Arthur Gibson's Blog: A Journey In Mind, page 2
April 18, 2013
Amen
Available now on Amazon, this short story (about 4,400 words) is set in a time of apocalypse. Evening prayer is a tradition in many parts of the world. It doesn't matter what faith you have, it seems that we as a species like to close our day in harmony with the divine. Tom and his family are no different. When every day might be the last day, it becomes even more important. Set against Daniela's evening prayer, this is the story of Tom's defense of his family as he tries to keep the dead away from his door.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CE1IPW8
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CE1IPW8
November 17, 2012
Character #8 & Overall Update
Well, overall things were going quite well with this story. Separating the entries by a day does help to make the character "voices" a little more distinct. Should make polishing that aspect a little easier. However, I have had some serious computer issues that has put me quite behind in the number of characters. I could give sketches of them easily enough but I am very behind with the actual entries. I am hoping that this will improve as I go on, but I am a full week behind and we're at the halfway mark. From the looks of it I will complete the idea, but will be into December. If true, it will be a partial victory. No full points if I don't make it by the end of this month. Only half points for finishing beyond the deadline. Keep your fingers crossed!
That said, here is Character #8: Pam Murphy. She's a schoolteacher, but she is in the town visiting relatives.
A Yarn For You
Wow. It’s been ages since I actually wrote something on this blog. Forgive me ☹ The only thing I can really say in my defense is that I have been out of town. Yes! Me! I am staying with my sister and her “family”. Don’t get me wrong. I love my sis and her kids. It’s the other I can’t stand. He is not my favorite person. But I will not be negative here. I will just enjoy the ones I like and avoid the other like the plague.
Anne has done pretty well for herself. She has a nice place. From everything she had said to warn me I was expecting a dump. Yes, it is a little dark but what do you expect from a basement suite? It isn’t damp, it is quite warm, and it is in a decent area of town. A little close to the downtown rush for me, but she says it suits her. It is certainly close enough to everything. I think I counted four coffee shops and three grocery stores on my way over from the airport. That means a ready supply of chocolate and caffeine. What more do you need?
The kids surprised me. I’ve had pictures of them of course, but they have grown so much since the last time I saw them. Chip was up to my ribs and Fanny is at my waist! Last time I saw them was when Fanny was born. They are whole different people. They are actually little people now. Opinions and tastes and imagination and wow. Just wow. Floored me. It was like seeing Paris the first time. You watch the movies and look at the pictures, but when you actually get there it is something else entirely. It has taken me a few days to really get used to them, but they are awesome little ones. I am so happy I came. And yesterday, I got them all to myself.
Anne wanted some “her” time, so I gladly volunteered to take the kids and head off into the grey wonder of a drizzly day. We figured the best thing would be a trip across town and a visit to the public market. I’ve heard about it from the kids but have never been. So why not? I did not realize that the day was going to be such an adventure. I should have. With children, nothing ever goes smoothly and plans are frequently derailed. But as long as you are prepared for every possibility that you can, this does not mean that things are going to be a bad. In fact, some of the best fun I had as a kid was unscripted. Or at least I assume it was judging from the looks on my parents faces, LOL
I packed a backpack full of snacks, some water bottles, and a compact umbrella. I had my travel mug of coffee (after a brief stop at Starbucks) and made sure that the three of us had a good breakfast. I don’t know about the kids (or yourselves my bloggerphiles) but Auntie is less likely to purchase a bunch of crap while out if I have a happy belly under my belt. I am just as cravey when I see things, but am able to resist better. I used to diet a lot. Heck, if you’ve been watching this blog for any length of time you already know that! But nothing ever worked. Not the fad diets, not the calorie counting, not the exercise, and not the “stay the course” mentality that so many people have while they deprive themselves. But I finally did start to lose some pounds. You know what did it? Eating.
Yup. Not crazy. It works. I actually ate all my meals. I did watch my servings. I mean, pasta dripping with awesome sauces and sides of garlic bread and Caesar salad are great but not any good if you polish off seven servings. I’ve done that one! But really it was just common sense. Is it wise to make hashbrowns with a pound of butter? Is it wise to eat half a cake at a time? To go through three tubs of ice cream a month when I am the only one eating it? Heck, no! Of course not. I found that if I was making common sense choices, adding in a little more of the healthy things (more veggies, more fiber, etc), and watching how I prepared things I was able to resist the glutton inside me. I could enjoy a piece of pie and not need several more. Oh, I still wanted more – doesn’t dessert just taste so good? Mmmmmm yummy!! But I didn’t “need” more. And the pounds started to go. Not fast, lol. That took exercise as well. But it really changed how I did things. I have no idea what Anne teaches the kids but neither herself or the kids are fat, so whatever it is it must work.
There we were. Three explorers ready to head out into the unknown. And the first unknown was public transportation. I remember the buses in this city. Anne and I took them to school every day. You put in your coins, you got your transfers and off you went. I admit that I was unprepared for changes. I should have assumed that there would be some. There is a whole electronic move in the world today. Card and passes and chips and ugh. Mom says I am a throwback. Dad says that I am hopeless. Anne says that I have a block – maybe somewhere in my past a VCR hurt me and I can’t manage to process buttons anymore, lol. The kids just think I am old, hehe. And Chip was there to take charge. I listened to all of his lengthy explanations for what we should be doing and then I followed his lead.
It should probably be mentioned here that following the lead of a boy of eight is not one of the wisest things to do in life if you are looking for a smooth ride. If however you are not afraid of going interesting places, seeing things that you would normally not seek out, and spending a lot more time that you would have to if you did things “right” then I can recommend the travel advice of a child. I think (according to the map I saw on the bus) that there were only two transit zones between our destination and us. However, following his advice as to what buses to get on, where to get off, and what route to take sent us through about seven by my count. We went from outside the house to a mall. Then to a bus loop. Then to another mall. Then to a loop that had a lot of college age people milling around. Then we went to the first mall. And then we went to the Skytrain. That made things easier. I still think I ended up paying a lot more for it than I needed to, but once you were on the tracks you really could go only one of two directions. This helps you from getting too lost.
Except I need to stop here and make an observation. What is it about transit officials that they have a need to complicate things with the terminology they use? The Skytrain system has a number of “lines”. I would take this to mean interconnected tracks. If you wanted to go to “A” you get on one line. If you want to get to “J” you transfer over to a different line. But no. Not the way they do it. Apparently various trains equal various lines. And the lines are not determined by style or color of the trains, but by where they are going. So if you don’t read the signs and get on the right train heading to the right destination on the right track, you will find yourself on the wrong line and have to switch. Unless of course your train happens to continue in a loop and alter the “line” it is on past a certain point. Confused? I am. But, as a “throwback” maybe I just don’t understand the system. A lot of people seem to travel by the Skytrain every day and they seem to know where they are headed. I was just totally confused. It seemed unnecessarily complicated with conflicting terms and ideas in their descriptions of what was going where.
Contrary to my assumptions at this point Chip did not add the entire Skytrain run to our travel repertoire. Something about the system clicked with his brain and we got to where we wanted to go without any fuss. When it is understood, the Skytrain is a pretty nifty system. It is easy to people watch. And what a cast of characters. First off, there are a lot of pregnant gals around this time of year. There is about to be a population explosion. What is it about pregnancy that it tends to group in such numbers? Or is it that there are just so many people that the law of averages will produce giant batches of babies every four months or so? I’ve heard a lot of stuff lately about corn that was genetically modified to promote sterility. The theory is that the technology to do this has been sold to the major corn producers and the governments of the West are pushing for the corn supplies to come strictly from these companies. But if that is the case their product stinks! There are babies everywhere. But this is not a political or social rant. Stay tuned though. If I keep hearing about this I will have to weigh in on the issue sooner or later. My point is simply this: lot of babies!
And men too ;) Man but they grow them cute out here. Business men and construction men and all sorts of men. Tall and short and thick and thin and yummy, yummy, yummy. I prefer them fairly tall, dark, and that adventure type. Not real adventure. Movie adventure. Handsome adventure. There were quite a few around. I snuck as many peeks as I could in between the lectures on the Skytrain, the clouds, the city, the weather, and the color of fast cars. I also fielded many questions on whether a dress or a hairstyle was pretty, whether horses ever rode the Skytrain, and what I thought the dog was doing at that moment. Travelling with kids is never dull and never, ever silent. Get bored on long trips? Take a kid. You may want to kill them before the end of it, but you’ll never lack something to do.
I thought that getting off the Skytrain we would be at our destination, but I was wrong. Very little transit goes directly to the market. But I was pleased to find it was just a quick walk around the Bay to get there. Not even the entire Bay, but just a corner of it. Now this is the kind of scenery that I miss. Towering mountains. Cold, frothy water. Hearing the birds arguing at each other. The smell of water that came from open ocean. Ok, that last one can be pretty ripe depending on whether it is low tide or not. It is still enjoyable though. And so many trees. They have come a long way since I was here last. This is turning into a truly green city. It is nice to see.
The Market is a sprawling place. Not as big as some of the others in town, but still a good size. There is a school for some kind of arts program. Not welding, but some kind of physical art. The kids were of course not interested at all, so we skipped by that pretty quick. We went through the gates and made our way towards the main building. It seemed to be just what was advertised. There was freshness everywhere. Seasonal flowers framed the entrances. The scent of them mixed nicely with the sea breeze. It was flowery but clean all at the same time. But that might have something to do with the rain scent too. I didn’t need to see the dark clouds overhead to know it was going to rain. No matter where you live that one smell stays the same. Impending water. Luckily, the Market is covered so it wouldn’t matter if it squalled until we started heading home.
Inside was full of variety and richness. We came in near the vegetable area. Lots of color. I loved it. Piles of tomatoes and apples and carrots and potatoes. We went by fish counters and meat counters. A tea shop and a jewelry stall. I even found a gorgeous dress that I had to pick up. Now I just need somewhere to wear it! I was struck by the large number of youth being employed. Most of them seemed competent but there were a few here and there that were just lost. The meat market in particular comes to mind. I hope no one asks for anything complicated. Those kids don’t seem to know which way the knife is supposed to point. I wouldn’t mention it normally – I don’t like to point fingers, especially since I do so much myself that deserves finger pointing – but there wasn’t anyone there older than 20. Where was the boss? Where were the “adults”? It seems really irresponsible to me.
Since I am on a little bit of a downer, I have to mention one other place. Not to say it is in itself a bad place. The guy working there seemed on the ball, but I had to steer the kids away from it for another reason. This Market has posters up all over the place talking about “sustainability” and “local food” and “freshness”. This place (I think it was called Oodles) was very run of the mill. Not run of the mill for a “Fresh” and “Local” Market, but just everywhere tame. It sold some candy, some drinks, some touristy things, and some food (sausage rolls, meat pies, wraps, stuff like that). But nothing. And I mean NOTHING couldn’t be bought at a 7-11 or a grocery store chain. Not even a specialty grocery store. I mean, they want to promote a “Fresh” agenda, then they need to get everyone on board. I am not looking for the types of sandwiches that you get from the gas station or the local food truck at a construction site. Market food should be one step down from Fair food and only a step because it should be healthy. Delicious, but healthy. This guy has nothing. I don’t think the kids would have gone anywhere near there normally, but they were getting hungry and the candy sticks were colorful. Cheap and mass-produced, but colorful. How anyone eats enough of that crap to keep him in business is beyond me. Especially at a Market that has a made-on-the-spot candy store, a large selection of fresh foods, and a large food court!
I call it a food court for ease of understanding, but it was really more of a street. It sure felt that way. Stalls and booths lined the walls on both sides of the main thoroughfare and there were even more in the middle. Greek food, Indian food, Chinese food, Vegetarian food, fried food, English food, Mexican food, and even a juice bar. There was everything. It was easy to find things the kids wanted. The hard part was finding just one thing they wanted, lol. In the end we went with Greek, each got a different food, and picked off each other’s plates. That is the best thing about going out with kids. They aren’t afraid to share their food with you. Of course, you need to be willing to share with them because no matter what you have and what they have or even what they actually like to eat, they are going to ask for some. “Can I try that?” “Can I have some?” “That looks good.” These are all phrases that you’ll hear again and again. That is something that only the best of friends have in common with children. Usually when you go out to eat it is frowned upon to start picking food off of someone else’s plate. With your best friend you do it anyway, but most people... talk about frowns! I don’t recommend you try it.
After lunch we went to the main stop. You didn’t really think that the kids came here for the fresh food, did you? LOL Nope. I dragged them with me for the first part of the day, but promised them the after lunch time was theirs. And theirs it was, lol. In one of the support buildings there is a kid zone. Several toy shops, an art store, a playground outside (but attached), a very small mini-golf store (I think it was 6 holes and less than a dozen meters across), and the candy shop. With the way they charged around you’d have thought that I had wound them with sugar and let them go. It was great to see them have so much fun though. Thank god they behaved in the stores and didn’t break anything.
By the time we made our trek home – I was much better at retracing our steps and we only visited one mall – I was exhausted. Worn out, but a good worn out. A happy worn out. There is something about spending the day with cheerful, well-behaved kids that drains you and energizes you at the same time. Still not sure if I am ready to take the plunge and try for some of my own, but days like this make it seem like it won’t be all work. Sure there were disagreements and a couple of spats, but overall the kids got on well today. It was a good day! A family day! Fingers crossed for a few more before I have to go home.
Not sure when I will get on this again, but remember that I love you all and you are not forgotten! I’ll for sure get more regular with this once I am home. Until then kisses and kittens to you all!! Bye-Bye for now!
That said, here is Character #8: Pam Murphy. She's a schoolteacher, but she is in the town visiting relatives.
A Yarn For You
Wow. It’s been ages since I actually wrote something on this blog. Forgive me ☹ The only thing I can really say in my defense is that I have been out of town. Yes! Me! I am staying with my sister and her “family”. Don’t get me wrong. I love my sis and her kids. It’s the other I can’t stand. He is not my favorite person. But I will not be negative here. I will just enjoy the ones I like and avoid the other like the plague.
Anne has done pretty well for herself. She has a nice place. From everything she had said to warn me I was expecting a dump. Yes, it is a little dark but what do you expect from a basement suite? It isn’t damp, it is quite warm, and it is in a decent area of town. A little close to the downtown rush for me, but she says it suits her. It is certainly close enough to everything. I think I counted four coffee shops and three grocery stores on my way over from the airport. That means a ready supply of chocolate and caffeine. What more do you need?
The kids surprised me. I’ve had pictures of them of course, but they have grown so much since the last time I saw them. Chip was up to my ribs and Fanny is at my waist! Last time I saw them was when Fanny was born. They are whole different people. They are actually little people now. Opinions and tastes and imagination and wow. Just wow. Floored me. It was like seeing Paris the first time. You watch the movies and look at the pictures, but when you actually get there it is something else entirely. It has taken me a few days to really get used to them, but they are awesome little ones. I am so happy I came. And yesterday, I got them all to myself.
Anne wanted some “her” time, so I gladly volunteered to take the kids and head off into the grey wonder of a drizzly day. We figured the best thing would be a trip across town and a visit to the public market. I’ve heard about it from the kids but have never been. So why not? I did not realize that the day was going to be such an adventure. I should have. With children, nothing ever goes smoothly and plans are frequently derailed. But as long as you are prepared for every possibility that you can, this does not mean that things are going to be a bad. In fact, some of the best fun I had as a kid was unscripted. Or at least I assume it was judging from the looks on my parents faces, LOL
I packed a backpack full of snacks, some water bottles, and a compact umbrella. I had my travel mug of coffee (after a brief stop at Starbucks) and made sure that the three of us had a good breakfast. I don’t know about the kids (or yourselves my bloggerphiles) but Auntie is less likely to purchase a bunch of crap while out if I have a happy belly under my belt. I am just as cravey when I see things, but am able to resist better. I used to diet a lot. Heck, if you’ve been watching this blog for any length of time you already know that! But nothing ever worked. Not the fad diets, not the calorie counting, not the exercise, and not the “stay the course” mentality that so many people have while they deprive themselves. But I finally did start to lose some pounds. You know what did it? Eating.
