Cam I Am

For the last three summers, I’ve had an issue..

With seagulls..

I’m sure that you are wondering what the hell my problem is with seagulls, but I freely admit that I now have a fear of seagulls..

Why?

For those of you who don’t know, many buildings in downtown Vancouver have cable service boxes on the roof.  It’s a great place for them!  No one ever goes up there, they are usually easy to find and access and can save time, instead of searching floor after floor for a service box.  The problem is that because no one ever goes up on the roof, seagulls like to build nests on the roof and have their eggs/young up there..

Picture this..

I’m going up to the roof of a building.  I get there and there is a nest, somewhere up there.  As soon as I step out on the roof, those $!#@% birds go nuts!  They go into attack mode!  They will do anything to defend their babies..

And it gets worse. 

They call out to the seagulls perched on top of other buildings!  They all come!  They swoop, swarm and dive.  They get into your face (literally, as one tech found out)…   They are vicious creatures! 

So..  I’ve come up with two plans to do my work..

Plan A - I get the customer to come on the roof with a broom.  Usually, when I tell them this, they roll their eyes and think that I’m a moron.  By the time they get up there and see what I’m talking about, they are much my understanding about why I can’t safely open the service box, find their line, close the box, and fight off seagulls..  (one time, I had nine gulls diving on me and a customer on a roof).

Plan B – Work in Abbotsford.. 

I get mocked at work..  But I believe that more and more techs are finding the same problems.  It seems that in the last few years, they are getting much more defensive about us being up there.  The good news is that while seagulls typically nest from April to October, they seem to be in attack mode from late June to mid-September..

Fucking birds…

Well, my first week back to work has gone well, so far..  I’ve worked Monday and Wednesday, as per my return to work instructions..   I seem to be moving around very well and have experienced no pain in my back!  It’s good to be back!  This explains the first part of title of this post..

The second is simple..  I’m being sent to work in Abbotsford for at least a month. 

I’m happy about this for three reasons:

1. Gas is cheaper in Abbotsford!  Easily 10 cents a litre less than anywhere within the GVRD’s boundaries.
2. For me, the commute to the Abbotsford office is almost exactly the same as the trip into the Vancouver office…   but it will take 35 minutes to commute to Abbotsford instead of 75 minutes to Van…
3. No seagulls..   I’ll save the explanation of this for another post.  Anyone at VTOC who is reading this and knows me will be laughing right about now.. 

So..  I’m back to work..  and being sent away! 

…that keeps on calling me.
Down the road, that’s where I’ll always be.
Every stop I make, I make a new friend,
Can’t stay for long, just turn around and I’m gone again.

Maybe tomorrow, I’ll want to settle down,
Until tomorrow, I’ll just keep moving on.

Back in the early 80’s, I remember watching “The Littlest Hobo” on TV.  I would look forward to it every week, wondering what Hobo would do.  It was one of those shows that my brothers and I loved watching.

A few months ago, I was watching an episode of Corner Gas where Hank thinks that Hobo came to town (yes, apparently he beleived that a 30-year old dog could exist!).  After watching this episode, I did a search on the channel guide and found the “The Littlest Hobo” is still on TV.   That’s right!  If you are up at 3:30AM (PDT) on Monday mornings, it’s on CTV-Ontario!

I decided to start recording the episodes on the PVR for my kids to watch..

And they love it!   They ask to watch the same episode over and over all week until there is a “new” one to watch.  

I’m glad that I can share something with my kids that I enjoyed as a child myself..  

Hell..  I still like watching it now…

I’ve been unusually quiet here recently..

And not because I’ve had nothing to say.  I’ve just been..  quiet..

This past weekend, I took the girls up to the Okanagan to see grandma and papa..  We went to the beach, visited a couple friends, and of course, took the required trip to Tickleberry’s in Okanagan Falls.  It was nice to get away!   Even though I’ve been off for such a long time, it was nice to get away with the kids. 

Around the house, I’ve been painted our living room, organizing a few things, and just trying to keep busy. 

Yesterday, I went to see my doctor for a follow-up appointment from my surgery.  I asked him if I could go back to work..  and after a few questions, he said that I can, starting the 28th..     I’m going back for the first 2 weeks for just three days a week, but then full time.  I’ll be doing full duties from the start!

WOOHOO!

The last couple of weeks have been going well for me..

I’ve been feeling pretty good.  The physio sessions that I’ve been going to seem to be helping me improve on my flexibility.  I am very impressed with how much better I feel than before the surgery. With any luck, I’m hoping that I will return to work by the end of the month. 

My friends Mark and Christie and their two kids continued on with their RV trip, but not before having dinner at out place one evening.  It’s always nice to catch up with old friends, and this was no exception!  Mark and I went out for a little while so that I could show him around Maple Ridge, and we entertained the idea of checking out the campground that is directly across the river from our place (in Langley), but we didn’t like the wait for the Albion Ferry.  It seems that they may take another RV trip across the country again. 

Canada Day was low key..  All the kids got sick with the flu, but I did manage to go to a very small party at my friend Syd’s place.  BBQ salmon and “red and white” cake..  A very good dinner, and a really nice evening.  Since I am not working right now, getting out and having adult conversation is nice, and I’ll take it when I can get it!

That’s about it.   Just a bunch of little things to say; none of them worth a post of their own!  The kids are over their flu, but my wife has it now.  I haven’t caught it..  yet..