The Push

Well since my last post I have almost worked non stop.

I have decided to really buckle down and earn some dough in order to right the Norland ship.

Sometimes you just have to Man Up and get er done.

The amount of Overtime that is kicking around this year is absolutely obscene and I have taken just about every shift I can.
I was scheduled to work tonight but pulled the plug early on today due to just downright exhaustion.


 I have accepted another four O.T shifts for next week so I thought I'd better just relax and take it easy in preparation for it.

I have never worked this hard and it is making me extremely bitter.

We are still without a contract ( been over two years now ) and we  have taken our employer to court over unfair labour practices.

The hearing is tomorrow.

The outcome should be very interesting...and to be honest represents a real crossroads for me.

This country is fucked...and nobody cares.

Our government is so corrupt and out of control that it really is beyond belief...and I am running out of gas fighting the good fight on behalf of people that don't have the guts to stand up for themselves.

I miss my kids...

Today was a good day.

Owen has been watching master chef and has been inspired by it.
Today he asked me if I would help him make Eggs Benedict.

He did 95% of it by himself with very few suggestions by me. To be honest..I probably would've over cooked the eggs without him insisting they come out.
...They were perfect!!

That kid is something else.












Ella has finally learned how to ride a bike.
It took her forever , and it was really starting to get on her nerves... (and mine )..

For whatever reason, she seemed to have a mental block...almost a phobia about it.

I should've forced the issue a long time ago maybe..but either way...the training wheels are off...and she is so proud!!
I am proud to...I am even proud of myself.


This summer represents a terrible sacrifice for the benefit of these people I am responsible for....but that is my role and I am getting it done.

I am shooting for 30 O.T shifts and should be there about the 1st or 2nd week of Sept.

I missed the moment when Ella finally eschewed the training wheels, conquered her fear and began to ride....

Trying really really hard to forgive myself..

I was working an O.T shift...for an employer that is corrupt, and for a public that doesn't give a shit, at a job that I have really grown to despise...




Norlands Chrome from Brian M on Vimeo.


Fall can't come soon enough.

Michigan....Summertime

Well I received a generous offer from Morin to head over to the cabin for 3 days and I was only too happy to take him up on it.
Work has been a progressive shit show and just pulling into the parking lot in the mornings fills me with revulsion.


I have been trying to maintain some perspective with my vocation but it is becoming increasingly difficult.
I used to be so proud of my job...and I am still very proud of certain aspects of what I do.

Some of my proudest moments have come from accomplishments within my workplace.

...but lately..

Its getting harder and harder to tune out the shit and find the good...and its' to the point where I am honestly considering a move.







Its a good job ...and I am blessed to have it....many would kill for it..
I realize this ...but there is no denying that it is making me miserable..and that is no way to live.

Trips to the woods help ...

We'd planned on taking the Hyde to Tippy Pond.

Morin had received some Panfish 411 about the water above the dam and casting  the flyrods for sunfish with a cooler full of beer was sounding like a really cool way to spend the weekend.

Norland curse?



I don't know if I can be blamed for his one.

Long story short USCBP wouldn't allow Morin to bring his truck to Michigan as planned.

My little rice burner has no hitch on it.

Result?  =  Shorefishing shitrats...no boat.

We tried to tie the canoe onto the car but it wasn't really working out too well and we quickly abandoned that notion as well.

It would be easy to say it ruined the weekend...but it didn't.

Friday we just drove up the West Coast making capricious stops along the way. And ..yes ..I did just use the word 'Capricious'..fire away..

The trip along M22 was highlighted by Sleeping Bear Dunes Park, Leland ( love this place..I'd like to disappear here forever ) , Frankfurt ( awesome basket of fried perch on the patio ) , Glenhaven (?) , and the great Traverse City.

So cool...such a great way to spend the day. I would love to get the family over there.

We are trying to talk Kim into coming over but for whatever reason she is reluctant. I can't understand this but I don't have the energy to force the issue.

I have been in situations before where people accompanying you on trips like this are not of the same level of enthusiasm.
It starts slowing but works its way through the entire time until it pretty much ruins everything , at the very least making you self conscious about your own enjoyment.

Life is too short for that bullshit..so as much as I'd like to share this with the people closest to me...for now at least it's just me and Morin...the dynamic shitrat duo..

Saturday we fished Tippy Pond from shore and caught some fish but mostly just drank beer in a really beautiful place.
Fresh air ..and cold beer.
Sunday morning we fished the Manistee River with the fly gear.

Very cool.


I caught about 15 fish with my little 2 wt.

 One of which was an 8 inch Walleye.
That was different.

Caught them all on a nymph pattern that I'd designed and tied myself ...thank you very much..lol

Not exactly a 'technical river' but still very cool to a hacker like me.


I broke the GLX 3wt on Friday.
:o/

 I took it well.
It was long overdue actually and I half expected it.

Owen was helping me load the car on Thursday and it was a very kind gesture considering he was sad I was leaving and even more sad that he couldn't come.

 I was touched...so much so that I didn't lose my temper when he closed the door on my Loomis fly rod...
It wasn't a hard slam ..and I had a close look it it for cracks.

It looked good at the time but when I tried to load er up on Friday...snap...
Sigh...

All in all one of the better trips for me. Enough to rejuvenate and recharge.
For now..

I work 9 out of the next 11.