Yup. Not crazy. It works. I actually ate all my meals. I did watch my servings. I mean, pasta dripping with awesome sauces and sides of garlic bread and Caesar salad are great but not any good if you polish off seven servings. I’ve done that one! But really it was just common sense. Is it wise to make hashbrowns with a pound of butter? Is it wise to eat half a cake at a time? To go through three tubs of ice cream a month when I am the only one eating it? Heck, no! Of course not. I found that if I was making common sense choices, adding in a little more of the healthy things (more veggies, more fiber, etc), and watching how I prepared things I was able to resist the glutton inside me. I could enjoy a piece of pie and not need several more. Oh, I still wanted more – doesn’t dessert just taste so good? Mmmmmm yummy!! But I didn’t “need” more. And the pounds started to go. Not fast, lol. That took exercise as well. But it really changed how I did things. I have no idea what Anne teaches the kids but neither herself or the kids are fat, so whatever it is it must work.
There we were. Three explorers ready to head out into the unknown. And the first unknown was public transportation. I remember the buses in this city. Anne and I took them to school every day. You put in your coins, you got your transfers and off you went. I admit that I was unprepared for changes. I should have assumed that there would be some. There is a whole electronic move in the world today. Card and passes and chips and ugh. Mom says I am a throwback. Dad says that I am hopeless. Anne says that I have a block – maybe somewhere in my past a VCR hurt me and I can’t manage to process buttons anymore, lol. The kids just think I am old, hehe. And Chip was there to take charge. I listened to all of his lengthy explanations for what we should be doing and then I followed his lead.
It should probably be mentioned here that following the lead of a boy of eight is not one of the wisest things to do in life if you are looking for a smooth ride. If however you are not afraid of going interesting places, seeing things that you would normally not seek out, and spending a lot more time that you would have to if you did things “right” then I can recommend the travel advice of a child. I think (according to the map I saw on the bus) that there were only two transit zones between our destination and us. However, following his advice as to what buses to get on, where to get off, and what route to take sent us through about seven by my count. We went from outside the house to a mall. Then to a bus loop. Then to another mall. Then to a loop that had a lot of college age people milling around. Then we went to the first mall. And then we went to the Skytrain. That made things easier. I still think I ended up paying a lot more for it than I needed to, but once you were on the tracks you really could go only one of two directions. This helps you from getting too lost.
Except I need to stop here and make an observation. What is it about transit officials that they have a need to complicate things with the terminology they use? The Skytrain system has a number of “lines”. I would take this to mean interconnected tracks. If you wanted to go to “A” you get on one line. If you want to get to “J” you transfer over to a different line. But no. Not the way they do it. Apparently various trains equal various lines. And the lines are not determined by style or color of the trains, but by where they are going. So if you don’t read the signs and get on the right train heading to the right destination on the right track, you will find yourself on the wrong line and have to switch. Unless of course your train happens to continue in a loop and alter the “line” it is on past a certain point. Confused? I am. But, as a “throwback” maybe I just don’t understand the system. A lot of people seem to travel by the Skytrain every day and they seem to know where they are headed. I was just totally confused. It seemed unnecessarily complicated with conflicting terms and ideas in their descriptions of what was going where.
Contrary to my assumptions at this point Chip did not add the entire Skytrain run to our travel repertoire. Something about the system clicked with his brain and we got to where we wanted to go without any fuss. When it is understood, the Skytrain is a pretty nifty system. It is easy to people watch. And what a cast of characters. First off, there are a lot of pregnant gals around this time of year. There is about to be a population explosion. What is it about pregnancy that it tends to group in such numbers? Or is it that there are just so many people that the law of averages will produce giant batches of babies every four months or so? I’ve heard a lot of stuff lately about corn that was genetically modified to promote sterility. The theory is that the technology to do this has been sold to the major corn producers and the governments of the West are pushing for the corn supplies to come strictly from these companies. But if that is the case their product stinks! There are babies everywhere. But this is not a political or social rant. Stay tuned though. If I keep hearing about this I will have to weigh in on the issue sooner or later. My point is simply this: lot of babies!
And men too ;) Man but they grow them cute out here. Business men and construction men and all sorts of men. Tall and short and thick and thin and yummy, yummy, yummy. I prefer them fairly tall, dark, and that adventure type. Not real adventure. Movie adventure. Handsome adventure. There were quite a few around. I snuck as many peeks as I could in between the lectures on the Skytrain, the clouds, the city, the weather, and the color of fast cars. I also fielded many questions on whether a dress or a hairstyle was pretty, whether horses ever rode the Skytrain, and what I thought the dog was doing at that moment. Travelling with kids is never dull and never, ever silent. Get bored on long trips? Take a kid. You may want to kill them before the end of it, but you’ll never lack something to do.
I thought that getting off the Skytrain we would be at our destination, but I was wrong. Very little transit goes directly to the market. But I was pleased to find it was just a quick walk around the Bay to get there. Not even the entire Bay, but just a corner of it. Now this is the kind of scenery that I miss. Towering mountains. Cold, frothy water. Hearing the birds arguing at each other. The smell of water that came from open ocean. Ok, that last one can be pretty ripe depending on whether it is low tide or not. It is still enjoyable though. And so many trees. They have come a long way since I was here last. This is turning into a truly green city. It is nice to see.
The Market is a sprawling place. Not as big as some of the others in town, but still a good size. There is a school for some kind of arts program. Not welding, but some kind of physical art. The kids were of course not interested at all, so we skipped by that pretty quick. We went through the gates and made our way towards the main building. It seemed to be just what was advertised. There was freshness everywhere. Seasonal flowers framed the entrances. The scent of them mixed nicely with the sea breeze. It was flowery but clean all at the same time. But that might have something to do with the rain scent too. I didn’t need to see the dark clouds overhead to know it was going to rain. No matter where you live that one smell stays the same. Impending water. Luckily, the Market is covered so it wouldn’t matter if it squalled until we started heading home.
Inside was full of variety and richness. We came in near the vegetable area. Lots of color. I loved it. Piles of tomatoes and apples and carrots and potatoes. We went by fish counters and meat counters. A tea shop and a jewelry stall. I even found a gorgeous dress that I had to pick up. Now I just need somewhere to wear it! I was struck by the large number of youth being employed. Most of them seemed competent but there were a few here and there that were just lost. The meat market in particular comes to mind. I hope no one asks for anything complicated. Those kids don’t seem to know which way the knife is supposed to point. I wouldn’t mention it normally – I don’t like to point fingers, especially since I do so much myself that deserves finger pointing – but there wasn’t anyone there older than 20. Where was the boss? Where were the “adults”? It seems really irresponsible to me.
Since I am on a little bit of a downer, I have to mention one other place. Not to say it is in itself a bad place. The guy working there seemed on the ball, but I had to steer the kids away from it for another reason. This Market has posters up all over the place talking about “sustainability” and “local food” and “freshness”. This place (I think it was called Oodles) was very run of the mill. Not run of the mill for a “Fresh” and “Local” Market, but just everywhere tame. It sold some candy, some drinks, some touristy things, and some food (sausage rolls, meat pies, wraps, stuff like that). But nothing. And I mean NOTHING couldn’t be bought at a 7-11 or a grocery store chain. Not even a specialty grocery store. I mean, they want to promote a “Fresh” agenda, then they need to get everyone on board. I am not looking for the types of sandwiches that you get from the gas station or the local food truck at a construction site. Market food should be one step down from Fair food and only a step because it should be healthy. Delicious, but healthy. This guy has nothing. I don’t think the kids would have gone anywhere near there normally, but they were getting hungry and the candy sticks were colorful. Cheap and mass-produced, but colorful. How anyone eats enough of that crap to keep him in business is beyond me. Especially at a Market that has a made-on-the-spot candy store, a large selection of fresh foods, and a large food court!
I call it a food court for ease of understanding, but it was really more of a street. It sure felt that way. Stalls and booths lined the walls on both sides of the main thoroughfare and there were even more in the middle. Greek food, Indian food, Chinese food, Vegetarian food, fried food, English food, Mexican food, and even a juice bar. There was everything. It was easy to find things the kids wanted. The hard part was finding just one thing they wanted, lol. In the end we went with Greek, each got a different food, and picked off each other’s plates. That is the best thing about going out with kids. They aren’t afraid to share their food with you. Of course, you need to be willing to share with them because no matter what you have and what they have or even what they actually like to eat, they are going to ask for some. “Can I try that?” “Can I have some?” “That looks good.” These are all phrases that you’ll hear again and again. That is something that only the best of friends have in common with children. Usually when you go out to eat it is frowned upon to start picking food off of someone else’s plate. With your best friend you do it anyway, but most people... talk about frowns! I don’t recommend you try it.
After lunch we went to the main stop. You didn’t really think that the kids came here for the fresh food, did you? LOL Nope. I dragged them with me for the first part of the day, but promised them the after lunch time was theirs. And theirs it was, lol. In one of the support buildings there is a kid zone. Several toy shops, an art store, a playground outside (but attached), a very small mini-golf store (I think it was 6 holes and less than a dozen meters across), and the candy shop. With the way they charged around you’d have thought that I had wound them with sugar and let them go. It was great to see them have so much fun though. Thank god they behaved in the stores and didn’t break anything.
By the time we made our trek home – I was much better at retracing our steps and we only visited one mall – I was exhausted. Worn out, but a good worn out. A happy worn out. There is something about spending the day with cheerful, well-behaved kids that drains you and energizes you at the same time. Still not sure if I am ready to take the plunge and try for some of my own, but days like this make it seem like it won’t be all work. Sure there were disagreements and a couple of spats, but overall the kids got on well today. It was a good day! A family day! Fingers crossed for a few more before I have to go home.
Not sure when I will get on this again, but remember that I love you all and you are not forgotten! I’ll for sure get more regular with this once I am home. Until then kisses and kittens to you all!! Bye-Bye for now!
November 8, 2012
Character #7
Character #7: Gene Christie
Nancy,
Thank you for leaving dinner out for me. I do appreciate it. I know I was later than usual last night. I hope you are not too mad at me. Business was great! With the storm warnings in the morning I had high hopes – but you know that. “giddy” I think is what you called me. And I was right. There was a steady stream of customers. It was nice. The Summer has been so dry I was wondering if I was going to make rent this year. I do so love the clientele at the Market, and it would be a shame to have to move. I would miss so many of their faces. Once those drops started to fall I think I got the chance to see all of them too. People were crawling out of the woodwork to buy my stock. It was really nice to see.
I worked right up until close, which is rare as you know. I don’t know your mood when you went to sleep my dear, but please wipe the idea that I stopped for a pint instead of coming to you out of your mind. I had a lot to clean up and restock for tomorrow. If we are lucky the storm will last into the morning hours and threaten to wet the day. I think I was even the last person out. Didn’t see another soul. I had to get George to let me out of the gate.
I am not going to disturb you tonight, my love. I’ll be sleeping on the couch. Been years since I had to do that anyway and it doesn’t do well for a husband to get out of the habit. I love you and I will be home as soon as I can tomorrow. When you get this come and check to see if I am still asleep. If I am, we can have tea together before I go. But I plan to wake early and head back. The store is still a bit of a mess and I want it looking as good as I can. This storm is a blessing and I do not want to squander it.
Good night my flower. You have all my love.
Gene
xoxo
Nancy,
Thank you for leaving dinner out for me. I do appreciate it. I know I was later than usual last night. I hope you are not too mad at me. Business was great! With the storm warnings in the morning I had high hopes – but you know that. “giddy” I think is what you called me. And I was right. There was a steady stream of customers. It was nice. The Summer has been so dry I was wondering if I was going to make rent this year. I do so love the clientele at the Market, and it would be a shame to have to move. I would miss so many of their faces. Once those drops started to fall I think I got the chance to see all of them too. People were crawling out of the woodwork to buy my stock. It was really nice to see.
I worked right up until close, which is rare as you know. I don’t know your mood when you went to sleep my dear, but please wipe the idea that I stopped for a pint instead of coming to you out of your mind. I had a lot to clean up and restock for tomorrow. If we are lucky the storm will last into the morning hours and threaten to wet the day. I think I was even the last person out. Didn’t see another soul. I had to get George to let me out of the gate.
I am not going to disturb you tonight, my love. I’ll be sleeping on the couch. Been years since I had to do that anyway and it doesn’t do well for a husband to get out of the habit. I love you and I will be home as soon as I can tomorrow. When you get this come and check to see if I am still asleep. If I am, we can have tea together before I go. But I plan to wake early and head back. The store is still a bit of a mess and I want it looking as good as I can. This storm is a blessing and I do not want to squander it.
Good night my flower. You have all my love.
Gene
xoxo
Character #6
Character #6: Alfred Mowen
Nov 7th, 20--
Dear Susan,
It seems so odd to be actually writing this. Why you decided to go without internet is beyond me. I know you and Larry want to get back to your feet and things like the ‘net might be considered a luxury. But I don’t think it counts when you move so far away. Halfway across the country and THIS is the easiest way we have to contact you? I feel like I am in the dark ages. I considered buying some parchment and a quill, but I don’t suppose my penmanship would improve with archaic instruments. It’s enough that I hope my spelling and grammer holds out – no spell check on paper. Also, I find it hard to share humor. It seems silly to write LOL when it isn’t a computer screen. But it seems even sillier to write Ha Ha. Don’t know what I am going to do. You’re strangling me, hon.
Not sure where to start. I guess I have to think back to the last time we talked. (Speaking of which, don’t you believe in phones? There are cheap ways to get them and I hope that paper is not the way you go permanently in the future.) I know that it was since you moved. Was it when you were heading past Alice’s place? Or when you stayed with Pat? Not sure. But I know it was before I got the new truck. Well, van really. It’s better for getting my stuff to and from the warehouse. Ha. Warehouse. Why did we call it that? We still do and it is the stupidest description I have ever heard for something. I don’t even know if you really would call it a greenhouse even. It isn’t much of anything. But warehouse you coined it so warehouse it will remain.
Anyway, you know the troubles I’ve had taking stuff to and from. Not enough of this, too much of that, and even some getting blown off when I roar down the #1. Well now I have a van. Couldn’t afford a proper worker’s one. I was stuck with Ford. Do me a favor and don’t read this bit to Larry. I know how he feels about Ford. The decision just came down to money. Doesn’t it always? I had a few grand saved up and decided the time was ripe to pony up a bit. I looked around and this was the best deal out there. Even got it a little cheaper by accident. I wasn’t thinking of taxes when I was haggling. Got them to a number I could afford and then I handed it over. Thought I was going to flop when they mentioned taxes. They were real nice about the whole thing. Bumped the sticker price lower so that everything worked out. Overall I was pretty happy with how everything turned out. Probably head back to them and do it again next time I have to get wheels.
It’s black – not all that happy about that – and it was a year or so older than the pickup I had, but it is in better shape by far. I’ve never had a Ford before. You remember Dad was a Chevy man. Trucks, cars, anything with wheels. If it wasn’t a Chev then it wasn’t right. Don’t know what he’d say. I know Ma dislikes it. But then she dislikes anything that he thought was disreputable. I’ll keep slogging and hope that he stops rolling over in his grave when he hears of how much better it makes things. I’d offer to send you a picture, but mine are all digital. Let’s make a deal. You get ‘net on and I’ll send you some pics.
New family moved in where you were living. I don’t like them. Maybe it isn’t so much that I don’t like them but that I can’t be bothered to like them. If they’re anything like you they’ll be nice, friendly folk. They’ll work themselves up to being cheerful and helpful and open. Then they’ll get tired of living in the suburbs or life with hot running water or some other form of civilization and then they’ll take off and head into the Prairies. Then I’ll have to go to all the trouble to get to know another batch of people. It’s all so tiring.
It’s a couple and their four kids. I think they have three boys and a girl. Or two and two. Or one of each. I can’t remember. They seemed fairly cute in any case. He’s some kind of broker and she’s in insurance. Not sure who takes care of the kids. These days I don’t know if anyone does at all anymore. I know that everyone we know thinks we’re nuts. You did too until you got grassroots fever. What there is about actually having someone stay at home and raising kids that everyone thinks is so strange is beyond me. You always said it was because of the economy. That people can’t afford to live on a single income. I still disagree, by the way. I’m in the minority, I know. Until the government outlaws the right to be old fashioned I’ll stick with it.
I don’t see them much, but Myrna bumps into them all the time. Their kids are the usual bag. Sports, ponies, bicycles, and other such things. Sandy and Mimi love them. Not sure if Tim has seen them much, but if the boys are into sports they’re bound to run into each other. I’ve been heading back and forth into the Interior, so I have missed most of the first month festivities. I’m not worried. Things will quiet down in a few months and then I’ll have to settle down into being human. In the time being I’m just working as much as I can.
