Tag Archives: entertainment

THAT MIDDLE FINGER

humour, thoughts and observations, , , , ,

I think my childhood may have been a tad lacking in some things but it was my Big Brother and my Best Friend who set me straight. Maybe my parents wouldn’t have agreed but how else was I to know about that middle finger?

I remembered the first time I saw it. I was learning to drive. Dad was my teacher. I actually got out of the mall parking lot and on the road in our ’64 Corvair. Needless to say, I was thrilled beyond words . Dad gained 20 white hairs and kept reminding himself I was the last off-spring to learn to drive and he could finally retire. At least, that’s what he always told us years later.

We were driving down this quiet residential street and Dad kept up a running commentary of “Stop sign coming, remember to stop” or “School zone, slow down” all the while his foot was tapping invisible brakes on his side.

I stopped, checked left, checked right and proceeded across. Immediately a raucous blare of someone’s horn jarred my concentration and a noisy Volks passed me with a finger sticking out, the middle finger.

Dad said, “Ignore that jerk. He had no right to pass as you were doing good. Make sure your door is locked.”

I thought back. What exactly did I do wrong? What did that finger mean? It clearly wasn’t friendly.

I showed my Big Brother when I got home and asked him what it meant.

“Don’t ever, ever do that finger thing to anyone and especially not in a car unless the windows are rolled up, the doors are locked and you drive away fast. It’s not a good thing to do unless you’re prepared to run.”

“But what does it mean?” I bugged him.

“It means bad things and even if you’re really angry, don’t do that middle finger thing. People–especially the wrong kind of people–find it insulting and fight-worthy.”

Big Brother explained it the best he could. I got the impression that males can do it ’cause they know how to fight and probably spoiling for a good fight. On the other hand, females aren’t supposed to be spoiling for any fight, so they’re not supposed to know this finger thing to get into trouble.

That was the explanation I got when I was sixteen.

I’m much older now. And I have arthritis in both hands. But it’s worse in my right hand. It affects my fingers, especially the middle finger that doesn’t fold down–it sticks up. The honest truth. I can’t make a decent fist without giving the finger.

“Why on earth would you want to make a fist?” asked my Best Friend.

“Well, you know–blood tests and stuff, they always ask you to make a fist.”

“Which hand is making the finger?” queried my BF.

“My right.”

“Well for Pete’s sake, it’s the left hand that would make any gesture out the driver’s window and all those fingers are good, right?”

“Yep.”

“Then stay away from using the right hand and it’s middle finger and you’ll be fine. Jeez for a minute there, you had me worried you got mixed up in the wrong crowd!”

“Do you realize that in my entire life so far, I’ve never used that middle finger wave and I’ve only seen it 3 times?”

“First of all, don’t ever wave that finger. Secondly, stay away from people who do. And thirdly, if you ever have to, make sure your windows are rolled up, the doors are locked and you drive away fast, ” my BF advised.

I forgot to ask how do you do the gesture if the windows are rolled up? Anyway, I’ve never had to give the unfriendly wave, so I guess I’m safe.

HERE COMES AUTUMN. . . .

Uncategorized, , , ,

Well, who would have thought Summer would eventually migrate south to warmer climates and sunnier days. Here we are, almost mid-October and all the signs of Fall are parading past on my walks–suddenly my walking tees and shorts are now sweaters and jeans.

The first signs for home-owners and pedestrians alike–the trees are shedding their leaves, baring themselves for Winter.

Heavy overnight rains often result in a burst of mushrooms, popping up on lawns, patches of bare soil and wherever they can grow. Summer had its occasional tiny patches but heading into cooler, wetter weather–larger patches of mushrooms seem to favour Fall.

These lichee-like fruit caught my attention last year, but I didn’t have my super spiffy cellphone that takes the photo and has the option of telling me what this is. Now I do. I was very surprised to discover that this is a species of dogwood, Cornus kousa.

The scented roses along this rock wall have finished their Summer blooms, leaving behind bright red rosehips–a sign of a season leaving and another beginning. . . .

Baskets of various squashes from my favorite shop, Gardenworks, definitely defines Fall. Mother Nature is preparing herself for a bountiful harvest and Winter’s hibernation.

Chinese Lanterns, coming to its almost dry whispy shells–ready for an Autumn floral bouquet–just in time for a Canadian Thanksgiving.

One eager homeowner had to set up his Halloween display before the month came to an end. October signifies hopefully, a bountiful Harvest, a Canadian Thanksgiving and it seems, Halloween.

I loved this when I saw it–an old farm truck piled with pumpkins at my favorite farmer’s market. . . .

With the Canadian Thanksgiving arriving in a few days, (October 13th), I have much to be thankful for. I am thankful that all my family are in good health and secure in their various homes. I am thankful that my American family and friends are safe and well where they live. I am thankful for living in a democratic country with freedom of speech and the freedom to vote however I choose. A few may disrupt the system, but never destroy it. . . yet. All our rights, so fiercely fought for by all our ancestors, must never be taken for granted and left unprotected.

