Write it Down

Going to back-date this one.  Clock has turned over to February 2nd, but it is a memory of post-Burns that belongs in January.  AI prescient in his Groundhog opening, perchance. 

Where to begin?  The Immortal Memory lived up to the hype.  The coat of hodden grey.  Connolly's "I Wish I Was In Glasgow."  ...And prepared me for life on the road.  Perfect.  As was the discussion on the importance of writing shit down, a timely reminder the MFA path is the right one, with the application to be submitted in 10 days time.  Grandmom would have enjoyed the toasting and revelry.

Venza now safely returned to 207.  Dad living it up at the Villa Repos.  Mom cruising.  The little things.  The history of the 1987 Topps box sets and the rest.  The Pogues CD.  The A&W.  The Vito's.  Use of the Jack and the lost green glove.  Darrell at Costco, the hot dog and the piss into the McCafe glass.  The West African contingent of orderlies passing through, DRC and Mali, as the Zambian's European visa comes through.  Following the Skanes quest for the elusive Purple Heart, which ended tonight in the extra.  "You threw it well, but you kicked out of the hack too much, Jackie Boy."  Never forget/forgot.  Some second in Ontario's competition named Forget.  Wes.  And the PEI representative, Likely.  Heh.

Chaz Mcm over the water with the torn ACL, Greenwich and soon Patti on Monday.  For you a whale-wine from 3015, quenched.  No triathlete follower either night, but just as well.  The need to get back on the 7 minute fasting regiment until the Steakhouse Macallan-Laphroaig dinner.  Who to bring along to that one?

The Time Traveler Almanac acquired for nothing along with the birthday card that inspired the 100% reveal, with its tips and playlists and promise of magic.  Then the Orlando TSA incident and the rerouting of the flight home to the early hours.  But home is home.

So many memories.  Further delays, but the plane is now in the air.  Soon to settle back in.
First Man City, Clippers, Raptors, Canadians, Super Bowl tomorrow.  Remember?

Super

Remember?

First, mom’s flight out of Moncton is cancelled and she is forced to drive overnight (4 hours in weather) to Halifax to make the pool in Orlando.  Then the second consultant’s flight is delayed 4 hours, the snow beginning to fall just as the first one arrived, as you impatiently refreshed flightaware.  The playlist failed to load, and so it was back to the oxymoronic mellow classic rock.  Take it to the limit, one more time.  Then a slow slide across the two lane highway toward the ditch, until a miraculous stop one metre away from CAA and the most annoying of endings.

But the spin paused just short.  On the precipice.  Hazard lights.  Two transport trucks passed on the inside lane.  Reverse.  And an easy call to stop, for the second time in your life, to seek shelter from an unanticipated storm in Truro.  Nature’s Way.  Not the Motel 6 or the Hotel 7, but the Super 8.  If there was a mini-bar, I would be taking advantage, but save that deserved scotch for Friday.  When you have driven safely there and back again.

Oh, for fine margins.  One more rehearsal of the Immortal, before the resting for the journey ahead.  As you dream of cabaret and mirrored rooms in Paris post-United?  Do you still have that do not disturb sign, to place alongside the Luxor’s?  What a go-ahead, as our man would say.  If this farm gets built, it will be days and nights like these that live long in the memory...

The High Window

Another in the succession of lunches, this time with the honourable Justice.  He will look into the program and get back to you, but the love of writing and classics did shine through and were enthusiasm enough.  Also expressed extra interest in the more political-type narrative, which really should be incorporated into the written idea at the outset. 

“Manners Makyth Man”:  so said William of Wykeham, Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England, almost 700 years ago.  His family motto now graces two of his “progeny” – Winchester School and New College, Oxford.  Much time, expense and grief could have been spared in this case if the appellant and her counsel had observed the simple courtesy which this aphorism counsels.

Heh.  Therein the most literary reference I could find in a quick perusal of decisions.  The reference to Raymond Chandler was excellent though, which led to the discovery of two wonderful bits of wordsmith-ing: "A blonde to make a bishop kick a whole in a stained glass window."  And the real favourite, from the book that forms this post's title, "I had a funny feeling as I saw the house disappear, as though I had written a poem and it was very good and I had lost it and would never remember it again."  What a beauty.

Push onward with the plan.  Was a weekend off the wagon due to Theresa and the Arsenal, leading to the shirking of some duties and some late night crazy sending of words into the ether for response otherwise.  Juvenile actions to be avoided, but still make me smile.  Dad goes into the Villa de Repos tomorrow.  We grow not younger, so let's see what the next months may bring.

The Owl of Minerva

"When philosophy paints its gray on gray, then has a form of life grown old, and with gray on gray it cannot be rejuvenated, but only known; the Owl of Minerva first takes flight with twilight closing in."

-G. W. F. Hegel, "Preface," Philosophy of Right

Wisdom acquired only at dusk, in other words.  How wonderfully phrased.

