Yesterday, flashing lights on the street drew my attention away from my monitor. A city police car had pulled another vehicle over, just across the street. The driver, a young woman, got out of her car, the officer got out of his and walked toward her. They hugged and started laughing. How nice of them to tie up traffic for a reunion huh?
This morning, once again, flashing lights drew my eyes toward the window. This time though, the lights were accompanied by the sounds of the pipes. That's right kids, the Queen's Bands are back in town.
Mark and I passed a couple of bandsies on our way down to campus this morning. They kind of stand out at 7:30 a.m. when they are dressed in the tartan and hauling instruments behind them. The local cops led the bands who led the gael leaders around campus. At the moment, large groups of frosh and their upper year leaders, are marching around campus, chanting and cheering and receiving basic Queen's spirit initiation.
As weird as it for those of us who are on campus 12 months out of the year to have the students return en masse after a quiet summer, the weirdness is good. The spunk and spirit of these first year students is infectious!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
sleepy sam
Animals and children are cute, I think, as a self defense mechanism.
This morning, Mark was struck very suddenly (I saw it happen, it was frightening) with a migraine. He took a pill, put his glasses on the table (we were eating breakfast) and went back to bed. I started getting my things together for work and heard a noise in the kitchen. I went in and looked around but didn't see anything weird or out of place.
Several minutes later, I haven't seen or heard Sam so I start to suspect that something bad is going on. I pop out onto the deck and there is he, with Mark's glasses. He had chewed the plastic bits off of the temples, had the left lens popped out and the frames were mangled. Fortunately, he gave it up to me without a fight. Unfortunately, while the frames could be repaired (they'll do until Mark's new ones come in) they are no longer making that particular style. We had to order new frames and lenses for Mark tonight. Of course, because it's been less than 2 years since his last pair, none of it's covered by insurance. Oh fun huh?
Not a nice way to start the week after a relatively relaxing weekend. I say relatively because I had 4 days off and Mark had 2. He worked Friday and Monday and I puttered around the house and garden, hung out with the dog and generally vegged out. It was really nice although, with today starting the way it did, I don't feel like I did rest.
Fortunately, Mark's feeling a little better tonight (although his stomach is still wonky). Damned hurricane season is making his head do crazy stuff. You'd think we'd be far enough away from the action that we'd not feel the effects but we do.
This morning, Mark was struck very suddenly (I saw it happen, it was frightening) with a migraine. He took a pill, put his glasses on the table (we were eating breakfast) and went back to bed. I started getting my things together for work and heard a noise in the kitchen. I went in and looked around but didn't see anything weird or out of place.
Several minutes later, I haven't seen or heard Sam so I start to suspect that something bad is going on. I pop out onto the deck and there is he, with Mark's glasses. He had chewed the plastic bits off of the temples, had the left lens popped out and the frames were mangled. Fortunately, he gave it up to me without a fight. Unfortunately, while the frames could be repaired (they'll do until Mark's new ones come in) they are no longer making that particular style. We had to order new frames and lenses for Mark tonight. Of course, because it's been less than 2 years since his last pair, none of it's covered by insurance. Oh fun huh?
Not a nice way to start the week after a relatively relaxing weekend. I say relatively because I had 4 days off and Mark had 2. He worked Friday and Monday and I puttered around the house and garden, hung out with the dog and generally vegged out. It was really nice although, with today starting the way it did, I don't feel like I did rest.
Fortunately, Mark's feeling a little better tonight (although his stomach is still wonky). Damned hurricane season is making his head do crazy stuff. You'd think we'd be far enough away from the action that we'd not feel the effects but we do.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
barking out the window
Whenever we turn the A/C off, Sam gets bark crazy. Now, barking is something that we understand to be part of the breed and we've accepted a certain amount of it. For the past few nights though, with the A/C off, we've got the windows open and Sam's decided that no one can walk down the street in front of our house without him letting them know that he's on patrol, watching their every move.
It's endearing but annoying at times. Last night, if we opened or closed a door in the house, basically made any noise that sounded close to a door knock, he went bananas.
Today, I hear that he's being quiet. Mark went home from work a little while ago. He's got a massive migraine again. I know that my head's a little wonky too right now. It's the atmospheric pressure. Hurricane season is going to be brutal for us this year I think. Hopefully, Sam will take good care of Mark this afternoon. I'll be happy if Mark's feeling better and Sam's less jumpy.
It's endearing but annoying at times. Last night, if we opened or closed a door in the house, basically made any noise that sounded close to a door knock, he went bananas.
Today, I hear that he's being quiet. Mark went home from work a little while ago. He's got a massive migraine again. I know that my head's a little wonky too right now. It's the atmospheric pressure. Hurricane season is going to be brutal for us this year I think. Hopefully, Sam will take good care of Mark this afternoon. I'll be happy if Mark's feeling better and Sam's less jumpy.