MAY THIS THANKSGIVING FILL YOUR HEART AND HOME WITH LOVE, FAMILY, FRIENDS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER AND HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.

AND FOR THOSE WHO COULDN’T THINK OF ANYTHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR–THEN BE THANKFUL FOR EACH DAY THAT BRINGS US A FRESH START. . . . .

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM MY HOUSE TO YOURS.

IF YOU ARE IN VICTORIA, BC ON AUGUST 28TH

Uncategorized, , , , ,

INCLUDING MURDER, MAYHEM AND OTHER CRIMINAL SHENANIGANS

COME JOIN ME AND A BEVY OF WELL-KNOWN CRIMEWRITERS FOR AN ENTERTAINING EVENING OF MEETING THEM AND LISTENING TO EXCITING EXCERPTS FROM THEIR CURRENT WORKS.

WE WILL BE AT THE TRENDY COFFEE ROASTERY CAFFE FANTASTICO 965 Kings Road on Thursday, August 28-2025 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Come meet and hear John Farrow, Jean Paetkau, Ardelle Holden, CJ Papoutsis, Shane Joaquin Jiminez, Christine Cosack, Jim Bottomley, Judee Fong and Host/Writer Magnus Skallagrimsson.

Your Worst Nightmare

Uncategorized, , , , , , ,

Does anyone else suffer through the ecxcruciating pain of navigating the convoluted maze of getting a real human to solve a telecommunication problem?

In my neck of the woods, I thought I discovered the painless method to bypass the lengthy wait on the phone to solve a problem with the phone bill. My secret shortcut was the online “chat” room with a human agent.

It used to be so quick. No queues. No one else in line. Now, I get a Robot.

Robot: Hello. How may I help you today?

Me: I’d like a real live person please.

Robot: I can help you.

Me: I’d like a real live person, please.

Robot: Do you mean an Agent?

Me: Yes.

Robot: I can help.

Me: No, I need an Agent.

Robot: Is it in regards to phone, TV or other technical problems?

Me: An Agent for Account Management.

Robot: I can direct you to an Agent regarding phone, TV or other technical problems.

Me: An Agent.

Robot: Would that be “Chat Online” or “Return Phone call?”

Me: Chat

Robot: One moment please. I will transfer you to an Agent. You are now 24th in the queue.

By the time I was connected to an Agent, I liked to think I was helping a trainee in dealing with human relation problems online. He/She felt good at helping me and I felt good offering training experience.

Not all the agents were trainees, but most seem to use that useful catchall phrase, “Let me consult with my colleague about this unique problem. ” As if my bill with the incorrect balance of a couple of extra zeroes was most unusual. To me, my bill made perfect sense in the hands of a vengeful robot who resented my request for a re al live Agent each time I called.

To be honest, there wouldn’t be any problems if my Hubby hadn’t called “Technical Assistance” for help in adding a second email address for himself. It seemed such a simple request except that trainee managed to remove the entire email program and decided to call it a day, leaving his colleague to fix the problem tomorrow.

After that nightmare was resolved the next morning, Hubby and I agreed that technology sucked big-time. However, the nightmare persisted in that our corrected online phone bill arrived under Hubby’s new email which he quickly forwarded to mine. Unfortunately I could no longer access the billing statement as it was now under Hubby’s new email and passcode.

So, that’s why I’m dealing with that vengeful robot again and waiting for a real human. . . again.

WINDOW STOPPING

thoughts and observations,

“If it stops you in your tracks, then that’s the window worth a good look.”

Sometimes I like to do a slow window stopping walking route. The variety of shops and businesses along this route often have eye-catching windows. It makes it worth-while to pause and capture whatever caught my attention with my handy-dandy senior cellphone’s camera.

These distinctive little shoemakers, in the front window of the shoe repair shop, always makes me stop. They have me smiling to see these busy shoemakers working so industriously.

A few doors down is the buy-n-sell with its ever changing hodge-podge of “treasures” –or, just a fun stop to check out all the “what-nots” previous owners considered junk. Did you spot the old Singer sewing machine?

One of my favorite stops is Gardenworks as it has such great displays in their large display windows as well as inside their fascinating store. Their current eye-stopping window display shows off these beautiful orchids.

Perhaps it was a salute to the West Coast and being on an Island, but this Gardenwork’s nautical theme appealed to my senses and captured my camera’s attention.

Sharing the other half of the Avenue Butcher’s building is a talented chef/owner. He specializes in curing and preparing meats utilizing the “whole beast,” or animal in a variety of tasty methods. The name of his business is on an amazing mural on the side of his building.

Another window makes me pause as I ponder what type of service this store provides.,

Apparently, it is the Herbal Path, a store specializing in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.

Further along the street is an antique store with its front windows often capturing my attention. Sometimes the displays are large, ornately carved pieces of furniture; other times, the window display is quite simple.

Depending upon my mood, my walks are always an adventure. It could be a challenging walk with steep hills or a scenic walk along the water. Sometimes, it could be a walk through the residential side streets and laneways. But now and then, there is the leisurely fun stroll to simply window stop. . . . .