Sigh

Wynton Marsalis on The Tavis Smiley Show (2/15/2011)

Speed

My son Amazes me.

Owen competed in Sarnia Lambton's city wide track and field event recently and absolutely crushed everyone.
LOL

I talk like this...he doesn't..

Despite all of his 'celebrity' with this he is still humble...humble to the point of it bugging me a bit.
He has worked hard all year with his track and field activities and his hard work has paid off.

In my mind it doesn't hurt to enjoy your moment of glory but Owen almost seems self conscious about the whole thing..lol

He competed in four events.



 They can only compete in four.

1500 metre, 800 metre, Long Jump and Relay.




The only event that was close was the 1500.
One of Owens St Michaels team mates ran the race of his life and decided to challenge Owen a bit.

This was good for Owen.

Owen works with a personal coach/trainer and the times he has been putting up in training for the 1500 were much better than the time he put up on race day ...but he got it done.

He was going for the ribbon rather than the Personal Best and his strategy was to "get out front and stay there...keep everybody behind me"
lol    

At the first turn on the 1500 one of the competitors tripped on Owens foot and fell. 3 laps later I met Owen at the finish line where I found him in tears with his first place ribbon in hand.


I thought he'd pulled a hamstring or something but he pulled me close and said "I feel so bad about that boy falling ...I didn't mean to do it"


I am getting choked up just writing this now.

 Everybody watching had completely forgotten about it but Owen had it on his mind the entire time.
Unreal.

He dominated in the 800 then as soon as it was done had to sprint over to the Long Jump pit where everybody was waiting for him.

I asked the organizer if he could have at least 30 seconds to catch his breath but Owen stopped me and said "its Ok dad this is just a warmup jump anyway..."
He jumped 441..a personal best...ho hum...14 and a half feet...nobody was close.

On his warmup jump I heard one of the parents murmer "Oh my God"...lol...THATS MY BOY!!!!!

Most the senior kids aren't jumping that and this morning he jumped a 465.

I have never been that good at anything.

I am going to keep working with him. He loves it and isn't showing any sign of slowing down.

So proud and so happy for him.

As for me...

I just finished a 70 hr work week...most of which was at 'straight time'...ugh

Next two weeks I work Monday to Friday training on something that will probably just suck balls.

Oh well...the family is why I do this stupid shit...and everything is beyond great on that front.

I am still loving my amp and overall guitar sound...so much so that I have been reaching out slowly to some musicians I know to get together and do some playing...
So far I haven't been able to make it happen...life is so busy for everyone...but I am going to keep trying.
Feels silly starting up a band however...lol...
... I am not going to let that stop me.

:o)

...when have I ever??

Kids Stuff

So today I had an hour to kill.

It was just enough time to get the front lawn cut...then I could fit in with the neighbours. Lawn homos the lot of em'..
( to be fair.. I like my lawn to look nice too...and it usually does )

To hell with the lawn...I went fishing.

I frantically tied up a generic little bluegill lemon mosquito and grabbed my 2 wt and my camera and slipped out to the ponds.

I was kind of hoping Morin and I would hit the ponds together tonight over a couple of beers ..but he has a spinning class at the gym and then a Labiaplasty session at the surgeons office..
Fuck him..

Anyway...the Bluegill confirmed immediately what I'd suspected all along...
I am a master flytyer...LOL

Beautiful day out today.

I have no problem blowing off chores every chance I get.

Yet another sad story has entered our lives recently. Another story about tragic loss that makes no sense but yet another reminder to live..

The lawn can wait.

Also..my dog is cool.
Ultra cool and smart..just like the owner.
:o)

Avery also has a new pet.
She is crazy about snakes and this one she has named Apple...(huh?)...whatever...

The snake has already shed it's skin once... I'll never get over that.

014 from Gene Norland on Vimeo.

Hogsback Heaven

I have a very strange love hate relationship when it comes to my job...

However..every now and then...

I showed up for work today and the first things that I usually do is check my mailslot.

Today it was stuffed with an interoffice package.



My friend Vietch at work has been going on and on about this beer out of Ottawa called Hogsback lager.

Vietch is an avid beer drinker and knows his shit...

I was intrigued..

He had assured me that it would be the best beer I have ever tasted...

ABSURD....
However..
When it comes to beer.. I keep my mind and my options open.
I tried to track this beer down but it was almost impossible. The local LCBO couldn't keep it in stock...??!!
Even more intrigued!!!

Well today my brother brought me in a beer and left it in my mailslot....and ...hold the presses...this thing most definitely makes the top five...
Thats two new top five beers in the past year if I count the Erieau Lager...

Beer is a gift from heaven and this one is another gem.

Cheers to me.

There was a second item in the package...proving that all my friends have a perverse sense of humour..

Joe Henderson

After my intensely bitter sea of human garbage post I thought I'd better come back with something beautiful...

This is a great ballad written by Gershwin for the musical Porgy and Bess and I love the chord changes...
Joes sound is perfect for this kind of stuff.
For a while I had a hard time with the Scofield/ Henderson pairing but I am diggin it now.
This is a nice version of this tune...

I can't believe that people like Joe Henderson can pass away...they 'are' heaven in my book.

Here is another great version that I ran across today...different key...one of those melodies that just gets ya..
...and no Morin he didn't create the Muppets you Philistine POS...however I think that the older version of Joe is definitely channeling a little Morgan Freeman..