Today was a good day. Not great, at least not until I walked on the bus, but pretty good. School has kept me fairly occupied for the last week, so I was still a little frazzled from it all. Sometimes a small thing in life changes that, and makes your day go from good to great in an instant. This is a post highlighting on of those things for me and illustrating why it is always better to dwell on the little things in life.
Bus rides are usually ordeals. Waiting for the bus, listening to a couple pedophiles discuss life, riding home, dealing with drunks, etc. all make the experience somewhat unpleasant after the initial excitement of commuting. Today seemed no different as I got on the bus, but rather than see the dour expression that usually greets me, I got a nice smile and a 'hello'. This alone surprised me because usually bus drivers are relatively distant and seemingly unhappy. I mumbled a reply as I sat down, still shocked by the happy greeting I got. This feeling intensified in the coming moments because today I experienced an event that changed my day completely.
As I sat down, I heard the unmistakable static that comes when an announcement is being made. Expecting delays or some such nonsense, I was pleasantly surprised when the bus driver stated: "This is your captain speaking. Thank you for choosing the super duper duper number four with service to downtown Vancouver." Uncontrollably, I began to feel a smile creep onto my face. I could not stop it and the smile grew as the bus driver continued: "Our estimated arrival time to downtown Vancouver is approximately thirty minutes, not accounting for unexpected stops because sometimes other motorists like to test my reflexes." A small laugh came out at the following statement, and my smile grew even larger and I was completely unable to erase it from my face. My bus driver finished with this: "We have reached our cruising altitude of one foot off the ground. I would like to remind passengers to either be seated or hanging on to something firmly or hanging on to someone who is hanging on to something firmly. Have a great ride!" The smile stayed for the rest of the bus ride as he continued to make comments on various stops we were making, keeping in form with the airplane comments he had previously been making. I would have loved to stay longer and keep listening to him, but my stop came all to soon and I heartily thanked him as I stepped off.
The morale of the story: No matter how crappy your day has been going always make sure to focus on the brighter side of life. Because if you do not, you may miss a bus driver flying an "airplane".
-AFR
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Summer Reflections
Work is done, school soon approaching, and the final days of my summer break are drawing to a close. The number of emotions I feel right now cover the full spectrum of possible emotion, from happiness to sadness, speculation to resolution, and many more.
With the termination of work, the main emotions I feel are relief and sadness. Sure, five o'clock wakeups get really tough on the body after a while with the last couple of weeks really draining my energy, but there are a lot of people I will most definitely miss. The people were probably the most interesting part of the job, and might have been the only thing keeping me sane after four months of relatively monotonous work. The bunker crew is definitely a group of people I will miss. The random conversation and camaraderie of the bunkers were possibly the best part of work, and they definitely cheered me up when I was feeling down. We were a quirky bunch, but definitely the most fun people on the course (with the exception of a couple of other select few members). The outdoors is another aspect of work that I will definitely miss, that time allowing me to keep fit and healthy and enjoy all that nature had to offer (including the rainstorms). The relief comes from mainly the end of early wakeups, but it also includes relief from just work in general. These last couple days before I fly out to school will be used to relax me, something that is probably necessary.
These final days of summer are the cause of much conflicting emotions in me. They spell my return to university and British Columbia, so definitely herald happiness. However, they also bring in sadness because I will be leaving my family again. Disagreements aside, my family is always there for me and definitely allow me to grow to be as great as I can be.
So my point in all this is mainly what summer represents to me. It represents the beginning of the end. Or the end of the beginning. Either way, it marks the end of my home life and the beginning of my life as an independent person. Additionally, summer shapes me and shows me what exactly I need to do to survive and thrive.
-AFR
With the termination of work, the main emotions I feel are relief and sadness. Sure, five o'clock wakeups get really tough on the body after a while with the last couple of weeks really draining my energy, but there are a lot of people I will most definitely miss. The people were probably the most interesting part of the job, and might have been the only thing keeping me sane after four months of relatively monotonous work. The bunker crew is definitely a group of people I will miss. The random conversation and camaraderie of the bunkers were possibly the best part of work, and they definitely cheered me up when I was feeling down. We were a quirky bunch, but definitely the most fun people on the course (with the exception of a couple of other select few members). The outdoors is another aspect of work that I will definitely miss, that time allowing me to keep fit and healthy and enjoy all that nature had to offer (including the rainstorms). The relief comes from mainly the end of early wakeups, but it also includes relief from just work in general. These last couple days before I fly out to school will be used to relax me, something that is probably necessary.
