Sheer bloodymindedness.
December 3rd, 2003
Sheer bloodymindedness got me home yesterday, and sheer bloodymindedness is what is keeping me here today.
I had a relatively bad day yesterday, and the ride home made things worse. I missed the city bus, so I decided to take the university bus downtown because it has a little more direct route so it usually arrives before the city buses leave from the terminal, so I can get my transfer and get the bus that goes by my house. Well, it took 10 minutes for the university bus to get off campus due to the snowy roads, and students dashing out of nowhere like rabbits and frantically banging on the doors and causing the driver to slam on his brakes so the student doesn't tumble under the wheels caused much delay as well. The bus was packed and I had to stand the whole way downtown. Well, due to the delays getting off campus, I missed the city connection by about 35 seconds. This is usually not a big deal, I will quite happily sit on the benches and read my book for 30 minutes until the next buses leave. When it is cold out, and all you want to do is go home and have a cup of tea and unwind from an unpleasant day this isn't an option. I sat for about 5 minutes, and then I got up and decided I would maybe windowshop for a while and come back to catch the bus. I just started walking and then got so frustrated and annoyed and thought "Screw this! I will damn well walk home!"
I normally take the bus because it is easier, not because it is necessarily faster. If one misses the city bus departure by a couple minutes, one can usually "beat" the bus when walking home. So I put my hat on and started marching. About 10 minutes into my walk I saw the bus on my route returning. I grumbled a little to myself that maybe I should have stayed. The walking was invigorating though. It was only about -13C, and not very much wind, and the feel of the chill air in my lungs was sparkly and I was enjoying myself. I began to wonder how good a time I could make, how far I could make it before the bus overtook me. I wanted to beat the bus. I quite often beat the bus in the summer, preferring to walk home from the terminal on the days I don't bike in on the trail, but in the winter it is usually not as much fun. Every step I expected to be passed, but no, I made it all the way to my house without seeing the bus at all.
This made me extra glad I decided to walk, because sometimes, when the buses are running off schedule (try all the time in the afternoon) they will skip a route and wait until they are back on time and then leave. There is nothing more frustrating then getting to the terminal in good time and realising that you will have to wait 45 minutes to an hour for the buses to get back on schedule. Or, you wait outside at your normal time. And wait. Wait some more. Finally, you realise that they have skipped a route and you will be outside for another 45 minutes. Curse bitterly. So, if I had waited, it would have been more like an hour's wait and it still would have been a 15 minute bus ride home. No thanks. So beating the bus was good. Chris was out getting a haircut, but he called just as I got in the door so I told him I was feeling mumphy. Imagine my surprise when he walked in the door a bit later with Pirates of the Caribbean and an apple pie. Good Chris. So we watched the movie and I marked assignments and I went to bed at 10pm because I was tired and couldn't face any more marking.
* * *
So yes, sheer bloodymindedness. The dizziness is still present, which makes me think it is tiredness or illness related. My throat is a bit scratchy and I feel really tired. I agreed to stay for lecture tonight from 7-9pm and I am kind of rueing that decision, although I should just be trying to mark papers here in my office I have had a constant parade of students with questions or little administrative tasks to do so I have done nothing. And of course, I am sitting here writing this instead of working. I have decided that I don't have to kill myself to get as many of these marked by Saturday morning as I can (insert evil stabbing guilt pains). Sorry, but I do have a life, and I do have other parts of my job which sometimes take precedence. And, 450 assignments can't get marked in 2 days, so I shouldn't even try. Phew. I feel a bit better now.
The cat with the broken leg is still alive. That makes me happy yet sad. A few weeks ago, I was in my office, talking with one of my students and I happened to look out the window and see a cat limp out from the cedar bush on the hill up from my office. The cat was a little cream and brown tabby, young looking, bright eyes, sweet face...and a horribly broken back leg. I am talking flopping foot totally broken at the ankle type broken. This cat just determinedly picked its way across the grass by my window, and I wanted to rush out and see if I could corral it in some way to get it to the vet, but by the time I finished with the student, I couldn't find the cat. I've looked for it since then, but since it has been so cold I thought maybe it had died. But today, I was with a student again, and I saw it come down near the same spot and this time truck through the cedar scrub on some mission. I really want to help this cat. I think it is hanging around the student residence dumpsters up on the hill. Do you think if I put food out for it I can get it to hang around long enough to get it to a vet? It sickens me that people drop off strays and unwanted animals at the university here, figuring someone else will take care of their problem. So, I am happy it is still alive, but sad that it still has a badly broken leg and no warm home.
Currently Reading:
- The Thief's Gamble by Juliet E. McKenna
Books I have Read Lately:
- I have updated my reading list to reflect all the books I read while I was away from the journal. I'll fill in my thoughts as I go.
(All links go through Amazon.ca because of the affiliate program with The Usual Suspects. I spend so much time on there, that this is the least I can do.)