The exercise:
Write about things that are: seen around town.
Thought I'd share some pictures I took at work so far.
No, not the gross bathroom stuff. The outdoor, make the job worth it, pictures. I have yet to take any indoor shots and I'm hoping that I will not be inspired to do so at any point.
Got out to the garden with the family to get some planting and seeding done this morning. Transplanted broccoli and onions, seeded carrots, beets, radishes, spinach, and kale. Hadn't been out there in a while and it felt good, even with the excessive wind blowing.
Mine:
This one I took while walking Pioneer Walkway on my second day on the job, collecting litter as I went:
I sent it to Kat with a text along the lines of 'There are definitely worse jobs in the world'. It's looking west, across the southern end of Lake Osoyoos.
Here's an early morning view from Cottonwood Beach:
We're looking north toward Oliver in that one. I think I took that on Thursday this week, as I was doing my rounds unlocking all of the public washrooms.
And finally, here's where I took my coffee break on Saturday:
That's looking east across the northern end of Lake Osoyoos. It was an especially enjoyable break as during the week everybody goes back to the yard for coffee and lunch and the break room there is nothing to write home about (though there are plans in the works to renovate the building at some point this year).
So yeah, not a bad gig so far.
The exercise:
Write a four line poem about: smoking in the boy's room.
Wow. I did not remember that video being that weird.
Anyway, wasn't the inspiration. No, that would be whoever has decided that the men's washroom at the main beach in Osoyoos is a lovely place for an evening smoke. And then leaves the cigarette butts in there.
As a bonus, two out of the last three mornings there have been butts in one of the urinals.
Below is my attempt to understand it. I am very glad my weekend has arrived.
Mine:
Pee scented
And poo smeared,
He likes it for
The atmosphere
The exercise:
Write four lines of prose about: the burial.
Gorgeous spring day. Finally. I think I might have started to get a tan today, actually.
Chance of rain tomorrow afternoon, so I'm glad I enjoyed it while it was here. But it's also my last day before my four day weekend, and I don't have any offices to clean at the end of my shift, so I think I'll like it regardless.
Mine:
They came from miles around for the burial. Each of the surrounding communities sent a representative carrying a pound of soil from his village's churchyard to contribute to the interment.
That was the tradition, dating back generations.
That was how they ensured the newly dead remained underground.
The exercise:
Write something that has to do with: the sandbox.
Today went well, though it was not as warm as last night's forecast told me it would be.
The public washroom at the main beach in town apparently becomes a bit of a gong show during the busy season. I guess it's getting started already, as I found a can of Budweiser in one of the women's stalls this morning.
And there was still a bit of beer left in it.
I... don't know.
Mine:
"Okay, we've got the castle tower built... what else do we need?"
"A moat!"
"Oh, good idea! Here we go... a nice, deep path all the way around the tower."
"Now we fill it with water!"
"Yeah, it's almost bed time. Maybe we can do that next time or tomorrow or..."
"What else can we do then?"
"Here, I'll put a bridge across the moat."
"No. No no no no! Castles don't need moats, Dada!"
"Sure they do. How else do people get in and out of the castle?"
"They just jump. See? Like this."
At which point Max demonstrates by using his fingers to jump from the top of the castle to the far side of the moat. I was not convinced that this was a reasonable exit route.
The exercise:
Write some: field notes.
Other than getting caught in a pretty good downpour far from the truck, today was a good day. Managed to get to the office I had to clean at the end of my shift at a good time and then it went much quicker than last week.
Weather is supposed to be significantly better tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to that.
Mine:
May 24th, 1:20 pm - Subject is still asleep. Fully grown adults in the habitat are growing agitated.
May 24th, 2:12 pm - Subject is finally awake. Adults resorted to pouring water on subject. Subject seems upset. Adults appear to be equally upset.
May 24th, 8:02 pm - Adults have dined and are preparing for bed. Subject is watching TV, has yet to eat. Communication between the subject and the adults has been brief and confrontational. Tension in habitat appears to be extremely high.
May 25th, 12:41 am - Adults have been sound asleep for quite some time now. Subject is wide awake and finally eating dinner, though his meal differs greatly from what the adults consumed. There do not appear to be any vegetables.
May 25th, 2:08 am - Subject still awake. Has yet to bathe. Or brush teeth. Or exercise. Does not currently appear to be doing anything productive. I'm going to bed.
May 25th, 10:00 am - Subject now asleep. Adults awake. I think I have observed subject long enough. This will be my final entry. I do not think that I wish to have a teenager of my own. Will sit down later today with my husband to discuss placing our eight year old daughter in foster care as soon as possible.
The exercise:
Write two haiku about: the days of the week.
Dropped Max off at playschool this morning without issue, did a few errands with Miles in town, then picked the eldest up again before lunch. Spent a bit of time playing in the playground adjacent to the school before getting them home for food and nap time for the youngest.
Wandered the farm with Max while his little brother was napping, finding Grandma weeding the raspberry canes and Grandma Sue hanging out with Cousin Emersyn in her front yard.
Finally got him back home after Miles woke up and then spent the rest of the day in and around the house. Managed to have dinner on the deck but it was a little chilly out there.
Pretty good way to end my weekend. Back to work tomorrow.
Mine:
Wednesday starts my week...
Except next week it's Thursday.
Except the next week...
* * *
Keep changing around
Lisa's schedule; soon enough
You will have her job.
The exercise:
Write about: the night watchman.
Took the boys to StrongStart this morning while Kat did some work and saw a client. Had a pretty good time, especially during gym break as the elementary kids are doing gymnastics right now and all the equipment was set up in there.
Max was climbing and jumping and balancing and Miles was happy to crawl around on the mats chasing after balls. They could have it like that all the time and I think we'd all be quite content.
One more day off tomorrow and then back to Public Works for me.
Mine:
The building is as quiet as it always is. All the doors and windows are locked, all the cubicle drones have gone home for the night (only to return in the morning wearing different clothes and the same expression on their faces). It's just me and the shadows, keeping watch.
Except the shadows seem restless tonight. Almost... expectant.
And I do not wish to know what (or who) they are expecting.
I just want to see another sunrise. Collect another paycheck. Have enough money to pay the rent, with enough left over to buy some food and maybe even put some cash away for that trip to Hawaii I've been wanting to do since... well, let's just say it's been a goal for a while now.
I don't need to deal with any more uninvited guests in this place. No more middle of the night visitations, thank you kindly. Been there, done that, don't need to do it again. Once was one more time than I needed to experience that... whatever that was.
But the shadows are shifting, talking to each other. I can hear them, I know what they're saying. Their friends are on their way and there is nothing I can do to stop them. Turning on all the lights would just make them angry.
And those foul, dark demons will be furious enough already when they make their nightmarish entrance to our world.