These final days of summer are the cause of much conflicting emotions in me. They spell my return to university and British Columbia, so definitely herald happiness. However, they also bring in sadness because I will be leaving my family again. Disagreements aside, my family is always there for me and definitely allow me to grow to be as great as I can be.
So my point in all this is mainly what summer represents to me. It represents the beginning of the end. Or the end of the beginning. Either way, it marks the end of my home life and the beginning of my life as an independent person. Additionally, summer shapes me and shows me what exactly I need to do to survive and thrive.
-AFR
Friday, August 20, 2010
Seagull Racing and the Ensuing Hilarity
I love seagulls. They are possibly one of the coolest, funniest birds in the universe and they truly add something great to this Earth. So I have a little experience to share with the community at large, but first, a small information session on seagulls and their relationship with me.
To begin with, seagulls are a white bird that is found basically everywhere and originated from outer space, invading the Earth in a vast and overtaking colonization process that the humans could do nothing to stop. Seagull growth rates are different, with the seagulls in Vancouver greatly outstripping the size of the seagulls in most of Ontario. Seagulls and I go way back, probably all the way to the day I was born. I learnt their language and immediately used in to great effect, by getting one of my feathered friends to fetch me a sammich. (My friends just thought it was flying away. Little did they know, a sandwich was waiting in my room when I returned.) So all my time spent with the beautiful seagull has resulted in an amicable friendship we share, each being able to laugh at the other for their mistakes and comedic moments.
So I saw my friend, Alistar the seagull, by the bunkers the other day, ambling around the edge. I watched him for a while, his little legs swishing back and forth frantically, while he zapped up grubs with his beak. I always make fun of my seagull friends because of how they run, it is just too hilarious to stifle my laughter. Anyways, as Alistar wandered around the edge of the bunker, I noticed Sally, a bitter enemy of Alistar's, rounding the other side of the bunker. Their eyes locked and suddenly the ambling became a race for the best time and the most food. (Much like the Delibird game in Pokemon Stadium 2. Yeah, I am a nerd.) Sally immediately pulled ahead, but Alistar was having none of it. Nabbing a grub, he raced ahead to top Sally in the race.
Watching them, I was in stitches. A pair of seagulls running through the grass in a race, pumping their spindly, skinny, stumpy legs is just too hilarious of a sight. I think Alistar did eventually win the race though, and was quite unhappy with the lack of support I gave. I will have to go apologize next time I see him.
-AFR
To begin with, seagulls are a white bird that is found basically everywhere and originated from outer space, invading the Earth in a vast and overtaking colonization process that the humans could do nothing to stop. Seagull growth rates are different, with the seagulls in Vancouver greatly outstripping the size of the seagulls in most of Ontario. Seagulls and I go way back, probably all the way to the day I was born. I learnt their language and immediately used in to great effect, by getting one of my feathered friends to fetch me a sammich. (My friends just thought it was flying away. Little did they know, a sandwich was waiting in my room when I returned.) So all my time spent with the beautiful seagull has resulted in an amicable friendship we share, each being able to laugh at the other for their mistakes and comedic moments.
So I saw my friend, Alistar the seagull, by the bunkers the other day, ambling around the edge. I watched him for a while, his little legs swishing back and forth frantically, while he zapped up grubs with his beak. I always make fun of my seagull friends because of how they run, it is just too hilarious to stifle my laughter. Anyways, as Alistar wandered around the edge of the bunker, I noticed Sally, a bitter enemy of Alistar's, rounding the other side of the bunker. Their eyes locked and suddenly the ambling became a race for the best time and the most food. (Much like the Delibird game in Pokemon Stadium 2. Yeah, I am a nerd.) Sally immediately pulled ahead, but Alistar was having none of it. Nabbing a grub, he raced ahead to top Sally in the race.
Watching them, I was in stitches. A pair of seagulls running through the grass in a race, pumping their spindly, skinny, stumpy legs is just too hilarious of a sight. I think Alistar did eventually win the race though, and was quite unhappy with the lack of support I gave. I will have to go apologize next time I see him.
-AFR
Monday, August 16, 2010
Mature Sandwiches
So an interesting experience happened about a week ago, that got me thinking about what exactly I expected about growing up.
I was at work, in the bunkers this time, and someone posed a question to a fellow member (an adult) of the grounds crew. They asked him what type of sandwich he was eating to which he replied: peanut butter and honey. A normal question, a normal answer, yet the gears in my brain were turning. For some reason, I did not expect him, an adult to answer like that. See I had this illusion, an illusion that as you grew older your sandwich choice grew more mature. A silly notion, but I figured like other things, one would outgrow peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Well I was wrong, dead wrong.