I don’t see how you two are going to make a farm pay. It was everything you could do to run the house here. I’m not saying that you’re lazy, but you just barely managed to make things work. You planted that huge garden in back. And how often did you water? Once a week? Twice if the plants were lucky? How are you going to manage to drag yourself up every day and take care of an entire farm? Don’t get me wrong. I’m hoping that I have it all wrong. I’m hoping that once you get out there and you’re not burdened by time, internet, phone calls, and all the trappings of a civilized society that you’ll turn into organic powerhouses of production. I just won’t hold my breath. Ha ha. (man but that looks stupid)
I’m still a little amazed at all of it. Sure, you’ve talked about this for years. Ever since Carl was born. And I know that everyone is all up about the environment and sustainability and all of that – oh, how I know it. But how are you going to make it pay? How are you going to actually take care of a farm while you have two kids to put through school. I know it is only public school, but you still have to get them there. What about toys, sports equipment, clothes, and everything that goes along with growing kids? You’re a smart gal, Susan, but I think you’d kill the kids if you home schooled them. Most people would. Kids get on your nerves. And where does the “school” stop and the home start?
I said it before and you didn’t want to listen. I will say it again and promise that this is the last time. Honest Injun. Forget this organic stuff. Just grow your crops. Spray to keep the bugs off. Add the chemicals that will make them grow. Just do it. It may not be the “natural” way, but it will give you a good crop. A decent and equalized crop. One piece of your product will look much like another. You won’t have to worry about getting ok food this time and crap the next. You’ll be able to produce a lot and satisfy demand. You’ll build clientele. You could even (gasp) make money. I mean it. So why not? Do you hate the idea of success that much?
Ok, I said my piece and I will shut up. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that I am just blowing off steam. I’m not. I know what I am talking about. Just after you guys left Cole sent out a memo to all us vendors. I didn’t mention it to you when you called because I was still steamed. Also, I didn’t want to waste your dime with my bitching. It may be costing me some paper to complain now, but all I waste is your time. And let’s face it. Crops don’t sprout overnight so you’re going to have a lot of time on your hands!
This whole trend started a while ago. I wasn’t paying attention. You probably know more about that than I do. You’re part of the granola tribe. But anyway, we all saw it coming. I didn’t think it would be a big deal. There have been adherents of organic food and environmentally friendly growing practices for years. Heck, they put the city on a recycling plan and I went on it too. I recycle every week. I try and do what I can to be green. But that can’t be the always way, you know? Sometimes money comes into it. I want to survive and support my family. How can I be expected to run Roman’s Raisins and More on trends? Organic is expensive. Green gets expensive. I do what I can where I can, but the bottom line is the bottom line.
I’ve seen friends lose more than just their spot on the floor at the Market. I’ve seen them lose their homes and families. And for what? Just so that you can save one more tree? So that you can sleep soundly at night in your cardboard box with crayon curtains? I have seen the cost of the organic movement. If you buy product that was harder to make, it will cost more. Because production costs more. Because packaging costs more. So your product has to be sold at a higher price. People don’t like to buy high prices, so you fail. But wait. Why not sell just as cheap? Because then you don’t get to make enough profit to cover expenses and you fail. In all ways you tend to fail. Oh sure, get yourself in an area where the clientele has money to burn and a social conscious and then you’ll be fine. Other than that you are taking a chance.
So onto the memo. There is was in black and white. A plan to turn the Market into some kind of shopping haven for the organically inclined. Rent rebates given to those who step into line. But I have clients to think of. I have a reputation to think of. If you come to me for your raisins or your fruit, you expect a certain level of product. A certain quality. You don’t want to get a bag of something home that you have to eat in a day because it will go bag. You want to be confident that you can give this stuff to your kids and they will eat it, not throw it in the trash or trade it at school for a chocolate bar. I have to do more than just think of the people, but also the money they give me. These are monies that pay my bottom line. Bills, transport, purchasing. This is my life. If I don’t sell, I can’t stay and I can’t buy and I am screwed.
Cole was doing more than just saying he wants us thinking of it. Cole was pushing for it. Big time. And he hasn’t let up since. He wants healthy, homegrown, organic crap from wall to wall. Oh yeah, he wants it homegrown. Says that there are a lot of studies out there that point to more and more people shopping locally. That they are more likely to go to a local supplier for all of their needs than to drive a fair ways for low prices. He wants and 80% minimum of local stuff. That’s within fifty clicks mind you. How the hell he expects us to do this is beyond me. It’s way to difficult. And yes, before you ask, I did think about it. I thought about it all the way home. And let me tell you that Gifford agrees with me wholeheartedly. It will be a cold day in hell when Fargles’ sells local product.
How could I do it? Say I found someone even as “close” as Abbotsford. What am I going to do? Pay more money than I can from the orchards in the interior – costs go up. There will be some trade in the gas I don’t have to buy, but per product the cost goes up. And the quality goes down. Right now I can buy a truckload and only write off a dozen or so. At least before the customers get them. And who cares if they were grown in a greenhouse or out in some small orchard? Your tongue won’t care. The tastebuds will still identify that product as what it is. Eat an apple and you know you have an apple. You want to pay no more than you do in a grocery store, right? Well, maybe not if you are a granola freak, but most people are not.
If you can walk from your home to the store to buy an apple for say 25cents a pound, why would you drive out to the Market to buy something for 45cents a pound? Or 50. 60? Go totally green and there is no telling how much the costs will rise. Sure you can be happy that you have made the world a better place. But I would rather hand my kid a wallet and some keys and walk away knowing that while it may be a bit dirty there is at least money for my kids to live on in the end of days. Those with high-paying jobs will buy it, sure. There may even be a little movement to people with a planet conscience. But how many of them are there?
No one cares what “organic” means. Hell, they can’t even agree on a definition. Even then when push comes to shove they are walking through aisles comparing prices. There is now way that a company can out bid these guys. They always win. Why? Because if I want an order I get it. I’ll pack my van on up. But these companies go and pack up dozens upon dozens of 54” trailers. How can I compete with that buying power? Answer is that I can’t. So why try? I pick the best I can with what I have and sell it at a reasonable markup. I can’t help that it isn’t local. I can’t help that it may come in a box that’s made of Styrofoam. What I can help is a price very similar to that of a major chain. (every so often they change it up)
I just realized that I have been ranting at people with a totally different worldview for the last page or so. Sorry. I’m not trying to be a poison pen, but Cole just ticks me off. How much more of a tourist spot can we become? This is a fairly green-leaning city, but we are not the wheatgrass capital of the West, you know? There is only so much that we can do. And he should be fine with what we have. We have diversity. We have some unique products – at least here anyway. And we have good people. Well, ok there is one or two that are real ripe SOBs but that doesn’t mean that we’re totally buried in jerks. Take Gifford. I know you hate him, but he seemed really human the other day. We talked for a few hours and then we went our separate ways, but he said that he agreed with everything I said. I’m thinking of getting a petition together against Cole’s new vision. I’m sure Gifford will help. There is no way that I am going to sit idly by and march into the new year with a leash around my neck and the balls of my business in a vice.
Speaking of balls, it is the hockey fundraiser this weekend. First year I can remember that you are not going to be here. Not sure what I will think with a new face at the apple cider bar. But the rest of everything is going to be there. Helen is doing the bob for apples thing. George will be doing up his deep-fried ding-dongs. Not sure who is going to win the sack race. They just polished the gym floor so it should be interesting to see if any of us actually make it to the finish line. We’ve been selling hockey balls door to door – well, not “we” but the kids. Done pretty good too. Did better this year than we did when we were trying to get new uniforms. I think it is going to be a real success. Tell Larry that we’re going to miss him a lot this year. Everyone keeps asking after him. So if you ever get tired of molding away out there in the boonies, he has a job to come back to.
Myrna is busy taking all sorts of pictures, so you make sure that you do the same, ok? Even if they are old-school photographs that you get copies of and mail to us. Do they even have photomats anymore? There used to be one or two in every mall. Remember the pictures that would flip on the conveyor belt near the window? Do you think they caught the dirty ones or do you think a few “shows” happened here and there. Actually, when I think of all the illegal sexual exploitation pictures out there, it makes you wonder how anyone got away with it. Sure they could have developed their own but it seems like a whole lot of inconvenience to me. And most of the guys who get caught don’t really strike me as all that bright. But I don’t really want to get into all that. Just take some pics so that Myrna can see you and she is taking some so that you can see her.
When you write back, please let me know how many people are actually sending you letters. I am very curious to see who in this age of technological marvels is willing to go low-tech to stay in touch. It would be an interesting experiment to have everyone cut out their internet use for a month and see who still is in contact with whom. I once didn’t go on Facebook for a whole weekend and felt completely cut off. I wasn’t up to date on anyone. If it hadn’t been for TV I would have been cut off from world events too. I think the first thing I did when I got my last phone was to make sure the Internet feeds were working. I don’t think I put in any numbers for a day or two, lol. (That looks weird too)
We miss you guys a lot. I have no idea when we’ll be able to take a trip out your way for a visit, but it won’t happen until you get some indoor plumbing. I know you’ll laugh and I know that you aren’t living like cavemen, but it is hard to get rid of the image of you and Larry huddled around a fire surrounded by piles of writhing, organic potatoes, and cleaning your teeth with twigs. No one is going to say it, but everyone is going to be thinking the same thing. So if you want to dispel the rumors please keep us posted (ha, get it? Post? Letters? I should go on stage) so that we can tell everyone you’re doing great. Otherwise expect people to be very surprised should they learn you are not actually living in a cave or a hole and hunting Prairie dogs with pointed sticks.
Myrna and the kids send their love. We really hope to hear from you soon and see you before the summer. If you don’t get back to us in time – I have no idea how long it takes to send a letter these days – then have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Yours,
Alfred
Nov 7th, 20--
Dear Susan,
It seems so odd to be actually writing this. Why you decided to go without internet is beyond me. I know you and Larry want to get back to your feet and things like the ‘net might be considered a luxury. But I don’t think it counts when you move so far away. Halfway across the country and THIS is the easiest way we have to contact you? I feel like I am in the dark ages. I considered buying some parchment and a quill, but I don’t suppose my penmanship would improve with archaic instruments. It’s enough that I hope my spelling and grammer holds out – no spell check on paper. Also, I find it hard to share humor. It seems silly to write LOL when it isn’t a computer screen. But it seems even sillier to write Ha Ha. Don’t know what I am going to do. You’re strangling me, hon.
Not sure where to start. I guess I have to think back to the last time we talked. (Speaking of which, don’t you believe in phones? There are cheap ways to get them and I hope that paper is not the way you go permanently in the future.) I know that it was since you moved. Was it when you were heading past Alice’s place? Or when you stayed with Pat? Not sure. But I know it was before I got the new truck. Well, van really. It’s better for getting my stuff to and from the warehouse. Ha. Warehouse. Why did we call it that? We still do and it is the stupidest description I have ever heard for something. I don’t even know if you really would call it a greenhouse even. It isn’t much of anything. But warehouse you coined it so warehouse it will remain.
Anyway, you know the troubles I’ve had taking stuff to and from. Not enough of this, too much of that, and even some getting blown off when I roar down the #1. Well now I have a van. Couldn’t afford a proper worker’s one. I was stuck with Ford. Do me a favor and don’t read this bit to Larry. I know how he feels about Ford. The decision just came down to money. Doesn’t it always? I had a few grand saved up and decided the time was ripe to pony up a bit. I looked around and this was the best deal out there. Even got it a little cheaper by accident. I wasn’t thinking of taxes when I was haggling. Got them to a number I could afford and then I handed it over. Thought I was going to flop when they mentioned taxes. They were real nice about the whole thing. Bumped the sticker price lower so that everything worked out. Overall I was pretty happy with how everything turned out. Probably head back to them and do it again next time I have to get wheels.
It’s black – not all that happy about that – and it was a year or so older than the pickup I had, but it is in better shape by far. I’ve never had a Ford before. You remember Dad was a Chevy man. Trucks, cars, anything with wheels. If it wasn’t a Chev then it wasn’t right. Don’t know what he’d say. I know Ma dislikes it. But then she dislikes anything that he thought was disreputable. I’ll keep slogging and hope that he stops rolling over in his grave when he hears of how much better it makes things. I’d offer to send you a picture, but mine are all digital. Let’s make a deal. You get ‘net on and I’ll send you some pics.
New family moved in where you were living. I don’t like them. Maybe it isn’t so much that I don’t like them but that I can’t be bothered to like them. If they’re anything like you they’ll be nice, friendly folk. They’ll work themselves up to being cheerful and helpful and open. Then they’ll get tired of living in the suburbs or life with hot running water or some other form of civilization and then they’ll take off and head into the Prairies. Then I’ll have to go to all the trouble to get to know another batch of people. It’s all so tiring.
It’s a couple and their four kids. I think they have three boys and a girl. Or two and two. Or one of each. I can’t remember. They seemed fairly cute in any case. He’s some kind of broker and she’s in insurance. Not sure who takes care of the kids. These days I don’t know if anyone does at all anymore. I know that everyone we know thinks we’re nuts. You did too until you got grassroots fever. What there is about actually having someone stay at home and raising kids that everyone thinks is so strange is beyond me. You always said it was because of the economy. That people can’t afford to live on a single income. I still disagree, by the way. I’m in the minority, I know. Until the government outlaws the right to be old fashioned I’ll stick with it.
I don’t see them much, but Myrna bumps into them all the time. Their kids are the usual bag. Sports, ponies, bicycles, and other such things. Sandy and Mimi love them. Not sure if Tim has seen them much, but if the boys are into sports they’re bound to run into each other. I’ve been heading back and forth into the Interior, so I have missed most of the first month festivities. I’m not worried. Things will quiet down in a few months and then I’ll have to settle down into being human. In the time being I’m just working as much as I can.
I don’t see how you two are going to make a farm pay. It was everything you could do to run the house here. I’m not saying that you’re lazy, but you just barely managed to make things work. You planted that huge garden in back. And how often did you water? Once a week? Twice if the plants were lucky? How are you going to manage to drag yourself up every day and take care of an entire farm? Don’t get me wrong. I’m hoping that I have it all wrong. I’m hoping that once you get out there and you’re not burdened by time, internet, phone calls, and all the trappings of a civilized society that you’ll turn into organic powerhouses of production. I just won’t hold my breath. Ha ha. (man but that looks stupid)
I’m still a little amazed at all of it. Sure, you’ve talked about this for years. Ever since Carl was born. And I know that everyone is all up about the environment and sustainability and all of that – oh, how I know it. But how are you going to make it pay? How are you going to actually take care of a farm while you have two kids to put through school. I know it is only public school, but you still have to get them there. What about toys, sports equipment, clothes, and everything that goes along with growing kids? You’re a smart gal, Susan, but I think you’d kill the kids if you home schooled them. Most people would. Kids get on your nerves. And where does the “school” stop and the home start?
I said it before and you didn’t want to listen. I will say it again and promise that this is the last time. Honest Injun. Forget this organic stuff. Just grow your crops. Spray to keep the bugs off. Add the chemicals that will make them grow. Just do it. It may not be the “natural” way, but it will give you a good crop. A decent and equalized crop. One piece of your product will look much like another. You won’t have to worry about getting ok food this time and crap the next. You’ll be able to produce a lot and satisfy demand. You’ll build clientele. You could even (gasp) make money. I mean it. So why not? Do you hate the idea of success that much?
Ok, I said my piece and I will shut up. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that I am just blowing off steam. I’m not. I know what I am talking about. Just after you guys left Cole sent out a memo to all us vendors. I didn’t mention it to you when you called because I was still steamed. Also, I didn’t want to waste your dime with my bitching. It may be costing me some paper to complain now, but all I waste is your time. And let’s face it. Crops don’t sprout overnight so you’re going to have a lot of time on your hands!
This whole trend started a while ago. I wasn’t paying attention. You probably know more about that than I do. You’re part of the granola tribe. But anyway, we all saw it coming. I didn’t think it would be a big deal. There have been adherents of organic food and environmentally friendly growing practices for years. Heck, they put the city on a recycling plan and I went on it too. I recycle every week. I try and do what I can to be green. But that can’t be the always way, you know? Sometimes money comes into it. I want to survive and support my family. How can I be expected to run Roman’s Raisins and More on trends? Organic is expensive. Green gets expensive. I do what I can where I can, but the bottom line is the bottom line.