Another lunch with a mentor from days past, more valuable advice and also (as to be expected) encouragement to seize opportunities when presented.  For life, there must be more than just your work, he said, in a line that should be incorporated somehow into the personal statement.  Excellent synchronicities, from the Bri-xit at the restaurant to the guy who chaired the Godsoe interview and nodded off during your answers.  Meanwhile, shots of the boneyard and historic Vegas flickered past on the television behind him as part of TSN's telecast of the mixed doubles curling.  Superb.  

Fascinating that Patrick Leigh Fermor came up again, so prominently, as a model for the travel writing.  As did Shiva Naipaul, who is worth investigating further.  Excellent to hear such suggestions, the idea of the travel memoirs embraced even above the political, which require "deep immersion" in order to make a contribution.  I do not disagree.  The expectation of your knowledge/enjoyment on that front likely to prove difficult to convey to the stranger, so lead with the first while developing the second.  

The approach in starting the MFA within the practice (at some level) seems the wisest course, and I do not see the downside in at least putting the Application forward, securing the place, and making the decision post-Greece.   "The possible is indeed doable," comes the reply just in.  That's it. 


PS - MP HW then into the office to confirm treatment of the contribution margin to account for the time away, which will gross up last year's measured performance by 1/3.  Taken in conjunction with the ramp up for responsibility as a result of the new responsibility tag, things seem set for this plan to work.  Hilariously. 

OMAD

Jumping on the bandwagon of the titular trend by accident.  Partly due to the lack of car = lack of groceries circumstance, partly as the easiest route to ensure a sharp reduction in calorie intake to kick start the year.  Residue inspiration from Vegas that is holding.  Stairs becoming a habit and the 7 minute streak remains alive.  Although there was some slight falling off of the wagon with cake, a spot of wine, and two Guinness last night, the path to Robert Burns continues to hold up well.  This weekend may prove a different story, but take it as it comes.

The Application preparation continues apace.  The transcript requests have been made and the Camino addition to the portfolio is a helpful one.  May have others to supplement it, but for now the next task is the personal statement and project idea.  Should not be difficult.  Carry on, responsible timekeeper.  Haha.  That will certainly make life easier.  We shall see.

What You Want To Do

Nice lunch with an old mentor today, at the old Onyx coincidentally, when the initial Bistro choice was shut.  Memories of a wake held in the same space almost 3 years to the day, and remembering the discussions then, that we old classmates should get together more frequently.  But, expectedly, have not seen any of them since.  Time moves.

What was the purpose, what did you glean, other than memories and the sharing of stories?  Nice to hear, in plain words, the reason why the concept of retirement makes no sense for some.  The work is what he would rather be doing than anything else, "duh". 

That has something to do with the profession, something to do with the craft, the life's work.  Less charitably, maybe it has something to do with a lack of imagination, but better to put it differently.  The Cape Breton rule of not forcing one rule to fit all.  I can certainly get behind that.

And since the current office job remains - and always shall - a means to an end, get working on that Application and get it in by the end of the month.  That may not be the passion either, but I am convinced the timing is right to give it a shot.

File Margins and Management

Timing of last night’s speculation on the future was timely, the first of conversations had about the future and existing in a bubble within the grand scheme of excellence and profitability.  Combined with the January recruitment session, in which the fresh faces seem younger and more distant, it was instructive.  I do enjoy the niche, so it is with ease that I can say I do love the work, even as it is not for all time.  You’ve done well in dining out on the main client, and that will help stave off some scrutiny even if you take up the application as planned.  GMac lunch arranged, as is reconnection with Thecroy.  When you consider that finishing touches were made to an even grander Immortal Memory than last year and the 7 min streak kept alive, a very successful day all told.

And that doesn’t take into account the coming together of the 40th plans.  Greece is the word, with a pop in at the Globe, Oxford,  and a chance for Baku or other randomness.  Make it so!  More to come anon.  Keep up the get well plan.

Sleepless Nights and Solidifying Plans

2019 off to a promising start, one week in.  The 7 min streak alive, stairs begun, one meal a day randomness, and limits on the booze and social media all solid so far.  Quiet looming on the work front.  Immortal Memory structure confirmed for 16 days hence.

Thoughts of another annual business plan and the year ahead keeping you up the past two nights.  Is this the year to begin a transition?   The something new?  It must be.  There’s a part-time path to be found.  The outline for the next 6 months begins to write itself:

Jan/Feb - Discipline, and Application.
March - Raise with DM.  UK for Paddy?
April - Work.  Prepare Condo/Boat.
May/June - UK/Greece and Final Decision.

First two weeks of the MFA to begin in August.  No need to discuss with management until July, maybe push it off still further.  Gauge whether there are purchasers for 601, and hope Lav’s fortune remains fickle until an offer is received.  And if not, no matter.  For now the writing is all.  A grace period to figure out what’s next in the scheme of things.

Alarm rings in 4 hours, go to it.  Book Greece.  Use the weekend for writing, and further confirmation.

It has begun.