Eerie Coincidences

The past couple weeks I have been reading books written by Dean Koontz and today, I felt like I was living through them. In Phantoms, the book I am currently reading, a doctor returns with her teenage sister to her small ski village in California to find the entire town empty. An evil force killed and/or kidnapped everyone in the town. The doctor calls a neighbouring sheriff’s office and they send officers to investigate. After a quick search they set up a command post at the local sheriff’s office. While there the lights flicker, go out and the evil being manages to sneak in and drag an officer away without notice until the lights go back on. I did not do this justice at all; it is really a suspenseful read.

Anyhow, this morning a similar incident occurred to me, minus the evil force (thankfully) and the police and the setting for that matter. I was sitting on the noGO train on my way to work reading the above named book when the lights on the train flickered followed by the engine shutting down. While the engine was being worked on, the lights on the train flickered a few more times before they eventually went out completely. At 7:oo AM, the sun was still an hour or so from breaking through the darkness so nothing could be seen outside leaving everyone sitting on it vulnerable to anything lurking in the shadows. On most days this would be extremely annoying but since my mind threw the situation into the context of the book, I found it all fairly amusing and only slightly annoying. But that was not the end of the coincidences for the day.

Just before starting Phantoms, I had just finished Dragon Tears. In this book a person with supernatural powers works to cleanse the planet of undesirables by killing those who he considers a drain on the planet. At some point this evil person decides to put a hold on eliminating several victims so he can target a ‘hero cop’. The book itself was not too eerie but today when I unfolded our local newspaper, Oshawa This Week, the cover headline, ‘Hero cop rushes into burning home’, brought the book back into my mind. It did not help that events of the day had my mind thinking of some undesirables that the world would be better without. If this article appeared on any other day I likely wouldn’t have thought twice about it but given my experience this morning I can’t help but wonder if this is a case of life imitating art or if it is just a couple of eerie consequences.

To ease everyone’s curiosity, the article above described how Constable Bradley Browne of Durham Regional Police noticed smoke coming from a house while driving by and took immediate actions to ensure the safety of the residents, including running into the house to wake the residents and calling 911. He was off duty at the time.

Tran-Siberian Orchestra

Last night the Trans-Siberian Orchestra made, what is quickly becoming, an annual appearance in Toronto. I had never really heard their music before but my wife had and really enjoys it so I went into the concert with no idea what I was in for. I bought the tickets a couple months ago and at the time I had no clue they played Christmas tunes. I found that out a short while after the tickets were bought and had some regrets. As it turns out those regrets were unnecessary as their performance was one of the best I’ve been too.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is best described as a rock opera. They combine various styles of music into one powerful story that attacks your senses like a rock concert but has the sophistication of an opera. To accompany their inventive music, is a light and laser show that amazes young and old alike and helps create an entire sensory experience. The deep voice of the narrator captures your attention and holds it in a lover’s embrace, letting go only long enough to allow the musical accompaniment to increase your emotional attachment before returning and holding you even tighter. And that is only the first half of the performance.

The second half of the performance turned from an opera to a normal concert format where the orchestra demonstrated more fully their musical genius. Last night, the second half opened rather slowly with a blues number followed by a remake of Credence Clearwater Revival’s Proud Mary. It quickly returned to the high impact, sensory attack of the first half and regained the earlier intensity. With regret we had to leave early and miss the end of the performance. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is definitely a show worth seeing.

Some other things to note about the TSO: before each show they donate a dollar of every ticket sold to a local charity; and after each show they come out and have a bit of a meet and greet and sign autographs as if the venue is turned into their own little after party site. Not only is the music innovative, intense and emotionally charged, but the members of the TSO have more class than the Queen (of England). This event was made possible by the good people at HTZ FM.

Where's the Snow?

Yesterday afternoon, warnings were issued for a winter storm to hit Ontario that would begin in the evening as freezing rain/ice pellets and turn to snow overnight dumping 15 cm's or more onto our otherwise leaf cluttered streets and yards. I went to bed thinking of what analogy I would use to describe the beautiful sight of a blanket of freshly fallen snow where hours before rusty coloured leafs laid quietly. For the record the common artist's clean white canvas comparison came to mind. But alas, all that thinking and composing I did in my head last night (or early this morning as I saw the clock crawl past midnight) was wasted. I woke up this morning to the sound of ice hitting my window and a sort of greyish white mass doing a bad job of hiding the fallen victims of autumn.

They, whoever they are, are still calling for snow but for now, the weather is as dreary as a Vancouver winter, only colder and more painful as the ice pellets attack any exposed flesh like tiny daggers thrown from the Gods.

The Longest Straw

I have been at work for (far too long) an hour and a bit today and in that little time I have become the most hated person in the office, if only for the moment. Daylight savings ended this past weekend (so if you forgot to change your clocks, feel free to do that now; my post will wait) and to the delight of many, the clocks went back one hour allowing us to relive an hour of the day (or at least sleep an extra hour since the time change occurs overnight).