I’ve seen friends lose more than just their spot on the floor at the Market. I’ve seen them lose their homes and families. And for what? Just so that you can save one more tree? So that you can sleep soundly at night in your cardboard box with crayon curtains? I have seen the cost of the organic movement. If you buy product that was harder to make, it will cost more. Because production costs more. Because packaging costs more. So your product has to be sold at a higher price. People don’t like to buy high prices, so you fail. But wait. Why not sell just as cheap? Because then you don’t get to make enough profit to cover expenses and you fail. In all ways you tend to fail. Oh sure, get yourself in an area where the clientele has money to burn and a social conscious and then you’ll be fine. Other than that you are taking a chance.
So onto the memo. There is was in black and white. A plan to turn the Market into some kind of shopping haven for the organically inclined. Rent rebates given to those who step into line. But I have clients to think of. I have a reputation to think of. If you come to me for your raisins or your fruit, you expect a certain level of product. A certain quality. You don’t want to get a bag of something home that you have to eat in a day because it will go bag. You want to be confident that you can give this stuff to your kids and they will eat it, not throw it in the trash or trade it at school for a chocolate bar. I have to do more than just think of the people, but also the money they give me. These are monies that pay my bottom line. Bills, transport, purchasing. This is my life. If I don’t sell, I can’t stay and I can’t buy and I am screwed.
Cole was doing more than just saying he wants us thinking of it. Cole was pushing for it. Big time. And he hasn’t let up since. He wants healthy, homegrown, organic crap from wall to wall. Oh yeah, he wants it homegrown. Says that there are a lot of studies out there that point to more and more people shopping locally. That they are more likely to go to a local supplier for all of their needs than to drive a fair ways for low prices. He wants and 80% minimum of local stuff. That’s within fifty clicks mind you. How the hell he expects us to do this is beyond me. It’s way to difficult. And yes, before you ask, I did think about it. I thought about it all the way home. And let me tell you that Gifford agrees with me wholeheartedly. It will be a cold day in hell when Fargles’ sells local product.
How could I do it? Say I found someone even as “close” as Abbotsford. What am I going to do? Pay more money than I can from the orchards in the interior – costs go up. There will be some trade in the gas I don’t have to buy, but per product the cost goes up. And the quality goes down. Right now I can buy a truckload and only write off a dozen or so. At least before the customers get them. And who cares if they were grown in a greenhouse or out in some small orchard? Your tongue won’t care. The tastebuds will still identify that product as what it is. Eat an apple and you know you have an apple. You want to pay no more than you do in a grocery store, right? Well, maybe not if you are a granola freak, but most people are not.
If you can walk from your home to the store to buy an apple for say 25cents a pound, why would you drive out to the Market to buy something for 45cents a pound? Or 50. 60? Go totally green and there is no telling how much the costs will rise. Sure you can be happy that you have made the world a better place. But I would rather hand my kid a wallet and some keys and walk away knowing that while it may be a bit dirty there is at least money for my kids to live on in the end of days. Those with high-paying jobs will buy it, sure. There may even be a little movement to people with a planet conscience. But how many of them are there?
No one cares what “organic” means. Hell, they can’t even agree on a definition. Even then when push comes to shove they are walking through aisles comparing prices. There is now way that a company can out bid these guys. They always win. Why? Because if I want an order I get it. I’ll pack my van on up. But these companies go and pack up dozens upon dozens of 54” trailers. How can I compete with that buying power? Answer is that I can’t. So why try? I pick the best I can with what I have and sell it at a reasonable markup. I can’t help that it isn’t local. I can’t help that it may come in a box that’s made of Styrofoam. What I can help is a price very similar to that of a major chain. (every so often they change it up)
I just realized that I have been ranting at people with a totally different worldview for the last page or so. Sorry. I’m not trying to be a poison pen, but Cole just ticks me off. How much more of a tourist spot can we become? This is a fairly green-leaning city, but we are not the wheatgrass capital of the West, you know? There is only so much that we can do. And he should be fine with what we have. We have diversity. We have some unique products – at least here anyway. And we have good people. Well, ok there is one or two that are real ripe SOBs but that doesn’t mean that we’re totally buried in jerks. Take Gifford. I know you hate him, but he seemed really human the other day. We talked for a few hours and then we went our separate ways, but he said that he agreed with everything I said. I’m thinking of getting a petition together against Cole’s new vision. I’m sure Gifford will help. There is no way that I am going to sit idly by and march into the new year with a leash around my neck and the balls of my business in a vice.
Speaking of balls, it is the hockey fundraiser this weekend. First year I can remember that you are not going to be here. Not sure what I will think with a new face at the apple cider bar. But the rest of everything is going to be there. Helen is doing the bob for apples thing. George will be doing up his deep-fried ding-dongs. Not sure who is going to win the sack race. They just polished the gym floor so it should be interesting to see if any of us actually make it to the finish line. We’ve been selling hockey balls door to door – well, not “we” but the kids. Done pretty good too. Did better this year than we did when we were trying to get new uniforms. I think it is going to be a real success. Tell Larry that we’re going to miss him a lot this year. Everyone keeps asking after him. So if you ever get tired of molding away out there in the boonies, he has a job to come back to.
Myrna is busy taking all sorts of pictures, so you make sure that you do the same, ok? Even if they are old-school photographs that you get copies of and mail to us. Do they even have photomats anymore? There used to be one or two in every mall. Remember the pictures that would flip on the conveyor belt near the window? Do you think they caught the dirty ones or do you think a few “shows” happened here and there. Actually, when I think of all the illegal sexual exploitation pictures out there, it makes you wonder how anyone got away with it. Sure they could have developed their own but it seems like a whole lot of inconvenience to me. And most of the guys who get caught don’t really strike me as all that bright. But I don’t really want to get into all that. Just take some pics so that Myrna can see you and she is taking some so that you can see her.
When you write back, please let me know how many people are actually sending you letters. I am very curious to see who in this age of technological marvels is willing to go low-tech to stay in touch. It would be an interesting experiment to have everyone cut out their internet use for a month and see who still is in contact with whom. I once didn’t go on Facebook for a whole weekend and felt completely cut off. I wasn’t up to date on anyone. If it hadn’t been for TV I would have been cut off from world events too. I think the first thing I did when I got my last phone was to make sure the Internet feeds were working. I don’t think I put in any numbers for a day or two, lol. (That looks weird too)
We miss you guys a lot. I have no idea when we’ll be able to take a trip out your way for a visit, but it won’t happen until you get some indoor plumbing. I know you’ll laugh and I know that you aren’t living like cavemen, but it is hard to get rid of the image of you and Larry huddled around a fire surrounded by piles of writhing, organic potatoes, and cleaning your teeth with twigs. No one is going to say it, but everyone is going to be thinking the same thing. So if you want to dispel the rumors please keep us posted (ha, get it? Post? Letters? I should go on stage) so that we can tell everyone you’re doing great. Otherwise expect people to be very surprised should they learn you are not actually living in a cave or a hole and hunting Prairie dogs with pointed sticks.
Myrna and the kids send their love. We really hope to hear from you soon and see you before the summer. If you don’t get back to us in time – I have no idea how long it takes to send a letter these days – then have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Yours,
Alfred
November 6, 2012
Character #5
Michelle Sawyer: Church Organist
To Whom it May Concern:
My name is Mrs. Michelle Sawyer and I am a visitor to your fair city. I am an old woman and I do not have the time left to me to beat around the bush. I believe in straight words and putting all my cards on the table. Don’t be offended by my manor, but do not put me off as a crackpot because of my age. I am merely older than you, not simpler or stupid. I have seen a lot in my time and it has helped me to develop very well informed opinions on a variety of different subjects. Just because I am a woman does not mean that I have not spent many years exercising my brain. I am writing to you not because of desperation, but from a sense of entitlement. As a consumer, I believe that my words and experience should be seen and heard at the highest levels. I am not sure just what the level is at a Market of this sort and will trust that it will get into the right hands. Hands that will be able to do something about an issue that is dear to my heart. Now that we know where we all stand, I think it is time to come to the point.
I am on holiday. Not just any holiday, but my yearly holiday. As you are probably not aware I work for a little church just outside of Agion. Now in a town of this size you might not understand what that means, but if you have had the good fortune and high breeding to have come from a smaller town you will realize that we are not strangers. Here in this city I doubt that you know more than two or three of the people that you hob knob with on a daily basis. Oh you’re polite and you smile and all of that, but when things get down to brass tacks you really do not know the people around you. That is all different where I come from. We don’t know everyone to be sure. But you know your neighborhood and you know the children who have grown up and moved across town. You know the grocer and the baker and the lovely lady you buy your wool from (Evelyn’s daughter even went to school back East. Really fancy one too. We expect her to be awarded a degree very shortly). You live life differently when you know the people that you do business with. There is more than just the hoped for ideals of honesty, but a real honesty right there to touch. How do you cheat someone you see every day? Whose children lived and played in your backyard? Someone you sit next to at the church social and get BBQ with on the weekends? The answer is that you don’t. You deal with them honestly because you know them. And they do the same. In my opinion there would be a lot fewer problem in the world if we would all just get together and get to know one another.
But that is not to say that a big city doesn’t have its attractions. The arts, my dear person, the arts. That is why we chose this city. The galleries and the opportunities to see live theatre. It draws us. As the organist and secretary of the Ladies Brunch Society, it is my duty to help to expand the minds of those around me. What better tool could there be but a slideshow of my trip upon my return? Think of all the people that I could help. I know that Mrs. Toberman loves the Renaissance but poor Mrs. Jaskel doesn’t know a Rembrandt from a Picasso. Not that you should be surprised. You wouldn’t know this, but she did marry quite a bit below herself. Oh, we’re not stuck up on things like bloodlines or society, please don’t think that, but it is important to marry someone that you really understand and that understands you. A meeting of the minds as much as a meeting of the hearts. While in the throws of passion and romance it is easy to imagine yourself with someone, but what do you do ten years down the road with three children playing at your feet? Do you really like the person that you are stuck seeing day after day? Do you respect them? Or are you stuck just thinking of way in which they disappoint you? I am afraid that I knew Mrs. Jaskel when she was just little Alice Abley. She truly did love the arts. Her dream was to go to Paris and stand in the Louvre. But I don’t think she really understood anything about it. It was just a name that she had heard us bandy about. Like children who play at having more wisdom than they really do. I once heard Tommy Bruttle give a lecture to his friends on the birds and the bees that would have had them going in all the wrong directions if they had ever really listened to him. That just comes from sneaking peeks at your Father’s gentleman’s magazines but not reading any of the words. Alice was like that. Looking at a picture over our shoulders and dreaming of a city of lights. Just think of how she will appreciate seeing real art instead of those terrible magazines her husband buys her at the drugstore. He might as well give her flowers.
It has in a way become a holy mission of mine. Surely it is important to do the Lord’s work whenever we can. And part of that is each and every one of us taking the time to find a place in this world in which we can make a difference and then taking the steps to make that difference. I believe my part is to bring culture to the uncultured. I have been given no charter from Heaven and heard no voices from the bushes I have seen burning. Especially since I think it was Tommy who lit them. It was certainly not the Lord. I do not think that He resorts to sulfur matches. But it is very clear to me what it is that I am to do with my life. When I look around myself at all the ladies that need a little bit of sunshine and light in their lives. When I see the faces light up at the sounds of the pianoforte like they did when I managed to get Susan Duor to play for the Victoria’s Bruncheon in ’87. I just know that this is what I am sent here to do. What better way to do this than to visit your beloved city?
What a surprise there was awaiting me. Why the people here might as well live in New York City. What is it that they are all doing in such a hurry? They certainly can’t all have such terribly important business to take care of. I went on this fancy elevated train of yours and almost lost my life. Truly. I was in fear of myself. I tried to ride the escalator and seven people pushed past me. Seven. Isn’t it enough that we are riding to the top without having to walk? Isn’t it fast enough? And it wasn’t like they were rushing to catch a train either. We waited for a good five minutes before one showed up. And the nice security man who I discussed it with assured me that a train came by every five or six minutes. So why were they rushing? To get a favorite spot on the train? To impress us all with how important they were? It was just rude. Take a bit of advice from me. If you take this train make sure to take your time. There is always another train.
I am afraid that you might be getting the wrong idea. I am sure that you are reading these short words and wondering what it is that I will find wrong with you. Rest assured you are safe. After all, since I do not know who it is who may actually read this and assist future patrons of your establishment I have no way of commenting on your nature and personal habits. It is even less likely that we know each other in any way. And we all know that it is by close proximity and conduct that we gain that deeper knowledge necessary to guide and advise one another on the subtle points of behavior that some of us lack. In such a brief note as this I have no way of conveying between us the bosom friendship and blessed assurance of loving tolerance that is necessary for friends to truly appreciate a guiding hand.
My goal throughout this entire venture was to visit such areas of culture and opportunity that are available in your city. To visit and to document them. To take a log of pictures and to write in a diary about each of the objects that caught my fancy and made it into my valuable collection of photographic memories. Before I had the opportunity to visit your facility I had the chance to see a concert of flutes given by some lovely young people. I got to walk through all the stores that border your library, although why there were so many places to purchase refreshment when you are not allowed to take any inside is a wonder to me. I also got to go and walk on some suspension bridges up in very tall trees. Next on my list was your Market. You may wonder why your Market was on this list. Rest assured that your reputation has travelled even so far as Agion. My sister’s friend’s cousin’s gardener had grown up around here and remembered your Market well. Many a time a recollection from this place has made its way to the table at the Scott’s. Since I would be in the area anyway, I felt that I could make it a treat for this man to have some fresh looks and remembrances to mull over on a long night. Since I could not arrange to have him come with me – what would people say to have a woman travelling with a man not her husband? Really, I just couldn’t have it. The next best thing was obviously to record it for my journal and share it with him upon my return. Not just him, but all those of us who have heard him speak of the Market with such nice terms.
My plan was to spend the morning strolling through your shops, have some tea, and then catch a boat over to the city and meet my good friend Margaret. You may not know her, but she works in the offices of the symphony and knows some truly lovely people. Though I suppose that if you do not know her that is a bit of a tease. If that is the case, take heart. I have heard it said that she knows all of the best people and if this letter is in your hands then you are at least a person capable of action and results. That is the first step towards greatness and we all know that bestness is next to greatness along life’s journey. When you reach it, you are bound to make her acquaintance and I defy you to dislike her. In fact, I know that you will get along famously. But will you act? Will you step up and take these few words to heart? I must hope and pray that you will. And if for some reason you cannot, then I can only point out that this letter was obviously delivered to you by mistake. Take the time to read it, but only so that you have better knowledge to direct the postal service to the right individual. I trust that you will.
I used the public transportation that was available at such a time in the morning and found myself among the first to wander through your gates and towards the delights that your advertising has led patrons to expect. But my hopes were dashed. We were let through the gates but not into the facility. Now I have heard of a lot of things in my time, but this is one of the worst. When you wish to run a successful business, it is imperative to get your times correct. I know that it is an affectation of the youth of today to not have a pocket watch. They seem to revel in the loose conduct that is allowed when one rejects the status quo and mocks the keeping of appointments. The appointment is more than a thing. It is the sacred duty of all business owners to respect, even to the loss of their own health. It is incumbent upon us all to embrace punctuality and all its blessings. In future I will hope that you will do so. Many travellers create a plan. This plan is an itinerary as important and sanctified as those put about by the trolley companies. We wish to get all we can out of life and only by following the times in our tables can we ever hope to manage just that. When a business announces that it will open its doors at eight in the morning, then that is exactly what it should do instead of leaving them standing outside to get colder and more irritated with you than they should be. In fact, we should be happy that you have opened your doors on time to let us in. This is a violation of the basic agreement that patron and host agree to. You open for business and we will supply that business. Open late and we want to take our business elsewhere. Why give you money when you squander it and are unable to even procure that most basic of necessities: time.
I know what you are going to say. That it was not your fault. That you found out too late to do anything about it. But let me say this. You set the policies for your employees. If they don’t like to help out, then remove them from your Market and let them find work elsewhere. I believe in open markets but only when they open on time with everything prepared for the customers who like your products so much they return again and again to assist you in improving yourself through profits. But when your staff fails, then you fail. There was talk of power issues, but that is just an excuse. Another chance to pass the buck instead of thinking for themselves. You may not have been there to fail to open the doors, but your men are in the military. They should be doing more than just standing there in pretty uniforms looking handsome. They should be helping all they can so the retailers can do better business. They should be following orders. Your orders. So the responsibility comes down to you.
