Oh Xmas tree oh Xmas tree… it’s time for Blog Post 83. Praise be to our lord and savior, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (better known as George Michael). Happy George Michael Memorial Day to all believers who are also Praying For Time.

Montreal

My wife and I ended the month of November with our first flight in 25 months. We explored the beautiful Canadian city of Montreal. If Montreal taught me anything, it’s that I should have learned to speak French. Hearing people speak fluent and, presumably, flawless French and then effortlessly switching to perfect English was humbling. Maybe one day, I’ll tackle French. It would be a good post-retirement hobby to feed my innate desire to be frustrated. Tres bien.

I took this photo of a very colorful building at the corner of St. Laurent Blvd and Marie-Anne Rui.

From here we walked up Marie-Anne, past The Professor’s Cafe, to Gilligan’s Rui where we were sure we saw a movie star. Then we went to Skipper’s Pub because we were Thurston.

The Novel Update

Progress continues on my novel. It’s taking shape and has something resembling a plot. Here’s an excerpt of the second draft:

“…You don’t want to make any big decisions right now, anyway. Wait. There’s time.”

“Is there though? It doesn’t feel like there is that much time. Every moment I sit here and think about deciding to do something is just time wasted. Thinking, pondering, dreaming, debating, reviewing, contemplating, and planning… all leading to more procrastinating … instead of doing.”

This month saw a surge of book sales of Nursing: The Funny Side of the Bedside. It shows that great literature is timeless and Xmas shopping is hard.

Staying Positive

I had two positive tests this past week. First, I tested positive for being awesome. Then I tested positive for Covid-19. It’s been basically like having a cold. Symptoms have been mild. People at work have barely even noticed. I’m joking of course… they’ve noticed.

They’ve also noticed the ‘being awesome’ part.

Seriously

Seriously, I haven’t been at work. I’ve been at home quarantining. My sentence ends at midnight on Boxing Day. I’m due for my booster vaccine and should get it in early 2022.

Words of Wisdom

1. Know your strengths. I recently saw a social media post that said, “I don’t know how to TikTok but I can write in cursive, do long division, and tell time on clocks with hands… so there’s that.”

I don’t know how to buy NFTs, put together IKEA furniture, or set the time on a microwave but I can hunt saber tooth tigers, build fire by rubbing two sticks together, and operate a brontosaurus at Mr. Slate’s Rock Quarry… so there’s that.

2. Get vaccinated! For others because it’s not just about you… or for yourself because it’s only about you… or both. Choose medicine and science over conspiracy theories and rhetoric.

3. Take time for yourself. Listen to music. Don’t be afraid to be alone.

As the saying goes, “Music is easier to listen to than people.” Wait, what? When you listen to music, you are literally listening to people… unless it’s birds singing.

4. If you haven’t been vaccinated, get vaccinated!

Thanks for reading the final blog post of 2021. It’s been quite the year. I appreciate all the support I’ve received and keep receiving for my writing; this blog, my first book, and for my upcoming novel. I look forward to sharing more musings and literary masterpieces in 2022. Stay tuned. It’s now time for the ending joke. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! Enjoy

Social Media Ad: Does anyone have an elf they want to sell?

I had one, but he ran away… said something about wanting to become a dentist.