This extra hour was great on the weekend but having it so visibly taken away on a Monday morning is cause for vilification. And thanks to my height, I became the object to vilify. We have a wall clock that is conveniently placed too high for most people to reach (even I have to stand on my tip toes to reach it). Being the tallest person in the office, I was given the task of changing the time on the clock. Being extremely hesitant to make the change, I tried to do it before too many people were awake enough to notice anything was awry.

I must have been too slow or maybe just too tall as I turned around I was met with glaring eyes staring at me as if I committed the most grievous of acts, the most devious of crimes. Damn! I was caught red handed and had no escape. I just put my head down and felt shame as I made the long walk back to my desk with the weight of everyone’s eyes bearing on me, convicting me of crimes against all humanity. Sometimes the longest straw is not desirable. At least I can make it up to them all in March when I will be entrusted with the task of moving the clock ahead, that is, if they have forgotten my evil sins of this cold dreary Monday.

October 2007 Quotes

Most of us have nothing to complain about
Most of us have things we could live without
- Nickelback (Believe It Or Not)

Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage - Smashing Pumpkins (Bullet With Butterfly Wings)

How many special people change
How many lives are living strange
- Oasis (Champagne Superova)

Children have one kind of silliness, as you know, and grown-ups have another kind. - C.S. Lewis (The Magician's Nephew)

And now I know there are no secret tricks, no correct politics
Just liars and lunatics
- Soul Asylum (Homesick)

"What, are the Yankees out of it?...That's why all you media guys are here. I see." - Orlando Hudson of the Arizona Diamondbacks (10/10/2007 Article 'Second series' features first-rate teams by Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com)

Anyone who thinks that new benefits make important men forget old injuries is mistaken. - Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince)

The best cure for insomnia is a Monday morning. - Sandy Cooley

No great wisdom can be reached without sacrifice. - C.S. Lewis (The Magician's Nephew)

Always remember,..., that control is what separates the higher orders from the lower. - Stephen King (The Stand)

Life and beauty swirl in the midst of death. - Robert Jordan (The Eye of the World)

Duty takes men where it will as surely as does [destiny], and neither promises that what we do will have greatness. - Robert Jordan (The Eye of the World)

Always plan ahead…but worry too hard over over next year, and you can trip over tomorrow. - Robert Jordan (Crossroads of Twilight)

And when you kill a man, you're a murderer
Kill many, and you're a conqueror
Kill them all ... Ooh ... Oh you're a God!
- Megadeth (Captive Honour)

The present does not exist. Only the past and the future exist, and we have a duty to them both. - Gilbert Highet (Man's Unconquerable Mind)

It was by learning that we ceased to be animals and made ourselves into men. - Gilbert Highet (Man's Unconquerable Mind)

God the Creator had made man in His own image, and that meant that every man and woman who dwelt under God’s light was a creator of some kind, a person with an urge to stretch out his hand and shape the world into some rational pattern. - Stephen King (The Stand)

You never escape the traps you spin yourself. - Robert Jordan (Lord of Chaos)

James Oliver Rigney, Jr.

October 17, 1948 to September 16, 2007

I wanted my 100th post to be a happy, fun post but I found out some sad news today that I want to pass along. James Oliver Rigney, Jr. passed away on September 16, 2007 from complications due to cardiac amyloidosis. To me, he was known as Robert Jordan a bestseller author of the Wheel of Time series. Unfortunately, I was not among the fortunate people who knew him well, or had even met him for that matter.

If his writing alone wasn’t inspirational, his fight and desire to live should be. Instead of saving all his strength and energy to battle his illness, he wrote on his blog whenever possible and he even continued to write the last book in the Wheel of Time series. I am sure his fans are disappointed (at least a little, whether they admit it or not) the Wheel of Time series sits unfinished, as I am, but like me, I am sure they hold James in high regard for not only being true to himself, his friends, his family and his beliefs throughout his sufferings but he also took the time to keep his fans informed. I do not know too many people that would put others, complete strangers even, desires on an equal level to their own needs, if not above them while fighting to live like James did during the past two years.

My Sanity Has Left The Building!

Up until now I thought I was doing okay; I thought I was a sane, coherent individual. Today, my thinking has done a 180 flip and has left me thinking the opposite. I left my desk at work to walk to the photocopier where I had printed some documents. So far things are fairly normal, even if you find it hard to believe I am doing some work. Anyhow, in the copy room there is one printer on the right hand side just inside the doorway and one photocopier that is further into the room on the same side. Upon entering the room, I instinctively looked right and noticed some bright, colourful markings on a sheet of paper resting on the printer. Instead of just ignoring it and putting it out of my mind, like any sane person would do, I made special notice of it and muttered "oooouuu a nice colourful pie chart".

Had I left the thought alone to circle my mind on its way down the inevitable drain of oblivion, I would have thought no more about the comment and I would still be feeling I am a sane person. Today, however, I felt the need to vocalize this observation and express my 'excitement' to the many stacks of paper littered throughout the tiny room. And to make matters worse, instead of just letting it all go and forgetting my temporary glimpse at the wrong side of sanity, I am further compounding this view by telling my story to anyone bored enough to read this.

