Moments — who says the universe doesn't have a sense of humour

I looked at my calendar for the week and was struck by two appointments I had on Wednesday and Thursday — I even mentioned it to a friend who just laughed. I’m still wrestling with whether it’s funny or just ironic; either way “someone” has a sense of humour.

On Wednesday I have a colonoscopy* and on Thursday I have an appointment with my tax accountant**.

In fairness, there will be some who just see this as two appointments with little appreciable correlation; let alone humour. In reality I suppose this is true, but I will say both involve some discomfort to work through; for both I’m prepared and expect everything to go as planned, so in the end, it’s all good. I also just found out that my new bike (which I have patiently been waiting to ride for two months) will be ready Friday for fitting and pick-up. Maybe, as I look at this week, Friday is just a reward for working through Wednesday and Thursday, and in the end everything will have gone according to plan — although I’m now starting to question who’s plan it actually is.

Yup, the universe has a sense of humour, and I will just have to grin and bear it until Friday.

iamgpe

* a procedure in which a flexible fiber-optic instrument is inserted through the anus in order to examine the colon.

** Tax accountants are the financial experts who understand all the government rules and regulations that determine the amount of money owed to federal, provincial or local agencies.

Moments — I'm behind with my blogging

What the reasons are I’m not really sure —

Maybe the long winter has gotten to me and I’m just waiting to the first day of spring before I start up again.

Maybe the busy days have me too tired to blog at the end of the day.

Or maybe, the last three weeks has had me dealing with some sort of gremlin* and I’ve been afraid to put “pen to paper”. I will admit the growing evidence has me thinking this is the only plausible explanation.

• I showed up for my morning flight only to find out I’d booked an evening flight.

• The plane was delayed due to a faulty lavatory light.

• I have a cavity — I never get cavities.

• I forgot a work thing that I never forget.

• I went downtown for a meeting only to discover I’d forgotten my power cord and the battery was at 7%. And of course there was not a Mac person to be found.

• Had to buy 500 sheets of legal sized paper because there are still some people who insist on using it.

• I lost my favourite watch — truth be told I left it in a gym locker.

• I’ve discovered there’s a scratch on my phone.

• Sure enough, as it started to rain, I realized I had forgotten my umbrella at the last place I visited.

Although I will admit if I look in the mirror… maybe… just maybe the reason I’m behind with my blogging is I’ve been too busy whining and not concentrating on what I’m doing.

In fairness, it has been a long winter.

iamgpe

* grem·lin [ˈɡremlən] NOUN — an imaginary mischievous sprite regarded as responsible for an unexplained problem or fault, especially a mechanical or electronic one.

Don't tell me there isn't a Santa Claus...

Yes, I am well aware that our current and most popular iteration of Santa Claus is the result of the Coca Cola Company wanting to sell more sweet, syrupy, fizzy water. And for almost a century this beloved icon has been perfected for fundamentally no other reason than the top line on the ledger — although you have to admit he’s jolly, friendly and conjures up the desire to share your Christmas list.

Although it’s obvious why any capitalist would like Santa, even for those who aren’t in the business of making money find the fella will inherently bring a smile to your face (it’s just his way). I suppose the staunchest of detractors may suggest that he’s nothing but a pagan god to capitalist, consumerism, and the pursuit of money; all hidden behind a gossamer of lies — I mean there may be a case for this, but it won’t come from me.

Just recently I’ve seen someone help a struggling neighbour put up her Christmas lights, had a request for used clothing as part of an annual event, seen small gifts given for no particular reason, added to the Salvation Army collection pot already full of donations, enthusiastically received hugs and well wishes for the season, seen more smiles than usual, and because of it, smiled more than usual — all gifts unto themselves. All something Santa Claus would give, albeit sometimes humble.

Sure we should be doing this all year round but we don’t (I guess maybe it’s because Santa is busy, building toys). Call me naive but there is enough proof that he is very real, although I will admit that it would be nice if he got much more efficient at toy making so we could see him more than one day a year. And as the big day fades and the man in red is gone for another year, we look to 2019.

So here’s to —

• Good health

• Making the most of the promotion you worked so hard for

• Listening to the good news a little more than the bad

• Hugs and connection

• Learning a little more than you did in 2018

• Courage

• Traveling to that place you keep saying you want to go

• Compassion, tolerance, and forgiveness

• Taking on the challenge

• Living life because it’s the only one we have

All very “Santaesque endeavours” if you ask me. But what do I know, I just believe.

iamgpe (Santa wannabe)