I hope that I have explained things well enough for you to understand them. I was rushed in writing this letter and hope that in the end you will take what short lessons it has in it to heart. Open your doors on time and enable your patrons to retain their schedules. In my case everything worked out and I was able to see a gorgeous collection of porcelain dishes. I am quite intrigued and may need to take a visit to their anthropolitical department and see what treasures can be gleaned there. Margaret quite outdid herself and you should question her on the possibility of you getting your chance at a viewing if you should ever earn her friendship.
I thank you for taking the time to read this.
Yours,
Michelle Sawyer
To Whom it May Concern:
My name is Mrs. Michelle Sawyer and I am a visitor to your fair city. I am an old woman and I do not have the time left to me to beat around the bush. I believe in straight words and putting all my cards on the table. Don’t be offended by my manor, but do not put me off as a crackpot because of my age. I am merely older than you, not simpler or stupid. I have seen a lot in my time and it has helped me to develop very well informed opinions on a variety of different subjects. Just because I am a woman does not mean that I have not spent many years exercising my brain. I am writing to you not because of desperation, but from a sense of entitlement. As a consumer, I believe that my words and experience should be seen and heard at the highest levels. I am not sure just what the level is at a Market of this sort and will trust that it will get into the right hands. Hands that will be able to do something about an issue that is dear to my heart. Now that we know where we all stand, I think it is time to come to the point.
I am on holiday. Not just any holiday, but my yearly holiday. As you are probably not aware I work for a little church just outside of Agion. Now in a town of this size you might not understand what that means, but if you have had the good fortune and high breeding to have come from a smaller town you will realize that we are not strangers. Here in this city I doubt that you know more than two or three of the people that you hob knob with on a daily basis. Oh you’re polite and you smile and all of that, but when things get down to brass tacks you really do not know the people around you. That is all different where I come from. We don’t know everyone to be sure. But you know your neighborhood and you know the children who have grown up and moved across town. You know the grocer and the baker and the lovely lady you buy your wool from (Evelyn’s daughter even went to school back East. Really fancy one too. We expect her to be awarded a degree very shortly). You live life differently when you know the people that you do business with. There is more than just the hoped for ideals of honesty, but a real honesty right there to touch. How do you cheat someone you see every day? Whose children lived and played in your backyard? Someone you sit next to at the church social and get BBQ with on the weekends? The answer is that you don’t. You deal with them honestly because you know them. And they do the same. In my opinion there would be a lot fewer problem in the world if we would all just get together and get to know one another.
But that is not to say that a big city doesn’t have its attractions. The arts, my dear person, the arts. That is why we chose this city. The galleries and the opportunities to see live theatre. It draws us. As the organist and secretary of the Ladies Brunch Society, it is my duty to help to expand the minds of those around me. What better tool could there be but a slideshow of my trip upon my return? Think of all the people that I could help. I know that Mrs. Toberman loves the Renaissance but poor Mrs. Jaskel doesn’t know a Rembrandt from a Picasso. Not that you should be surprised. You wouldn’t know this, but she did marry quite a bit below herself. Oh, we’re not stuck up on things like bloodlines or society, please don’t think that, but it is important to marry someone that you really understand and that understands you. A meeting of the minds as much as a meeting of the hearts. While in the throws of passion and romance it is easy to imagine yourself with someone, but what do you do ten years down the road with three children playing at your feet? Do you really like the person that you are stuck seeing day after day? Do you respect them? Or are you stuck just thinking of way in which they disappoint you? I am afraid that I knew Mrs. Jaskel when she was just little Alice Abley. She truly did love the arts. Her dream was to go to Paris and stand in the Louvre. But I don’t think she really understood anything about it. It was just a name that she had heard us bandy about. Like children who play at having more wisdom than they really do. I once heard Tommy Bruttle give a lecture to his friends on the birds and the bees that would have had them going in all the wrong directions if they had ever really listened to him. That just comes from sneaking peeks at your Father’s gentleman’s magazines but not reading any of the words. Alice was like that. Looking at a picture over our shoulders and dreaming of a city of lights. Just think of how she will appreciate seeing real art instead of those terrible magazines her husband buys her at the drugstore. He might as well give her flowers.
It has in a way become a holy mission of mine. Surely it is important to do the Lord’s work whenever we can. And part of that is each and every one of us taking the time to find a place in this world in which we can make a difference and then taking the steps to make that difference. I believe my part is to bring culture to the uncultured. I have been given no charter from Heaven and heard no voices from the bushes I have seen burning. Especially since I think it was Tommy who lit them. It was certainly not the Lord. I do not think that He resorts to sulfur matches. But it is very clear to me what it is that I am to do with my life. When I look around myself at all the ladies that need a little bit of sunshine and light in their lives. When I see the faces light up at the sounds of the pianoforte like they did when I managed to get Susan Duor to play for the Victoria’s Bruncheon in ’87. I just know that this is what I am sent here to do. What better way to do this than to visit your beloved city?
What a surprise there was awaiting me. Why the people here might as well live in New York City. What is it that they are all doing in such a hurry? They certainly can’t all have such terribly important business to take care of. I went on this fancy elevated train of yours and almost lost my life. Truly. I was in fear of myself. I tried to ride the escalator and seven people pushed past me. Seven. Isn’t it enough that we are riding to the top without having to walk? Isn’t it fast enough? And it wasn’t like they were rushing to catch a train either. We waited for a good five minutes before one showed up. And the nice security man who I discussed it with assured me that a train came by every five or six minutes. So why were they rushing? To get a favorite spot on the train? To impress us all with how important they were? It was just rude. Take a bit of advice from me. If you take this train make sure to take your time. There is always another train.
I am afraid that you might be getting the wrong idea. I am sure that you are reading these short words and wondering what it is that I will find wrong with you. Rest assured you are safe. After all, since I do not know who it is who may actually read this and assist future patrons of your establishment I have no way of commenting on your nature and personal habits. It is even less likely that we know each other in any way. And we all know that it is by close proximity and conduct that we gain that deeper knowledge necessary to guide and advise one another on the subtle points of behavior that some of us lack. In such a brief note as this I have no way of conveying between us the bosom friendship and blessed assurance of loving tolerance that is necessary for friends to truly appreciate a guiding hand.
My goal throughout this entire venture was to visit such areas of culture and opportunity that are available in your city. To visit and to document them. To take a log of pictures and to write in a diary about each of the objects that caught my fancy and made it into my valuable collection of photographic memories. Before I had the opportunity to visit your facility I had the chance to see a concert of flutes given by some lovely young people. I got to walk through all the stores that border your library, although why there were so many places to purchase refreshment when you are not allowed to take any inside is a wonder to me. I also got to go and walk on some suspension bridges up in very tall trees. Next on my list was your Market. You may wonder why your Market was on this list. Rest assured that your reputation has travelled even so far as Agion. My sister’s friend’s cousin’s gardener had grown up around here and remembered your Market well. Many a time a recollection from this place has made its way to the table at the Scott’s. Since I would be in the area anyway, I felt that I could make it a treat for this man to have some fresh looks and remembrances to mull over on a long night. Since I could not arrange to have him come with me – what would people say to have a woman travelling with a man not her husband? Really, I just couldn’t have it. The next best thing was obviously to record it for my journal and share it with him upon my return. Not just him, but all those of us who have heard him speak of the Market with such nice terms.
My plan was to spend the morning strolling through your shops, have some tea, and then catch a boat over to the city and meet my good friend Margaret. You may not know her, but she works in the offices of the symphony and knows some truly lovely people. Though I suppose that if you do not know her that is a bit of a tease. If that is the case, take heart. I have heard it said that she knows all of the best people and if this letter is in your hands then you are at least a person capable of action and results. That is the first step towards greatness and we all know that bestness is next to greatness along life’s journey. When you reach it, you are bound to make her acquaintance and I defy you to dislike her. In fact, I know that you will get along famously. But will you act? Will you step up and take these few words to heart? I must hope and pray that you will. And if for some reason you cannot, then I can only point out that this letter was obviously delivered to you by mistake. Take the time to read it, but only so that you have better knowledge to direct the postal service to the right individual. I trust that you will.
I used the public transportation that was available at such a time in the morning and found myself among the first to wander through your gates and towards the delights that your advertising has led patrons to expect. But my hopes were dashed. We were let through the gates but not into the facility. Now I have heard of a lot of things in my time, but this is one of the worst. When you wish to run a successful business, it is imperative to get your times correct. I know that it is an affectation of the youth of today to not have a pocket watch. They seem to revel in the loose conduct that is allowed when one rejects the status quo and mocks the keeping of appointments. The appointment is more than a thing. It is the sacred duty of all business owners to respect, even to the loss of their own health. It is incumbent upon us all to embrace punctuality and all its blessings. In future I will hope that you will do so. Many travellers create a plan. This plan is an itinerary as important and sanctified as those put about by the trolley companies. We wish to get all we can out of life and only by following the times in our tables can we ever hope to manage just that. When a business announces that it will open its doors at eight in the morning, then that is exactly what it should do instead of leaving them standing outside to get colder and more irritated with you than they should be. In fact, we should be happy that you have opened your doors on time to let us in. This is a violation of the basic agreement that patron and host agree to. You open for business and we will supply that business. Open late and we want to take our business elsewhere. Why give you money when you squander it and are unable to even procure that most basic of necessities: time.
I know what you are going to say. That it was not your fault. That you found out too late to do anything about it. But let me say this. You set the policies for your employees. If they don’t like to help out, then remove them from your Market and let them find work elsewhere. I believe in open markets but only when they open on time with everything prepared for the customers who like your products so much they return again and again to assist you in improving yourself through profits. But when your staff fails, then you fail. There was talk of power issues, but that is just an excuse. Another chance to pass the buck instead of thinking for themselves. You may not have been there to fail to open the doors, but your men are in the military. They should be doing more than just standing there in pretty uniforms looking handsome. They should be helping all they can so the retailers can do better business. They should be following orders. Your orders. So the responsibility comes down to you.
I hope that I have explained things well enough for you to understand them. I was rushed in writing this letter and hope that in the end you will take what short lessons it has in it to heart. Open your doors on time and enable your patrons to retain their schedules. In my case everything worked out and I was able to see a gorgeous collection of porcelain dishes. I am quite intrigued and may need to take a visit to their anthropolitical department and see what treasures can be gleaned there. Margaret quite outdid herself and you should question her on the possibility of you getting your chance at a viewing if you should ever earn her friendship.
I thank you for taking the time to read this.
Yours,
Michelle Sawyer
Characters #3 & 4
The characters for Day 3 and Day 4 have been combined into one entry. I was doing each side of the phone call separately, but it just didn't work. So both of them are here at least in a format that is readable.
Ken Erd - Butcher's Assistant
Diane Gion - Law Clerk
buzzzzzz buzzzz buzzzzzzzz
“Come on… come on… I know you’re home…” He said.
buzzzz buzzzz buzzzzzzz
“I know you can hear that cutesy ringer of yours… Put the curler down and answer the phone you silly little—“
“Hello?” She said.
“Hey, Di. How’s it going?”
“Not bad.”
“I just got in,” he said.
“Really? I’ve been home for hours.”
“Go ahead. Rub it in.”
“I will,” she said. “I’ve eaten too.”
“Lovely.”
“Just leftovers.”
“Whose?”
“Mama’s.”
“Great,” he said. “Glad you’re not rubbing it in.”
“What? It’s just leftovers.”
“With how your Mother cooks? What is it? Four courses? Five?”
“Just some pasta.”
“Uh-huh,” he said. “What kind?”
“Lasagna.”
“I had some lasagna the other day. Straight from the freezer. Rubbery cheese and a sauce that may once have been poured over meat. I’ll bet it was just as good.”
“Probably. This just has a little prosciutto, ricotta, herbed eggplant, and smoked mozzarella.”
“You know you’re making me drool, right?”
“But if I wasn’t it wouldn’t be teasing, would it?” she said.
“You’ve got ambrosia and I have three day old meatloaf I bought at the corner store.”
“You don’t have to live like that, you know.”
“It isn’t exactly living, but it is all I can afford.”
“So change jobs.”
“It isn’t that easy,” he said.
“Actually, it is. All you need to do is make a decision and then follow through with it.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“I mean it. Look, you’re not a stupid guy.”
“Gee thanks. You’re rousing confidence is inspiring to me. I must clear the line and await my call from the Nobel Prize people.”
“Don’t be that way, Ken,” she said. “I mean it. You are not stupid. So it is just a matter of putting your mind to things and improving your situation. You’ve got some education under your belt. Go apply for something. Go study more. Just do what you need to do.”
“I don’t have education.”
“You went to college, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you do? Just party all the time and never take classes?”
“I took theatre design and office management. This is not really education.”
“But it IS something to build on. You can take other courses. You could learn a trade.”
“Don’t really see myself as a grease monkey.”
“A trade is a hell of a lot more than just a mechanic position. There are all sorts of trades from therapy to esthetics to business. You can pick anything that appeals to you.”
“Just reach out and grab that brass ring. And here I thought you needed talent.”
“Half of talent is a matter of applying yourself. Pick something that interests you, study it, apply yourself, and you’ll go a lot further than just flipping burgers.”
“I don’t flip burgers.”
“Flip ‘em, press ‘em, or grind ‘em, it’s all about the same.”
“It takes a little more to make them than cook them.”
“Don’t take offense,” she said.
“I may not have a lot of education, but I did have to learn those formulas and all the rest of the stuff Henries wants from us.”
“See? You apply yourself.”
“I need the money.”
“Motivation.”
“Don’t paint it pretty. It isn’t. It’s just a job.”
“Then why work so hard at it?”
“Because you’re supposed to do your job well if you’re going to bother at all,” he said.
“That is called applying yourself.”
“It’s just working. Look, take today. I was late home because we had a lot to do. Not because I was ‘applying’ myself or anything like that.”
“You could have left at the end of your shift.”
“No, I couldn’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because today was a mess.”
“How?”
“I opened today. It was a disaster. I don’t know what happened last night but no one did anything. Well, no. That’s not fair. They did the basics, but once you passed the counter and got into the back things weren’t pretty. They didn’t wash off any of the equipment, the grinder was still clogged with crap, and the dishes were just rinsed, not washed. Henries wasn’t even in until 9. What was I supposed to do? Tell the first hour of customers that I couldn’t help them? Wait until I could point fingers at someone? No. I had to clean up. And it put me way behind and pissed Henries off and there I was. By the time I got everything I was supposed to get done done, it was an hour over.”
“At least you got overtime.”
“We don’t get overtime for not getting our stuff done.”
“That isn’t fair.”
“What’s fair about work? It isn’t playtime. We’re there to work.”
“Did you tell him what happened?” she said.
“Why? Paul and I have never gotten along. It would just look like me trying to piss on his cornflakes.”
“You’re just giving into the worker’s mentality.”
“What are you now, a Communist?” he said.
“Ha ha. I’m just saying that there are laws to protect against employers against taking advantage of their employees. Something tells me that you don’t know them very well.”
“This isn’t a good time to be out of work.”
“There’s a good time?”
“You know what I mean. If I make waves I could end up on the street.”
“He can’t fire you for defending your rights under the law.”
“No, but I’m sure he could figure out some reason to do it. If bosses want to, they can easily make employees go away. It doesn’t take much. And then what would I do?”
“I’ve told you before my company is almost always looking for people.”
“Yeah, running memos and delivering sandwiches,” he said.
“Isn’t that better than being unemployed?
“Debatable.”
“I don’t want to fight with you,” she said. “Did you at least get my message?”
“Yeah. What time were you thinking? I haven’t showered or anything. I smell like chipped beef.”
“I don’t know. Two hours? It doesn’t start until 10.”
“That should work for me.”
“Good,” she said.
“Is Janice coming?”
“Hmmm, I think so. Why?”
“Because I’m curious, that’s why. Do I need a reason? I don’t care if she comes or not. Just another person.”
“Like last time? You spent the whole night talking to her.”
“I did not! It’s not my fault that no one else wanted to talk with her. I just happened to head out for some air,” he said.
“For four hours?”
“It was NOT four hours. Go to hell. Why so pushy?
“Why so pissy about it? You’re like a little boy in grade school.”
“I’m not pissy. It was just a bad day is all. I’m tired.
“You know that you don’t have to come. It’s just a movie.”