I realized then that one does not need to change as he or she grows older. As much as I loved feeling like a kid, I too had become a hypocrite (yet again). I had always told people that I am still a kid, yet here I am, drawing assumptions on other's food choices. So that scenario changed me and made me realize what maturity is.
In my opinion, maturity is the ability to grow up and still be a kid. The ability to turn from an adult, back to a kid, even if you are too "old" to be a kid anymore. And so my assumptions about maturity have stopped, because in the end, even I have been taking maturity too seriously.
Oh, and I would definitely advocate for the consummation of peanut butter and honey sandwiches. They are great!
-AFR
I was at work, in the bunkers this time, and someone posed a question to a fellow member (an adult) of the grounds crew. They asked him what type of sandwich he was eating to which he replied: peanut butter and honey. A normal question, a normal answer, yet the gears in my brain were turning. For some reason, I did not expect him, an adult to answer like that. See I had this illusion, an illusion that as you grew older your sandwich choice grew more mature. A silly notion, but I figured like other things, one would outgrow peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Well I was wrong, dead wrong.
I realized then that one does not need to change as he or she grows older. As much as I loved feeling like a kid, I too had become a hypocrite (yet again). I had always told people that I am still a kid, yet here I am, drawing assumptions on other's food choices. So that scenario changed me and made me realize what maturity is.
In my opinion, maturity is the ability to grow up and still be a kid. The ability to turn from an adult, back to a kid, even if you are too "old" to be a kid anymore. And so my assumptions about maturity have stopped, because in the end, even I have been taking maturity too seriously.
Oh, and I would definitely advocate for the consummation of peanut butter and honey sandwiches. They are great!
-AFR
Friday, August 6, 2010
Coming Out of the Basement
Game On!
I have something to say: I am a gamer. Not a really hardcore gamer, just a casual gamer, but as the video says I think many people get some derogatory remarks thrown at them because they game. I know I have (mainly from the parental units).
I think many people do not understand the implication of gaming. It is an activity, like any sport or hobby that many people enjoy. People seem to think that many gamers do not game for that reason. Really gaming is not that different from checking Facebook constantly, which is becoming more and more accepted as normal. Many people generally view gaming as a waste of time, but it really is nothing more than an enjoyable activity. Gaming is becoming a much more social activity, regardless of the fact that you do not know many of your fellow gamers.
I know gaming does not actively contributing to helping out the world, but at least it is not harming it. In most cases, many of the gamers I have met actually care very deeply about the world and take some steps to counteract their minimal influence. And most of us do not live in our parent's basements, actually the general population of gamers are probably quite active members of the community.
Finally, I am going to try to prove that gaming can be similar to reading a book. I have been told many times to read a book instead of gaming, but I view gaming as something akin to reading one (not that I do not read books). To prove this I am starting a new blog: Memoirs of a Witch Hunter. This blog will illustrate the similarities of gaming and reading, by creating a book out of a gaming character's experiences.
And for those who have not tried gaming and snub gamers: try it yourself, you may like it!
-AFR
I have something to say: I am a gamer. Not a really hardcore gamer, just a casual gamer, but as the video says I think many people get some derogatory remarks thrown at them because they game. I know I have (mainly from the parental units).
I think many people do not understand the implication of gaming. It is an activity, like any sport or hobby that many people enjoy. People seem to think that many gamers do not game for that reason. Really gaming is not that different from checking Facebook constantly, which is becoming more and more accepted as normal. Many people generally view gaming as a waste of time, but it really is nothing more than an enjoyable activity. Gaming is becoming a much more social activity, regardless of the fact that you do not know many of your fellow gamers.
I know gaming does not actively contributing to helping out the world, but at least it is not harming it. In most cases, many of the gamers I have met actually care very deeply about the world and take some steps to counteract their minimal influence. And most of us do not live in our parent's basements, actually the general population of gamers are probably quite active members of the community.
Finally, I am going to try to prove that gaming can be similar to reading a book. I have been told many times to read a book instead of gaming, but I view gaming as something akin to reading one (not that I do not read books). To prove this I am starting a new blog: Memoirs of a Witch Hunter. This blog will illustrate the similarities of gaming and reading, by creating a book out of a gaming character's experiences.
And for those who have not tried gaming and snub gamers: try it yourself, you may like it!
-AFR
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)