An Exercise In Futility

I am back from the whirlwind trip to Chicago. Flew YCD->YVR->YYZ->ORD, which seems odd but it was seemingly the cheapest option. You can do YVR->ORD direct but IIRC the timing is not great, it is more expensive, and it would mean going through US CBP in Vancouver which i always hate. Toronto or Seattle folk are always much more friendly. I did not get to see Kevin despite trying to set up a get-together; sorry again about all that Kevin! I am always paranoid about being in a plane crash, but not in the ’scared of dying’ sense… when first sitting on the plane i spend some time thinking about what i might do if the unthinkable was to happen and we were to bounce off the runway or go into a nosedive. It usually consists of introducing myself to the person next to me, shaking their hand, and telling them that we can get out alive if we have enough willpower. Then i think about how silly it is to be wearing polar fleece since it would certainly increase my chance of fatality since it is made of plastic (which would increase the chance that i catch fire and breath horrible fumes). It would make much more sense to travel wearing a flame retardant suit under my clothing. And to have a crash helmet in my carry-on, etc….

It is a nice day today.. why could we not have had this weather yesterday? I was trying to dig a drainage trench in the back yard while it rained (since i was fed up with waiting for a break in the weather), but the more i dug the harder it poured. This is quite typical behaviour for mother nature when i am trying to do yardwork. Anyhow, Wednesday is supposed to be ‘mostly sunny’, and i am taking the day off to look after V, so maybe i can get some digging done while he mucks about in the yard. And he always likes home depot, so at the very least we’ll go there and get some drainage pipe.

The 1st edition of this post was very nonconstructive and full of swearing, and i realize nothing will get done if i just gripe about stuff and don’t look for solutions. SO this is the 2nd edition. If i could get enough sleep then i probably would not be so agitated. I think the treatments i’m getting are helping a lot. I was feeling pretty positive today despite also feeling like i was hit by a truck this morning. By the end of a day that started like crap, i feel more than just crappy. This is one of the factors leading to meltdown, i think. The 8 hours i often get is useless when it is 8 restless hours. I think this is one area i need to tackle. There are lots of alternate sleeping surfaces and rooms i can try, though i am thinking i could also set up the tent in the yard and give that a shot. Many people might think that is ridiculous, but really… i always feel well rested when i am camping, maybe it is partially due to sleeping arrangements. It’s worth a shot right? Well, i think it is… Generally people think i have the wrong idea about what is worth doing or not doing, so i won’t get everyone’s opinion on this one, just yours.

work is very busy right now, i think that is pretty usual as a deadline approaches; i’ve had a few late nights and early mornings this week as i try to stay focused and avoid working on the weekend The interface i’m working on right now could go live in a couple of weeks and there are still some minor glitches that need to be worked out. now my schedule is even more busy since i am seeing a chiropractor 3 times a week. It is helping a lot i think, but i feel even more like i barely have any time to do stuff that needs to be done. Climbing is going ok, but not as well as i’d like. I have not recovered from my month off at christmas, though i am close. I can climb some 5.12a/b routes, but they are tough, and even some 5.11’s i find challenging. it’s pretty annoying. Yet at the same time i have several people from the gym, including the proprietor, urging me to take part in the bouldering competition in a couple of weeks. If you know me, you know i don’t particularly care about competitions. Plus i already spend money on a gym membership to climb anytime i want, why would i want to spend more money entering an event where i can.. climb at the same gym? Then of course there is the aforementioned *severe lack of spare time*, so i am not going to spend half a saturday at the gym when i could be doing something or nothing with the family. It is snowing right now; i think it is partially my fault since i have been gloating to Ontarians about the great weather we’ve been having. Whoops.