“I’m in no mood to stay at home and stare at the peeling paint. It might get my mind off work.”
“Do you work tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I open again.”
“Then it is hardly likely that you’ll forget about work. Not enough to really relax. Why not skip it and go to bed early,” she said.
“You trying to get me out of the way?”
“No, I don’t like Janice.”
“I told you Janice is nothing to me.”
“Should I let her know that? Because I’m pretty sure I remember her asking if you’ll be there.”
“She did?”
“What do you care?”
“Oh, go spit.”
“Ha! I knew it!”
“You know nothing. Just keep things to yourself,” he said. “I have enough problems.”
“Oh I’ll stay out of it, all right. The way you work you’ll sink yourself before long anyway.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Long experience with you. I’ve known you since Grade Two.”
“Then you should know that I have a lot of hidden qualities.”
“Don’t hide them too well.”
“Do I ever?”
“Yes.”
“Name one time.”
“Evelyn Smythe, Margaret Schultz, Agatha Jones—“
“I said one time,” he said.”
“What about that girl with the boobs?”
“What??”
“You know. That party at Mark’s. She was flashing them all over the place.”
“She’d had a lot to drink.”
“So had I, but the girl’s stayed in the closet.”
“What’s your point?”
“She was flashing everyone, but she was particularly taken with you,” she said. “Sat next to you every chance she got. Shared glasses with you. Sat on your lap a couple of times too.”
“So what?”
“So I remember what you said happened.”
“Great.”
“As I recall, at the end of the night you two were alone and she asked you to rub her back. There you were. Rubbing the shoulders and back of a girl who had spent hours showing you just how interested she was in you… What was it she asked you?”
“What was on my mind.”
“Exactly. Something any red-blooded male would have many answers to. But what was YOUR response? Something along the lines of ‘nothing’.”
“My mind went blank.”
“There is a lot you could have done, not just said.”
“I froze up.”
“You do that. And what happened? You finished the massage, you both went to bed separately, and you lost out on a chance.”
“She lived pretty far away.”
“And maybe she would have gotten closer. You don’t know that it wouldn’t have turned into something.”
“And you don’t know that it wouldn’t have been just another one-night stand.”
“That isn’t the point. The point is that you took yourself right out of the running. Anything might have happened, but you made sure that nothing did. So don’t worry about me sticking an oar in with Janice. Worry more about what you might do or say if she actually shows an interest in you.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You always say that,” she said.
“One of these days I’ll have to be right,” he said.
“Fine. We’ll see if tonight is one of those nights. Get cleaned up, fed, and I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“Bye."
Ken Erd - Butcher's Assistant
Diane Gion - Law Clerk
buzzzzzz buzzzz buzzzzzzzz
“Come on… come on… I know you’re home…” He said.
buzzzz buzzzz buzzzzzzz
“I know you can hear that cutesy ringer of yours… Put the curler down and answer the phone you silly little—“
“Hello?” She said.
“Hey, Di. How’s it going?”
“Not bad.”
“I just got in,” he said.
“Really? I’ve been home for hours.”
“Go ahead. Rub it in.”
“I will,” she said. “I’ve eaten too.”
“Lovely.”
“Just leftovers.”
“Whose?”
“Mama’s.”
“Great,” he said. “Glad you’re not rubbing it in.”
“What? It’s just leftovers.”
“With how your Mother cooks? What is it? Four courses? Five?”
“Just some pasta.”
“Uh-huh,” he said. “What kind?”
“Lasagna.”
“I had some lasagna the other day. Straight from the freezer. Rubbery cheese and a sauce that may once have been poured over meat. I’ll bet it was just as good.”
“Probably. This just has a little prosciutto, ricotta, herbed eggplant, and smoked mozzarella.”
“You know you’re making me drool, right?”
“But if I wasn’t it wouldn’t be teasing, would it?” she said.
“You’ve got ambrosia and I have three day old meatloaf I bought at the corner store.”
“You don’t have to live like that, you know.”
“It isn’t exactly living, but it is all I can afford.”
“So change jobs.”
“It isn’t that easy,” he said.
“Actually, it is. All you need to do is make a decision and then follow through with it.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“I mean it. Look, you’re not a stupid guy.”
“Gee thanks. You’re rousing confidence is inspiring to me. I must clear the line and await my call from the Nobel Prize people.”
“Don’t be that way, Ken,” she said. “I mean it. You are not stupid. So it is just a matter of putting your mind to things and improving your situation. You’ve got some education under your belt. Go apply for something. Go study more. Just do what you need to do.”
“I don’t have education.”
“You went to college, didn’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you do? Just party all the time and never take classes?”
“I took theatre design and office management. This is not really education.”
“But it IS something to build on. You can take other courses. You could learn a trade.”
“Don’t really see myself as a grease monkey.”
“A trade is a hell of a lot more than just a mechanic position. There are all sorts of trades from therapy to esthetics to business. You can pick anything that appeals to you.”
“Just reach out and grab that brass ring. And here I thought you needed talent.”
“Half of talent is a matter of applying yourself. Pick something that interests you, study it, apply yourself, and you’ll go a lot further than just flipping burgers.”
“I don’t flip burgers.”
“Flip ‘em, press ‘em, or grind ‘em, it’s all about the same.”
“It takes a little more to make them than cook them.”
“Don’t take offense,” she said.
“I may not have a lot of education, but I did have to learn those formulas and all the rest of the stuff Henries wants from us.”
“See? You apply yourself.”
“I need the money.”
“Motivation.”
“Don’t paint it pretty. It isn’t. It’s just a job.”
“Then why work so hard at it?”
“Because you’re supposed to do your job well if you’re going to bother at all,” he said.
“That is called applying yourself.”
“It’s just working. Look, take today. I was late home because we had a lot to do. Not because I was ‘applying’ myself or anything like that.”
“You could have left at the end of your shift.”
“No, I couldn’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because today was a mess.”
“How?”
“I opened today. It was a disaster. I don’t know what happened last night but no one did anything. Well, no. That’s not fair. They did the basics, but once you passed the counter and got into the back things weren’t pretty. They didn’t wash off any of the equipment, the grinder was still clogged with crap, and the dishes were just rinsed, not washed. Henries wasn’t even in until 9. What was I supposed to do? Tell the first hour of customers that I couldn’t help them? Wait until I could point fingers at someone? No. I had to clean up. And it put me way behind and pissed Henries off and there I was. By the time I got everything I was supposed to get done done, it was an hour over.”
“At least you got overtime.”
“We don’t get overtime for not getting our stuff done.”
“That isn’t fair.”
“What’s fair about work? It isn’t playtime. We’re there to work.”
“Did you tell him what happened?” she said.
“Why? Paul and I have never gotten along. It would just look like me trying to piss on his cornflakes.”
“You’re just giving into the worker’s mentality.”
“What are you now, a Communist?” he said.
“Ha ha. I’m just saying that there are laws to protect against employers against taking advantage of their employees. Something tells me that you don’t know them very well.”
“This isn’t a good time to be out of work.”
“There’s a good time?”
“You know what I mean. If I make waves I could end up on the street.”
“He can’t fire you for defending your rights under the law.”
“No, but I’m sure he could figure out some reason to do it. If bosses want to, they can easily make employees go away. It doesn’t take much. And then what would I do?”
“I’ve told you before my company is almost always looking for people.”
“Yeah, running memos and delivering sandwiches,” he said.
“Isn’t that better than being unemployed?
“Debatable.”
“I don’t want to fight with you,” she said. “Did you at least get my message?”
“Yeah. What time were you thinking? I haven’t showered or anything. I smell like chipped beef.”
“I don’t know. Two hours? It doesn’t start until 10.”
“That should work for me.”
“Good,” she said.
“Is Janice coming?”
“Hmmm, I think so. Why?”
“Because I’m curious, that’s why. Do I need a reason? I don’t care if she comes or not. Just another person.”
“Like last time? You spent the whole night talking to her.”
“I did not! It’s not my fault that no one else wanted to talk with her. I just happened to head out for some air,” he said.
“For four hours?”
“It was NOT four hours. Go to hell. Why so pushy?
“Why so pissy about it? You’re like a little boy in grade school.”
“I’m not pissy. It was just a bad day is all. I’m tired.
“You know that you don’t have to come. It’s just a movie.”
“I’m in no mood to stay at home and stare at the peeling paint. It might get my mind off work.”
“Do you work tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I open again.”
“Then it is hardly likely that you’ll forget about work. Not enough to really relax. Why not skip it and go to bed early,” she said.
“You trying to get me out of the way?”
“No, I don’t like Janice.”
“I told you Janice is nothing to me.”
“Should I let her know that? Because I’m pretty sure I remember her asking if you’ll be there.”
“She did?”
“What do you care?”
“Oh, go spit.”
“Ha! I knew it!”
“You know nothing. Just keep things to yourself,” he said. “I have enough problems.”
“Oh I’ll stay out of it, all right. The way you work you’ll sink yourself before long anyway.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Long experience with you. I’ve known you since Grade Two.”
“Then you should know that I have a lot of hidden qualities.”
“Don’t hide them too well.”
“Do I ever?”
“Yes.”
“Name one time.”
“Evelyn Smythe, Margaret Schultz, Agatha Jones—“
“I said one time,” he said.”
“What about that girl with the boobs?”
“What??”
“You know. That party at Mark’s. She was flashing them all over the place.”
“She’d had a lot to drink.”
“So had I, but the girl’s stayed in the closet.”
“What’s your point?”
“She was flashing everyone, but she was particularly taken with you,” she said. “Sat next to you every chance she got. Shared glasses with you. Sat on your lap a couple of times too.”
“So what?”
“So I remember what you said happened.”
“Great.”
“As I recall, at the end of the night you two were alone and she asked you to rub her back. There you were. Rubbing the shoulders and back of a girl who had spent hours showing you just how interested she was in you… What was it she asked you?”
“What was on my mind.”
“Exactly. Something any red-blooded male would have many answers to. But what was YOUR response? Something along the lines of ‘nothing’.”
“My mind went blank.”
“There is a lot you could have done, not just said.”
“I froze up.”
“You do that. And what happened? You finished the massage, you both went to bed separately, and you lost out on a chance.”
“She lived pretty far away.”
“And maybe she would have gotten closer. You don’t know that it wouldn’t have turned into something.”
“And you don’t know that it wouldn’t have been just another one-night stand.”
“That isn’t the point. The point is that you took yourself right out of the running. Anything might have happened, but you made sure that nothing did. So don’t worry about me sticking an oar in with Janice. Worry more about what you might do or say if she actually shows an interest in you.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You always say that,” she said.
“One of these days I’ll have to be right,” he said.
“Fine. We’ll see if tonight is one of those nights. Get cleaned up, fed, and I’ll see you in a bit.”
“Okay. Bye.”
“Bye."
November 2, 2012
Character #2
(I apologize for the appearance. The original document was a time sheet followed by the report letters. I have tried to re-space them here several times, but this is the best I can do. Sorry if it makes it hard to read)
Character # 2: Christopher Evans
Daily Log
Firm: Donut Security
Post: Main Lot
Client name: Wellspring Market, Inc.
Date/Shift: 11/07/12 – 9pm-7am
This form must have 24 entries everyday. One entry per hour. Field reports are to be utilized for all incidents that occur.
2100 On Post – All secure – Relieved s/o Fairbanks
2115 Reported cars in lot to Kipling Report# 11-0370
2145 Kipling reports no persons inside facility Report# 11-0371
2200 Loss of power to the Market (inside and out)
2215 MVA – Car vs Tree (property damage) Report # 11-0372
2245 Kipling reports loss of interior power includes all security cameras. (Backup generator offline?)
2300 No conditions to report
2330 Vandalism (property damage) Report # 11-0373
2400/0000 No conditions to report
0100 s/o Evans to meal – s/o Johnson on duty
0200 s/o Evans back in post – Secure
0300 No conditions to report
0310 Suspicious person Report# 11-0374
0400 No conditions to report
0500 No conditions to report
0530 s/o Evans to coffee – s/o Johnson on duty
0600 s/o Evans back on post – Secure
0630 Opened gate for s/o Davis
0650 Power restored to Market (inside and out)
0700 s/o Evans off duty
END OF TOUR S/O EVANS
Donut Security
3278 Columbia Blvd.
Vancouver, BC
Incident Report # 11-0370
Report Date/Time: November 7, 2012 / 09:15 PM
Confidentiality
Distribution of this document is limited to Onsite Security Division. Access should only be granted to those with a business related need-to-know. If you have any questions pertaining to the distribution of this document, please contact Edward Sinclair.
Point of Contact (POC) Information
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard
Telephone: 604-398-8872
Fax: N/A
E-mail: EVACHI@donutsecurity.com
Summary
I discovered two (2) cars in the staff parking.
Details of the Incident
By 9pm, all vendors should be packed up or almost packed up. Since the main gate is locked at 8:30pm, everyone inside the facility should be checking in with security and giving them an EDT. During my first tour of the lot, I discovered two (2) cars in the staff parking of the Stafford Building. One was a beige 4-door Impala license plate 237-XEJ. The other was a silver 2-door Lexus vanity license plate GOTITON.
The Notification Process
After writing down the information, I walkied Kipling and informed him of the vehicles. He did not know the Impala, but was familiar with the Lexus. It belonged to Mr. Cole. He assumed that they were working late, but would take a tour and get back to me.
Evans --> Kipling
Technical Details / Fix Actions
License plates and descriptions were written down.
Conclusion
Waiting for a response from Kipling and keeping an eye out for wanderers on the lot or anyone outside the gates wanting to get in.
Notes
N/A
_Christopher Evans_
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard, Main Lot, Wellspring Market
Donut Security
3278 Columbia Blvd.
Vancouver, BC
Incident Report # 11-0371
Report Date/Time: November 7, 2012 / 09:45 PM
Confidentiality
Distribution of this document is limited to Onsite Security Division. Access should only be granted to those with a business related need-to-know. If you have any questions pertaining to the distribution of this document, please contact Edward Sinclair.
Point of Contact (POC) Information
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard
Telephone: 604-398-8872
Fax: N/A
E-mail: EVACHI@donutsecurity.com
Summary
Response RE: #11-0371.
Details of the Incident
Kipling did a tour. Reports no one in the building. For full details see Kipling’s report #22-0016.
The Notification Process
Kipling --> Evans
Technical Details / Fix Actions
I drove back over to the staff lot and took an upclose look at the vehicles. Nothing appeared to be physically wrong with them (ie. damage).
Conclusion
Cars must have been left behind due to either forgetfullness, mechanical issues, or other human factors.
Notes:
N/A
_Christopher Evans_
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard, Main Lot, Wellspring Market
Donut Security
3278 Columbia Blvd.
Vancouver, BC
Incident Report # 11-0372
Report Date/Time: November 7, 2012 / 10:15 PM
Confidentiality
Distribution of this document is limited to Onsite Security Division. Access should only be granted to those with a business related need-to-know. If you have any questions pertaining to the distribution of this document, please contact Edward Sinclair.
Point of Contact (POC) Information
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard
Telephone: 604-398-8872
Fax: N/A
E-mail: EVACHI@donutsecurity.com
Summary
Motor vehicle accident discovered – no witnesses.
Details of the Incident
Due to the power outage, both Kipling and myself were casting a wider tour than usual during our shifts. Kipling reports not being able to see three feet in front of his face inside the Stafford building, and due to the lack of power in the security room there is nothing he can do inside. With Kipling touring the outside of the building, I am free to travel further more regularly than usual. In the far corner of the lot where it borders Insite Manufacturing, I discovered a motor vehicle accident. Specifically, a van had slammed into one of the trees that borders the property. The trunk of the tree had snapped and it collapsed on the fence. One of the city’s electrical boxes in on the other side of the fence. I cannot see clearly from our side, but it seems likely from all the damage that the box has been struck by either a limb of the tree or the van. In any case, it seems to have contributed to the power outage. The fence of our property is bent and the links snapped in some places. I am unwilling to get too close due to the electrical box and possible conduction hazards. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to climb over the fence from here, but will not ignore the obvious weak spot. Van is a white ford, license plate 672RHT.
The Notification Process
I walkied with Kipling to inform him of the issue and then contacted the city from the contact card.
Evans --> Kipling
Evans --> Dispatch, City Works Yard
Technical Details / Fix Actions
License plates and descriptions were written down. A rough sketch of the site is appended.
