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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Miscellany
- Hits: 1685
Can't seem to get a job, can't seem to quit one...
A tentative date to restart, long commute but worth it, it's a happier place by far in the Summer, I've a month to get things under control, to make a few prospecting trips and hope that alternatives present themselves, then back to life on the logging cuts and campground showers, they've promised a better schedule so I can commute back to Calgary on days off, we'll see, I'm still hoping to turn up treasure - as good as it is, there's room for improvement.
The Waiter
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: People
- Hits: 1152
An old customer of the Italian Restaurant, used to run a newspaper in Calgary, made a fortune, never read a book in his life. When he sold the paper started a charity to promote literacy.
That's Calgary.
He had his own private room, was gracious in that way that people who get everything for free are gracious, he'd tell you that his business, he bought it, was lucky, the right combination of circumstance, then in the same breath would tell you how smart he was, how, because he had money, he was better than you, his opinions, they were worth more.
At the end, when the restaurant was closing, he didn't get the private room. He didn't tip. He was angry, I understood, his family, son, daughter, after he stormed out they apologized, didn't think to make up the tip. And the last few days he'd call in 5 minutes after his reservation and cancel it. It didn't matter, we had no end to the assholes filling the place up, he was just another one. It's easy to be gracious when your getting your way, when you don't - well, that's the test. And we all kind of liked him, and it was sad to see him go on that note - another entitled asshole, but - well, wasn't my call, and his flag went up.
Anyways, he lives not far from me now, older, in his 80's, and I see him in my rounds. At Beano, on the street. He doesn't see me, I'm careful to stay out of his direct line of sight, don't want to be lured into awkward pleasantries. But he knows. In the cafe, he doesn't see me, doesn't look at me, but you can tell by the way that he moves, looks - sniffs around - there's something - someone - he just can't put his finger on it...
I'm even more invisible in my street clothes than I was in my waiters uniform, it's fun to watch him, subconsciously I've registered, only he can't place me - doesn't even know it's me, just knows something's off, a memory that stings him ...
Calgary Cops
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: People
- Hits: 1197
These are just the ones that got caught: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-police-morton-mcnish-braile-sentencing-harassment-corruption-1.5064293
Robot
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Creative
- Hits: 1189
I had done another painting the night before, mixed media on paper. I started with watercolor pencils, then ink, then some acrylic and oil pastels. It worked quite well. And so I took the success to heart and started another - Robot, instead of paper using canvas and starting with watercolor pencil and acrylic:
So far so good. Lots to fix with it but I'll do that with the Oil Pastels... they have a better range of color than the cheap Dollorama paints I've been using.
Fail. The oil pastels don't catch or blend with the surface of the canvas, what worked well on paper fails here.
Oh well...learn and try again. Given how much I enjoy painting I should be doing it more often, there are occasional successes, this is not one of them. Fortunately my theory of art limits the time I spend on a piece - failure is often made worse by trying to remedy it, merely learn the lesson and start again...
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