility! The debris, as of Saturday night was still piled on the boulevard and I wouldn't be surprised if it's still there come Spring with months of snowfall covering it up.

I've noticed in the last few years how people don't take responsibility for their messes, and it seems no one wants to go out of their way to clean up after other people, rightfully. A trend that has been happening the last few Autumn's is the act of sweeping all their leaves onto the street, no need for a rake anymore, just use your leaf blower to blow it on someone else's lawn or on the curb. I've also seen garage bags full of leaves (and garage) left and abandoned at bus stops and public boulevards. Along Kenaston and McGillivray, often I see full bags dumped into the ditches or the side of the road, what the hell? Can you imagine the increased mess if the city decides to charge for garbage pick-up or limit the amount of garbage you can throw away. My place of work has a dumpster paid for by the owners that seems to be a dumping ground for the neighborhood contractors. Many times our dumpster has been full when it's been filled up by unauthorized idiots that will throw out drywall, sinks, plumbing, windows, televisions, stoves and concrete. The BFI company refused, on at least a couple of instances, to empty the dumpster with slabs of concrete inside.

I don't want to sound like some civic do-gooder, but can't people take at least a little responsibility for their own crap? Come on!
Comments?

Tuesday, October 06, 2009

My High School Reunion


...My high school years flashed before me, when my friend Michael approached me at the hockey game last week and asked if I planned to attend our high school reunion. You see, my old high school is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year and in celebration the alumni is hosting a reunion for past alumnists this weekend. There will be the usual reunion stuff; the homecoming football game followed by cocktail reception on Friday, the gala dinner on Saturday night and then a brunch the following morning. The gala dinner is at the Convention Centre and tickets are a steep $115.00! I'm cheap and I'm unsure if I wanna go anyways, 5o bucks maybe, but 115 bucks, WTF! So, unless it's an open bar (I doubt it), the price might just be the excuse I can use.

When I first heard about this event, I instantly said, "There is no way I'm going!" I hated high school, well actually, I didn't H-A-T-E high school, it's just that I didn't enjoy the experience that much, I don't have many friends I see on a regular basis from high school and I really don't care if I see most of those people for another 27 years. Will I regret it if I don't go? Maybe, I would like to first see the guest list so I could see who is attending from my graduating class, is it even worth attending if there is no one I want to see. On the school website it lists "found" alumni, the alumnists that have made it known they exist and they have approved the fact their email addresses are posted and available for all stalkers to enjoy. I have to admit, I am a tad curious...I wonder what people look like, what are people up to, who married who...you know, the usual crap that reunions bring to mind. I didn't have any girlfriends in high school, but I had some crushes that I never acted on, even so, there isn't anyone now I must see or seek out. Possibly someone had a crush on me and I would never find out unless I went to the gala dinner, you never know. There must be people that want some closure from that period of their life and confront people from their past that made life difficult for them or people that made their life enjoyable. For me, I have nothing to prove, I didn't find fame or even fortune and I still live within walking distance of the school, but I'm kind of pleased how things have worked out since graduating. I have all my own hair, I weigh about the same as I did in grade 12, I haven't had any major breakdowns (mental and physical), I've held down employment at the same job for the past 20 years, I've somewhat overcome my fear of talking to girls and I'm a little less anti-social and bitter, but I would be a hypocritical phony if I said I loved high school.

Mike said he was phoned by the alumni committee and they wondered if he was attending (how come they're not begging me to attend?), he said he didn't originally plan on going, so he urged me to go with him and said he would if I did. He name dropped a few familiar names that are coming from out-of-town and some mutual friends that will be at the dinner. I'm agonizing whether I should go or not...I'm probably 75% sure I won't go, but I'm sometimes easily persuaded, but I'm also good at finding an excuse not to go.

Any opinions or recommendations?