Conclusion
Unknown individual(s) crashed into the tree, which fell and damaged both the fence and the transformer. Fled scene, or had previously been taken for medical treatment. I lean towards fled since any emergency services would have contacted us.
Notes:
(Am not sure why no one noticed the accident. Surely the transformer would have sparked? The corner is out of the direct line of sight of the main building, but can easily be seen by the Insite people.)
_Christopher Evans_
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard, Main Lot, Wellspring Market
Donut Security
3278 Columbia Blvd.
Vancouver, BC
Incident Report # 11-0373
Report Date/Time: November 7, 2012 / 11:30 PM
Confidentiality
Distribution of this document is limited to Onsite Security Division. Access should only be granted to those with a business related need-to-know. If you have any questions pertaining to the distribution of this document, please contact Edward Sinclair.
Point of Contact (POC) Information
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard
Telephone: 604-398-8872
Fax: N/A
E-mail: EVACHI@donutsecurity.com
Summary
Vandalism (property damage).
Details of the Incident
Regards to walkie call from Kipling at 2245. Became increasingly disturbed by the security system being out. Other than personal cell phones, it is our lifeline to the outside and should anything serious occur we would be effectively cut off. The whole point of a backup generator is that it provides a backup, yes? With this in mind, I called Johnson from the Malloy Building to my post at the gates. Yes, I know this is a violation of rotation and left a building unguarded, but no one is going to try and steal an auditorium in the middle of a blackout. I accept full responsibility should I prove wrong.
I left my usual route and went around the back of the property by the school. We had talked earlier with their security and all was dark and quiet there too. But the generator for the entire site is at the rear of their building behind the garbage dumpsters. I drive over and took a look around. I did not see the school security at all. But I did discover that the doors to the area had been forced. Garbage was all over the place and the doors into the utility room were open. The room was a shambles and several pieces of equipment have clearly been damaged. I got the camera from the car and took a few pictures. Driving around to the front, I got ahold of the school security and told them about it.
A copy of this report will be sent to Vicky to follow up. I took over from Johnson and he returned to his post. Got an all clear from him after he checked it out. Nothing seems to have happened in his absence.
The Notification Process
Evans --> Vicky Smathers
Technical Details / Fix Actions
School security was informed. A copy of this report has been sent to Maintenance.
Conclusion
Doubtful it was drunks, vagrants, or kids. Chances are it was scrap metal scroungers.
Notes:
N/A
_Christopher Evans_
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard, Main Lot, Wellspring Market
Donut Security
3278 Columbia Blvd.
Vancouver, BC
Incident Report # 11-0374
Report Date/Time: November 8, 2012 / 03:10 AM
Confidentiality
Distribution of this document is limited to Onsite Security Division. Access should only be granted to those with a business related need-to-know. If you have any questions pertaining to the distribution of this document, please contact Edward Sinclair.
Point of Contact (POC) Information
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard
Telephone: 604-398-8872
Fax: N/A
E-mail: EVACHI@donutsecurity.com
Summary
Suspicious person.
Details of the Incident
While driving around on a tour of the lot, I noticed a suspicious person walking on the other side of the fence near the Norman Annex. The individual was walking very close to the fence – which is a fair distance from the sidewalk – and towards the direction of the river, where there is nothing but pylons and blockades. When I drove up and got out in an attempt to make contact with the individual, they fled into the field beyond the road. I lost sight of them in the brush. Individual was an unknown male, wearing black pants and black hooded sweatshirt with the hood covering up their face. It is unknown whether the individual was perhaps the owner of the Impala attempting to regain possession before lot opening time.
The Notification Process
N/A
Technical Details / Fix Actions
N/A
Conclusion
Individual was up to something. There is no good reason to be at that portion of the property and certainly not heading in the direction he was. There is no seawalk there and nothing provided for entertainment.
Notes:
N/A
_Christopher Evans_
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard, Main Lot, Wellspring Market
Character # 2: Christopher Evans
Daily Log
Firm: Donut Security
Post: Main Lot
Client name: Wellspring Market, Inc.
Date/Shift: 11/07/12 – 9pm-7am
This form must have 24 entries everyday. One entry per hour. Field reports are to be utilized for all incidents that occur.
2100 On Post – All secure – Relieved s/o Fairbanks
2115 Reported cars in lot to Kipling Report# 11-0370
2145 Kipling reports no persons inside facility Report# 11-0371
2200 Loss of power to the Market (inside and out)
2215 MVA – Car vs Tree (property damage) Report # 11-0372
2245 Kipling reports loss of interior power includes all security cameras. (Backup generator offline?)
2300 No conditions to report
2330 Vandalism (property damage) Report # 11-0373
2400/0000 No conditions to report
0100 s/o Evans to meal – s/o Johnson on duty
0200 s/o Evans back in post – Secure
0300 No conditions to report
0310 Suspicious person Report# 11-0374
0400 No conditions to report
0500 No conditions to report
0530 s/o Evans to coffee – s/o Johnson on duty
0600 s/o Evans back on post – Secure
0630 Opened gate for s/o Davis
0650 Power restored to Market (inside and out)
0700 s/o Evans off duty
END OF TOUR S/O EVANS
Donut Security
3278 Columbia Blvd.
Vancouver, BC
Incident Report # 11-0370
Report Date/Time: November 7, 2012 / 09:15 PM
Confidentiality
Distribution of this document is limited to Onsite Security Division. Access should only be granted to those with a business related need-to-know. If you have any questions pertaining to the distribution of this document, please contact Edward Sinclair.
Point of Contact (POC) Information
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard
Telephone: 604-398-8872
Fax: N/A
E-mail: EVACHI@donutsecurity.com
Summary
I discovered two (2) cars in the staff parking.
Details of the Incident
By 9pm, all vendors should be packed up or almost packed up. Since the main gate is locked at 8:30pm, everyone inside the facility should be checking in with security and giving them an EDT. During my first tour of the lot, I discovered two (2) cars in the staff parking of the Stafford Building. One was a beige 4-door Impala license plate 237-XEJ. The other was a silver 2-door Lexus vanity license plate GOTITON.
The Notification Process
After writing down the information, I walkied Kipling and informed him of the vehicles. He did not know the Impala, but was familiar with the Lexus. It belonged to Mr. Cole. He assumed that they were working late, but would take a tour and get back to me.
Evans --> Kipling
Technical Details / Fix Actions
License plates and descriptions were written down.
Conclusion
Waiting for a response from Kipling and keeping an eye out for wanderers on the lot or anyone outside the gates wanting to get in.
Notes
N/A
_Christopher Evans_
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard, Main Lot, Wellspring Market
Donut Security
3278 Columbia Blvd.
Vancouver, BC
Incident Report # 11-0371
Report Date/Time: November 7, 2012 / 09:45 PM
Confidentiality
Distribution of this document is limited to Onsite Security Division. Access should only be granted to those with a business related need-to-know. If you have any questions pertaining to the distribution of this document, please contact Edward Sinclair.
Point of Contact (POC) Information
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard
Telephone: 604-398-8872
Fax: N/A
E-mail: EVACHI@donutsecurity.com
Summary
Response RE: #11-0371.
Details of the Incident
Kipling did a tour. Reports no one in the building. For full details see Kipling’s report #22-0016.
The Notification Process
Kipling --> Evans
Technical Details / Fix Actions
I drove back over to the staff lot and took an upclose look at the vehicles. Nothing appeared to be physically wrong with them (ie. damage).
Conclusion
Cars must have been left behind due to either forgetfullness, mechanical issues, or other human factors.
Notes:
N/A
_Christopher Evans_
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard, Main Lot, Wellspring Market
Donut Security
3278 Columbia Blvd.
Vancouver, BC
Incident Report # 11-0372
Report Date/Time: November 7, 2012 / 10:15 PM
Confidentiality
Distribution of this document is limited to Onsite Security Division. Access should only be granted to those with a business related need-to-know. If you have any questions pertaining to the distribution of this document, please contact Edward Sinclair.
Point of Contact (POC) Information
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard
Telephone: 604-398-8872
Fax: N/A
E-mail: EVACHI@donutsecurity.com
Summary
Motor vehicle accident discovered – no witnesses.
Details of the Incident
Due to the power outage, both Kipling and myself were casting a wider tour than usual during our shifts. Kipling reports not being able to see three feet in front of his face inside the Stafford building, and due to the lack of power in the security room there is nothing he can do inside. With Kipling touring the outside of the building, I am free to travel further more regularly than usual. In the far corner of the lot where it borders Insite Manufacturing, I discovered a motor vehicle accident. Specifically, a van had slammed into one of the trees that borders the property. The trunk of the tree had snapped and it collapsed on the fence. One of the city’s electrical boxes in on the other side of the fence. I cannot see clearly from our side, but it seems likely from all the damage that the box has been struck by either a limb of the tree or the van. In any case, it seems to have contributed to the power outage. The fence of our property is bent and the links snapped in some places. I am unwilling to get too close due to the electrical box and possible conduction hazards. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to climb over the fence from here, but will not ignore the obvious weak spot. Van is a white ford, license plate 672RHT.
The Notification Process
I walkied with Kipling to inform him of the issue and then contacted the city from the contact card.
Evans --> Kipling
Evans --> Dispatch, City Works Yard
Technical Details / Fix Actions
License plates and descriptions were written down. A rough sketch of the site is appended.
Conclusion
Unknown individual(s) crashed into the tree, which fell and damaged both the fence and the transformer. Fled scene, or had previously been taken for medical treatment. I lean towards fled since any emergency services would have contacted us.
Notes:
(Am not sure why no one noticed the accident. Surely the transformer would have sparked? The corner is out of the direct line of sight of the main building, but can easily be seen by the Insite people.)
_Christopher Evans_
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard, Main Lot, Wellspring Market
Donut Security
3278 Columbia Blvd.
Vancouver, BC
Incident Report # 11-0373
Report Date/Time: November 7, 2012 / 11:30 PM
Confidentiality
Distribution of this document is limited to Onsite Security Division. Access should only be granted to those with a business related need-to-know. If you have any questions pertaining to the distribution of this document, please contact Edward Sinclair.
Point of Contact (POC) Information
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard
Telephone: 604-398-8872
Fax: N/A
E-mail: EVACHI@donutsecurity.com
Summary
Vandalism (property damage).
Details of the Incident
Regards to walkie call from Kipling at 2245. Became increasingly disturbed by the security system being out. Other than personal cell phones, it is our lifeline to the outside and should anything serious occur we would be effectively cut off. The whole point of a backup generator is that it provides a backup, yes? With this in mind, I called Johnson from the Malloy Building to my post at the gates. Yes, I know this is a violation of rotation and left a building unguarded, but no one is going to try and steal an auditorium in the middle of a blackout. I accept full responsibility should I prove wrong.
I left my usual route and went around the back of the property by the school. We had talked earlier with their security and all was dark and quiet there too. But the generator for the entire site is at the rear of their building behind the garbage dumpsters. I drive over and took a look around. I did not see the school security at all. But I did discover that the doors to the area had been forced. Garbage was all over the place and the doors into the utility room were open. The room was a shambles and several pieces of equipment have clearly been damaged. I got the camera from the car and took a few pictures. Driving around to the front, I got ahold of the school security and told them about it.
A copy of this report will be sent to Vicky to follow up. I took over from Johnson and he returned to his post. Got an all clear from him after he checked it out. Nothing seems to have happened in his absence.
The Notification Process
Evans --> Vicky Smathers
Technical Details / Fix Actions
School security was informed. A copy of this report has been sent to Maintenance.
Conclusion
Doubtful it was drunks, vagrants, or kids. Chances are it was scrap metal scroungers.
Notes:
N/A
_Christopher Evans_
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard, Main Lot, Wellspring Market
Donut Security
3278 Columbia Blvd.
Vancouver, BC
Incident Report # 11-0374
Report Date/Time: November 8, 2012 / 03:10 AM
Confidentiality
Distribution of this document is limited to Onsite Security Division. Access should only be granted to those with a business related need-to-know. If you have any questions pertaining to the distribution of this document, please contact Edward Sinclair.
Point of Contact (POC) Information
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard
Telephone: 604-398-8872
Fax: N/A
E-mail: EVACHI@donutsecurity.com
Summary
Suspicious person.
Details of the Incident
While driving around on a tour of the lot, I noticed a suspicious person walking on the other side of the fence near the Norman Annex. The individual was walking very close to the fence – which is a fair distance from the sidewalk – and towards the direction of the river, where there is nothing but pylons and blockades. When I drove up and got out in an attempt to make contact with the individual, they fled into the field beyond the road. I lost sight of them in the brush. Individual was an unknown male, wearing black pants and black hooded sweatshirt with the hood covering up their face. It is unknown whether the individual was perhaps the owner of the Impala attempting to regain possession before lot opening time.
The Notification Process
N/A
Technical Details / Fix Actions
N/A
Conclusion
Individual was up to something. There is no good reason to be at that portion of the property and certainly not heading in the direction he was. There is no seawalk there and nothing provided for entertainment.
Notes:
N/A
_Christopher Evans_
Name: Christopher Evans
Title: Security Guard, Main Lot, Wellspring Market
November 1, 2012
Character #1
Not sure on his name yet. Something everyman. Like George. In any case, since the 30Character website isn't working really well I will post the entry here first. Remember every character is represented by personal correspondence. Here is George's:
Character #1: George Martin
To: kutiepie17@hotmail.com
Subject: Miss ya!
Hey babe,
Just got done the first week here. Gotta say, it sucks not to have you here. I mean, I hope you’re having fun and all that. But, it sucks. I miss you.
What can I say about this week? Mostly that you were right. I never should have started in the Fall. I thought it would be easy. Or at least easier. Remember that project my Uncle had up on the hill? The one with the really crappy stucco walls? It was always easier in the Fall and Winter. I know this is near the water, but I didn’t think there would be that much difference. I was wrong. You are right. Having a property that is a city “landmark” is a hell of a lot different from a residential one.
I met up with Michael on Monday to run through everything again. You should remember him. He’s the guy with the limp. The one with the kid in the Arts program. He was just as nice as I remembered. It’s a shame they’re forcing him out. He gave me the keys and showed me the tool storage shed. It’s a lot smaller than I thought. We won’t be able to use the big wheelbarrow. We’ll have to stick with the buckets they provide. It will probably make them happier anyway to have us wandering around with their logo. It’s gonna make for more trips though. On the plus side, the dumpster is right there so there isn’t a long way to go.
As long as I get here early enough, it is pretty peaceful. The market doesn’t open to the public until eight, so there aren’t many cars to deal with. Even the vendors aren’t here much before that – with some exceptions. I’m trying to work out a routine so that we won’t be wasting much time, but it’s hard without you here. I never thought I would need you this much. You know, my Uncle did this work for forty years and his wife didn’t so much as touch a piece of equipment, much less help him on the job. Maybe it was because she was a bit prissy, but I think he really enjoyed the solitude. The sense of personal worth. The fact that if anything got accomplished it was because of him. There are times doing this kind of thing that you really start to think. Weird stuff. I’ve always liked that. I don’t get it as much when you’re with me, and I was looking forward to some “me” time. I’m getting it, but I just end up thinking of you all the time. I’ve gotten used to our routine. Coffee, debating the radio stories on the way in, sitting down for lunch – even when its just in the truck, and getting to see you all day. I know you think I think you drive me nuts, but I really miss having you around. It is lonely without you here. Say hi to your Mother and everything, but seriously just cut the visit short and come home to me. K? I know. I’m whining. Sue me.
Anyway, the area is nice. Gets a little chilly with the breeze coming off the Bay though. Oh, do you know where my winter work pants are? Not the ones that make me look like a duck but the fleece ones? You didn’t throw them out did you? I remember getting paint on them the last time the landlord was complaining about the fence, but I haven’t seen them since. I’m sure I tossed it in the laundry. Let me know if you do. I’m wearing the long johns, but they make me itch when I sweat and I sweat every time I go inside. The fleece doesn’t do that. The views are great. Not a lot of chance to stand around and enjoy them – I always feel like someone is staring at me and clocking me for a break or something. But you can see the city across the Bay and the mountains behind that. I didn’t think I’d like being this far into the city, but it has its charms. Traffic sucks though. This place has just one long winding road, do you remember that? I didn’t think it would matter, but if I don’t get out of here by three I end up just sitting around crawling along. I’ve started bringing a book and just sitting in the car waiting it all out (that one your brother gave me about the guy with the thingy. I didn’t think I’d like it, but it is better than I thought). It has always amazed me that at a certain time everyone rushes to get home. Like they can’t just take a minute and relax and enjoy life, you know? You’d think they would clue in that if everyone leaves at once they are all going to be in line together and get nowhere. Of course if everyone waits and leaves later, same thing happens. One of the mysteries of life I guess.