Monday, August 25, 2008
watering can
A garbage truck has been parked (presumably broken down), across the street from my office all morning. At first I thought that the driver may have been having a medical emergency (we're next door to the hospital) but since then, repair trucks and lots of men have been on the scene, standing around, staring at it and scratching their heads. Not a very nice way for the driver to start the working week.
Speaking of working week, we had a bit of a working weekend 'round our house. I say "we" but actually Mark did the lion's share of it. He got a tonne of yard work done this weekend. Some of it was stuff we'd wanted to do for a long time now so it's good to have it out of the way and off of the "to do" list before the snow flies.
I didn't get as much done as Mark because I felt kind of shitty all weekend. On Saturday, I was achy and tired and dizzy and felt like I was getting a cold. Yesterday, I thought I had a cold, but by bedtime, I felt much better. Weirdness. It was pretty irritating too because I only got about 1/3 of the things on my "to do" list done.
We're both back to work today. I'm in the office by myself today which is always strange. It's quiet and I do get lots accomplished but it's a little eerie too, being in the cottage alone. It's hard to believe that next week is Frosh week and that summer will be over for another year.
Things start to get really crazy busy 'round here when the students return. I don't work directly with students but the pace picks up, nonetheless. Mark will get busy too, which is good, because they've had a pretty quiet summer. Oh, that reminds me, the other day, Mark had an interesting fare (well he has some weird fares every day but this one was just sort of amusing). He got a call to a house not far from where we live. He picked up this young lad who was going "to work." Turns out, he's one of those guys who pan-handles at the intersection where the old traffic circle used to be (by the mid-town Canadian Tire store for those of you who are familiar with Kingston). He had a sign that said, "traveling to Halifax - broke - hungry - anything helps." He paid Mark with a $20 bill and didn't tip (guess he doesn't get the tip karma thing). We saw him at the corner on Saturday when we were heading home from Costco.
If he really was heading to Halifax, wouldn't it make more sense to be up by the highway where someone might actually be heading to the Maritimes? Oh well, what do I know right? At least he didn't try to stiff Mark for the fare, the whole thing just struck me as odd. Of course, that's not even close to the oddest thing that happened to Mark last week but it's a good example of the kind of things that cab drivers get to see all of the time.
Speaking of working week, we had a bit of a working weekend 'round our house. I say "we" but actually Mark did the lion's share of it. He got a tonne of yard work done this weekend. Some of it was stuff we'd wanted to do for a long time now so it's good to have it out of the way and off of the "to do" list before the snow flies.
I didn't get as much done as Mark because I felt kind of shitty all weekend. On Saturday, I was achy and tired and dizzy and felt like I was getting a cold. Yesterday, I thought I had a cold, but by bedtime, I felt much better. Weirdness. It was pretty irritating too because I only got about 1/3 of the things on my "to do" list done.
We're both back to work today. I'm in the office by myself today which is always strange. It's quiet and I do get lots accomplished but it's a little eerie too, being in the cottage alone. It's hard to believe that next week is Frosh week and that summer will be over for another year.
Things start to get really crazy busy 'round here when the students return. I don't work directly with students but the pace picks up, nonetheless. Mark will get busy too, which is good, because they've had a pretty quiet summer. Oh, that reminds me, the other day, Mark had an interesting fare (well he has some weird fares every day but this one was just sort of amusing). He got a call to a house not far from where we live. He picked up this young lad who was going "to work." Turns out, he's one of those guys who pan-handles at the intersection where the old traffic circle used to be (by the mid-town Canadian Tire store for those of you who are familiar with Kingston). He had a sign that said, "traveling to Halifax - broke - hungry - anything helps." He paid Mark with a $20 bill and didn't tip (guess he doesn't get the tip karma thing). We saw him at the corner on Saturday when we were heading home from Costco.
If he really was heading to Halifax, wouldn't it make more sense to be up by the highway where someone might actually be heading to the Maritimes? Oh well, what do I know right? At least he didn't try to stiff Mark for the fare, the whole thing just struck me as odd. Of course, that's not even close to the oddest thing that happened to Mark last week but it's a good example of the kind of things that cab drivers get to see all of the time.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
tucker!
they're very slowly starting to return...
...I've noticed a larger than average number of mini-vans circling the ghetto this week...
...trucks are unloading in front of residences...
...road closures are starting to be posted...
...clusters of them have been spotted wandering up and down Stuart Street...
In 10 days or so, the students will be back. Campus will feel a little more noisy, a little more crowded and also, a little more fun. We totally enjoy the rest when they disappear in April but it's always kind of fun when they return in September.
I feel like I get two new years, every year... one in January, and one in the fall. It's not entirely unpleasant.
...I've noticed a larger than average number of mini-vans circling the ghetto this week...
...trucks are unloading in front of residences...
...road closures are starting to be posted...
...clusters of them have been spotted wandering up and down Stuart Street...
In 10 days or so, the students will be back. Campus will feel a little more noisy, a little more crowded and also, a little more fun. We totally enjoy the rest when they disappear in April but it's always kind of fun when they return in September.
I feel like I get two new years, every year... one in January, and one in the fall. It's not entirely unpleasant.
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