Man, do I hope the weekend comes soon! Maybe next week will be better than the last. (Now I went and butchered a part of the Counting Crows 'Long December' song, give me a break my sanity is seriously in question. For those who don't know the song, here is the bit of lyric I made use of: "Maybe this year will be better than the last".)

September 2007 Quotes

For fast acting relief, try slowing down. - Lily Tomlin

The teacher stands in front of the classBut the lesson plan he can't recallThe student's eyes don't perceive the liesBouning off every fucking wallHis composure is well keptI guess he fears playing the foolThe complacent students sit and listen to some of thatBullshit that he learned in school
- Rage Against the Machine (Take the Power Back)

When ignorance reigns, life is lost
- Rage Against the machine (Township Rebellion)

And I've been down on Earth and in this town
And I swear there's got to be something better
- Headstones (Three Angels)

Yeah, I'll win now, but sometimes I'll lose.
I've been battered, but I never bruise, it's not so bad.
And I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day,
And it's all your state of mind.
At the end of the day,
You've just got to say it's all right.
- Great Big Sea (Ordinary Day)

Just as there are no little people or unimportant lives, there is no insignificant work. - Elena Bonner

Wouldn't it be great if no one ever got offended
Wouldn't it be great to say what's really on your mind
- Great Big Sea (Consequence Free)

Same old same old everyday if things don't change you're just gonna rot
'Cause if you do what you've always done you'll always get what you always got
- Aerosmith (Get A Grip)

Can You Believe It?

I received a couple emails from GO this afternoon. One saying "The 1653 train trip from Union to Oshawa (1738) is CANCELLED due to operational reasons (crew)" and another one apologizing for the delays yesterday and noted "Delays may continue into this evening. Because of yesterday evening's events, some train crew members have now exceeded federal regulations limiting the number of hours they can work. We will make every effort, along with CN, to avoid delays."

The smart thing would have been to cancel all service last night when there was an actual issue and save the crews for today. Instead they continued to try to run yesterday and had their crew sit idling in no man's land for countless hours wasting their hours. I am all for restricting hours for drivers of any vehicle (I've watched enough Seconds From Disaster shows on National Geographic channel), don't get me wrong, I just think GO Transit could have used their heads and planned more appropriately.

On the Rail to Nowhere

Yesterday us Eastbound commuters got yet another taste of how little customer service and intelligence GO Transit really has. I was working away at my desk, totally unaware that my bad day was about to get a lot worse, trying to get through my last hour. Just as I found something to occupy my remaining time with, an email notification pops up from GO Transit mentioning something about service suspension. I believe it said there was a major fire in the Victoria Park and Danforth area and all Lakeshore East service was suspended so find your own alternate trip home. Nice! Don’t bother to get buses arranged at Union or anything. Or give us some possible alternatives. This emergency preparedness on the part of GO shows just how much they care about their service. With this kind of attitude, people will look for permanent alternate travel plans and take their dollars elsewhere.

Anyhow, back to the story. After a few frantic seconds of thinking I was going to be stranded in Toronto for the night (the worst torture I can think of), I took a deep breath and came up with a plan to get myself home. I was going to take another train line and my mother agreed to pick me up. The only problem with this plan is that there was a good chance I was going to be late in picking up my son from daycare so when I got another email notification from GO saying the service had resumed I was ecstatic. Since no one was being that specific as to where this fire really was I was not expecting any hitches getting home.

I walked to Union and was able to get on a train going East and once the train pulled out of the station I called my mom and told her she was off the hook for the night. After a slow ride for about five or ten minutes, the train comes to a stop and there was an announcement saying we are waiting for some trains to go through and some signals and we would be on our way. About ten minutes later another announcement boomed through the speakers. There was a change of plans, the track has been closed by the fire chief and we were heading back to Union Station.

I called my mom once again and arranged for her to go to the daycare and I would meet them at home whenever I got there. After sitting in the same spot on the tracks for another fifteen minutes or so, a third announcement came on changing the plans for the third time. We are going to wait on the tracks in the middle of nowhere until the morons at GO Transit figure out what to do with us cattle.

After waiting for about another thirty minutes, and twenty minutes after I am usually home, the train was finally moving…East. At this time, I was extremely irritated by the indecision of GO Transit and that only intensified when we passed the fire area. They should never have resumed service on that line at all last night. The train crawled through the affected section mere inches beside some fire trucks parked on the rail grade. Firemen were only a few yards on the other side of the grade trying to extinguish the fire. Although, how they saw anything in that thick “toxic” haze of smoke I’ll never know. Someone could lose sight of their hand in it if they extended their arm out. All evening long, service was on again, off again until they finally stopped around 10 or 11.

This was the second incident this week for GO Transit as well. This most recent episode, although not started by GO Transit, was compounded by the lack of decision by GO. I would have much rather been anywhere but stuck on a train with no room to move around. This is just another example of how few options the train commuter has once on the train and how many outside factors can influence the fate of a commute home. With the fact that GO cannot keep their equipment running properly and their lack of customer service I don’t know why I am still using them. Maybe it’s time to start driving.