Yes, I got the package your Mom sent. Tell her I liked it. These weird flavors are not really my thing. I prefer pekoe to African spiced lotus blessing or whatever the hell flavor it was she sent. But it was still better than that swill down the road. So tell her I appreciated it and have some every day. Sooner drunk, sooner gone.
I haven’t really gone inside the market much. I’m going to wait for you to get home. That stuff is always a lot more fun when you’re poking around with me. If nothing else gets said about you, it can be said you are adventurous. I don’t know how you manage to get down some of the stuff you test out. Definitely not my bag. Do you remember that pink stuff, lol? I swear you turned green, lmao. Besides, with you here I’ll look less like some slacker loser trying to mooch free samples. Did you know they don’t let you squeeze tomatoes here? I thought that guy was gonna punch me. Made me buy three of them. I didn’t want to make a fuss ‘cause it’s my first week, but I swear I didn’t check more than two of them. Oh well. I’ve been eating tomato sandwiches all week :)
I’ve tried to watch my step a lot. The guy who runs this place is a jerk. No wonder they didn’t have us meet him before we signed on. He expects you to be working all the time. Never mind if you just busted your ass to get something done sooner than you expected. If you are standing, you’re wasting time. I don’t even know why he gets so bent out of shape with me. I mean, I’m not charging by the hour or anything. We’re on contract. If I take twice the time to do the job it’s my loss, not his. And heaven forefend his car gets touched by the miracle that is Mother Nature. I have never seen any grown man baby his car like that. He’s like some motor head teen. It started raining a bit the other day and he ran out of the building like someone was trying to steal it. Pulled into one of the undergrounds and parked it in public parking. I know you think I am exaggerating. I can almost hear you roll your eyes. But I’m serious. I did the weed eating around the trees in the lots the other day (the little maple ones, not the oaks) and was blowing the clippings against the building. I guess some of the pieces got on his car. It isn’t like I was aiming for the damn thing. But he hit the roof. Got one of the students to track me down and I had to go with him to view the car. He yelled and swore and pointed out every single blade of grass. I offered to wipe it off, but that was like offering to pour lighter fluid on a baby. Figured my cloth would scratch the paint maybe. I thought he was going to fire me, I really did. Another reason to have you home ASAP. You’re so much better with these people than I am. I do good in nature. Trees, animals, plants, that’s me. I commune with them. But talking to people? I get so flustered it’s a wonder anything comes out.
How did I ever win you over anyway? I can never figure what it was that caught your eye. Quiet guys who don’t talk to people aren’t usually high on a gal’s “must get” list. Whatever it was don’t ever let me change it. I don’t do well without you around.
Anyway, I think I steered away from disaster today. Rained last night. How was it on the Island? I forgot to watch the news so I didn’t hear the travel weather this morning. Leaves dropped like, well, leaves lol. Looked like brown snow. I skipped coffee and drove straight there. Figured it would help to get some extra time on the lots. Chris was sitting in the lot. I didn’t think anyone else was there. Started up the blower and did fine until I got around the corner. Cole’s car was there. And covered with leaves. No way he was going to take that. Even if he had shown up hours early. And I couldn’t hide that I’d been working with the leaves either. So guess what I did? I blew ‘em of. It was great. Should have tried that with the grass trimmings. They peeled off like they were greased up. It was great. When I was done it looked like it had been in a car wash. The rain had stopped too, so there’s a good chance he won’t notice anything was on it. Or if it was, he shouldn’t blame me.
Come home, babe. Please? Cold mornings call for you. I like sitting in the front room, looking out over the valley as we have our breakfast. You in that ratty grey robe of yours, lol. I don’t know how you keep warm. But it suits you. You’re going to have to let me buy a new one soon. Once that belt goes we won’t be able to put it off. I want you having good things. I know we’re not rich, but we’re sure as hell not poor yet. You don’t have to go around looking like we get our clothes from goodwill. Besides, if you don’t come home I’ll have no one to nag me about hogging the blankets :p
Vicky wants you to bring back some of those square things you got last time. She said she’s been hankering for them. They’re tearing up their front steps again. I swear they pick the worst plants to grow there. They either wither up or try and burrow under the concrete. If you ask me they’d be best off with growing everything in pots like Carl does. But you know him. Won’t take advice to save his life.
I’m nodding off so I’m gonna stop typing now. Tell your Mother to get a decent long-distance plan so we can talk. Email is fine and all, but I miss your voice. Don’t wait too long to come home. I’m lonely. I miss you. I love you. Be safe and make sure you let me know what plane you’re going to be on. I lost the note you put on the fridge. Pudding accident, lol. And yes, I cleaned it up.
Love you, Babe. xoxoxo
Character #1: George Martin
To: kutiepie17@hotmail.com
Subject: Miss ya!
Hey babe,
Just got done the first week here. Gotta say, it sucks not to have you here. I mean, I hope you’re having fun and all that. But, it sucks. I miss you.
What can I say about this week? Mostly that you were right. I never should have started in the Fall. I thought it would be easy. Or at least easier. Remember that project my Uncle had up on the hill? The one with the really crappy stucco walls? It was always easier in the Fall and Winter. I know this is near the water, but I didn’t think there would be that much difference. I was wrong. You are right. Having a property that is a city “landmark” is a hell of a lot different from a residential one.
I met up with Michael on Monday to run through everything again. You should remember him. He’s the guy with the limp. The one with the kid in the Arts program. He was just as nice as I remembered. It’s a shame they’re forcing him out. He gave me the keys and showed me the tool storage shed. It’s a lot smaller than I thought. We won’t be able to use the big wheelbarrow. We’ll have to stick with the buckets they provide. It will probably make them happier anyway to have us wandering around with their logo. It’s gonna make for more trips though. On the plus side, the dumpster is right there so there isn’t a long way to go.
As long as I get here early enough, it is pretty peaceful. The market doesn’t open to the public until eight, so there aren’t many cars to deal with. Even the vendors aren’t here much before that – with some exceptions. I’m trying to work out a routine so that we won’t be wasting much time, but it’s hard without you here. I never thought I would need you this much. You know, my Uncle did this work for forty years and his wife didn’t so much as touch a piece of equipment, much less help him on the job. Maybe it was because she was a bit prissy, but I think he really enjoyed the solitude. The sense of personal worth. The fact that if anything got accomplished it was because of him. There are times doing this kind of thing that you really start to think. Weird stuff. I’ve always liked that. I don’t get it as much when you’re with me, and I was looking forward to some “me” time. I’m getting it, but I just end up thinking of you all the time. I’ve gotten used to our routine. Coffee, debating the radio stories on the way in, sitting down for lunch – even when its just in the truck, and getting to see you all day. I know you think I think you drive me nuts, but I really miss having you around. It is lonely without you here. Say hi to your Mother and everything, but seriously just cut the visit short and come home to me. K? I know. I’m whining. Sue me.
Anyway, the area is nice. Gets a little chilly with the breeze coming off the Bay though. Oh, do you know where my winter work pants are? Not the ones that make me look like a duck but the fleece ones? You didn’t throw them out did you? I remember getting paint on them the last time the landlord was complaining about the fence, but I haven’t seen them since. I’m sure I tossed it in the laundry. Let me know if you do. I’m wearing the long johns, but they make me itch when I sweat and I sweat every time I go inside. The fleece doesn’t do that. The views are great. Not a lot of chance to stand around and enjoy them – I always feel like someone is staring at me and clocking me for a break or something. But you can see the city across the Bay and the mountains behind that. I didn’t think I’d like being this far into the city, but it has its charms. Traffic sucks though. This place has just one long winding road, do you remember that? I didn’t think it would matter, but if I don’t get out of here by three I end up just sitting around crawling along. I’ve started bringing a book and just sitting in the car waiting it all out (that one your brother gave me about the guy with the thingy. I didn’t think I’d like it, but it is better than I thought). It has always amazed me that at a certain time everyone rushes to get home. Like they can’t just take a minute and relax and enjoy life, you know? You’d think they would clue in that if everyone leaves at once they are all going to be in line together and get nowhere. Of course if everyone waits and leaves later, same thing happens. One of the mysteries of life I guess.
Yes, I got the package your Mom sent. Tell her I liked it. These weird flavors are not really my thing. I prefer pekoe to African spiced lotus blessing or whatever the hell flavor it was she sent. But it was still better than that swill down the road. So tell her I appreciated it and have some every day. Sooner drunk, sooner gone.
I haven’t really gone inside the market much. I’m going to wait for you to get home. That stuff is always a lot more fun when you’re poking around with me. If nothing else gets said about you, it can be said you are adventurous. I don’t know how you manage to get down some of the stuff you test out. Definitely not my bag. Do you remember that pink stuff, lol? I swear you turned green, lmao. Besides, with you here I’ll look less like some slacker loser trying to mooch free samples. Did you know they don’t let you squeeze tomatoes here? I thought that guy was gonna punch me. Made me buy three of them. I didn’t want to make a fuss ‘cause it’s my first week, but I swear I didn’t check more than two of them. Oh well. I’ve been eating tomato sandwiches all week :)
I’ve tried to watch my step a lot. The guy who runs this place is a jerk. No wonder they didn’t have us meet him before we signed on. He expects you to be working all the time. Never mind if you just busted your ass to get something done sooner than you expected. If you are standing, you’re wasting time. I don’t even know why he gets so bent out of shape with me. I mean, I’m not charging by the hour or anything. We’re on contract. If I take twice the time to do the job it’s my loss, not his. And heaven forefend his car gets touched by the miracle that is Mother Nature. I have never seen any grown man baby his car like that. He’s like some motor head teen. It started raining a bit the other day and he ran out of the building like someone was trying to steal it. Pulled into one of the undergrounds and parked it in public parking. I know you think I am exaggerating. I can almost hear you roll your eyes. But I’m serious. I did the weed eating around the trees in the lots the other day (the little maple ones, not the oaks) and was blowing the clippings against the building. I guess some of the pieces got on his car. It isn’t like I was aiming for the damn thing. But he hit the roof. Got one of the students to track me down and I had to go with him to view the car. He yelled and swore and pointed out every single blade of grass. I offered to wipe it off, but that was like offering to pour lighter fluid on a baby. Figured my cloth would scratch the paint maybe. I thought he was going to fire me, I really did. Another reason to have you home ASAP. You’re so much better with these people than I am. I do good in nature. Trees, animals, plants, that’s me. I commune with them. But talking to people? I get so flustered it’s a wonder anything comes out.
How did I ever win you over anyway? I can never figure what it was that caught your eye. Quiet guys who don’t talk to people aren’t usually high on a gal’s “must get” list. Whatever it was don’t ever let me change it. I don’t do well without you around.
Anyway, I think I steered away from disaster today. Rained last night. How was it on the Island? I forgot to watch the news so I didn’t hear the travel weather this morning. Leaves dropped like, well, leaves lol. Looked like brown snow. I skipped coffee and drove straight there. Figured it would help to get some extra time on the lots. Chris was sitting in the lot. I didn’t think anyone else was there. Started up the blower and did fine until I got around the corner. Cole’s car was there. And covered with leaves. No way he was going to take that. Even if he had shown up hours early. And I couldn’t hide that I’d been working with the leaves either. So guess what I did? I blew ‘em of. It was great. Should have tried that with the grass trimmings. They peeled off like they were greased up. It was great. When I was done it looked like it had been in a car wash. The rain had stopped too, so there’s a good chance he won’t notice anything was on it. Or if it was, he shouldn’t blame me.
Come home, babe. Please? Cold mornings call for you. I like sitting in the front room, looking out over the valley as we have our breakfast. You in that ratty grey robe of yours, lol. I don’t know how you keep warm. But it suits you. You’re going to have to let me buy a new one soon. Once that belt goes we won’t be able to put it off. I want you having good things. I know we’re not rich, but we’re sure as hell not poor yet. You don’t have to go around looking like we get our clothes from goodwill. Besides, if you don’t come home I’ll have no one to nag me about hogging the blankets :p
Vicky wants you to bring back some of those square things you got last time. She said she’s been hankering for them. They’re tearing up their front steps again. I swear they pick the worst plants to grow there. They either wither up or try and burrow under the concrete. If you ask me they’d be best off with growing everything in pots like Carl does. But you know him. Won’t take advice to save his life.
I’m nodding off so I’m gonna stop typing now. Tell your Mother to get a decent long-distance plan so we can talk. Email is fine and all, but I miss your voice. Don’t wait too long to come home. I’m lonely. I miss you. I love you. Be safe and make sure you let me know what plane you’re going to be on. I lost the note you put on the fridge. Pudding accident, lol. And yes, I cleaned it up.
Love you, Babe. xoxoxo
October 14, 2012
Footprints
This week is clue week. Since there are going to be 30 characters creating this tale with their diary entries and observations, each one needs to be armed with a clue. Some piece of the puzzle that they noticed or observed without realizing it. These will be the footprints that should lead a reader to "who done it".
I'm not sure if I will end up with more than 30 clues to distribute, but the 30 would be my minimum. I will scatter the details of the crime throughout the location and let them lie there. As each character is created it will be a question of seeing where they are and what time of day it is. What could they see from there? What are their movements? Will Harriet Vane notice that the magazine rack is empty when it is normally full at this time of the day and mention it as odd when she writes to Lord Peter?
This is quite a circuitous way to create a plot I know, but it is the only way I can without delving into characters before I am allowed to. Normally when I write the characters float around me like attention seeking ghosts. This time around I have a skeleton meandering with me. It takes will power to hear all that clanking of bones and not flesh them out right away. Still, that is why this is considered a "challenge". It isn't easy. Probably wouldn't be as much fun if it was.
I'm not sure if I will end up with more than 30 clues to distribute, but the 30 would be my minimum. I will scatter the details of the crime throughout the location and let them lie there. As each character is created it will be a question of seeing where they are and what time of day it is. What could they see from there? What are their movements? Will Harriet Vane notice that the magazine rack is empty when it is normally full at this time of the day and mention it as odd when she writes to Lord Peter?
This is quite a circuitous way to create a plot I know, but it is the only way I can without delving into characters before I am allowed to. Normally when I write the characters float around me like attention seeking ghosts. This time around I have a skeleton meandering with me. It takes will power to hear all that clanking of bones and not flesh them out right away. Still, that is why this is considered a "challenge". It isn't easy. Probably wouldn't be as much fun if it was.
October 8, 2012
The Plot Thickens
Working on the plot for the 30Characters project. Flipping harder than I expected. Storytelling is so joined with characterization that it is damn near impossible to separate the two. But I know who my killer is (not a character except in the background) and I know who my victim is (also only a background player). The trick is trying to figure out everything they do to go from people who have beefs to people killing each other without all the color and flavor of other people. No man is an island. I am learning no characters are either.
I tried to just put a tag on the unknown characters (passes a tourist or nods to the owner of a neighboring stall) but caught my self beginning to think of their details. So I had to scrap that. Crime exists in the non-perfect real world, which is why people get caught lol. There are witnesses and clues that are noticed. But I have to deal with the perfect criminal world. A world in which there are no people. I have to arbitrarily drop clues and not worry about who may see or discover them. I get to have a killer walk boldly where he/she wills without worry. It is only later during the month that I will begin to populate the world person by person.
If nothing else, this exercise will be a huge learner for how to build characters and plot. Even doing it the way I have to there are surprises. The crime has taken a bit of a darker turn. That's saying something considering it's a murder ;)
I tried to just put a tag on the unknown characters (passes a tourist or nods to the owner of a neighboring stall) but caught my self beginning to think of their details. So I had to scrap that. Crime exists in the non-perfect real world, which is why people get caught lol. There are witnesses and clues that are noticed. But I have to deal with the perfect criminal world. A world in which there are no people. I have to arbitrarily drop clues and not worry about who may see or discover them. I get to have a killer walk boldly where he/she wills without worry. It is only later during the month that I will begin to populate the world person by person.
If nothing else, this exercise will be a huge learner for how to build characters and plot. Even doing it the way I have to there are surprises. The crime has taken a bit of a darker turn. That's saying something considering it's a murder ;)
A Journey In Mind
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