Out & About #830 | Weekly Roundup: The Cow on Site

Building upon the previous week's realization(s), I continued to embrace that mindset while navigating the next five work days.

​I despised the arrival of Sunday evening - or even Sunday morning, for that matter. Once again, I'd brace myself for another five days of early mornings, unexpected demands, and risks to bladder infection.

The scope of the project is, seriously, so minimal. With a subdivision sidewalk restoration comprising of no more than twelve contract items (two of which being provisional), the degree of difficulty ought be close to none. A straightforward approach often brings about optimal results, regardless of project scale. Though, there are an oddly high number of involved parties that tend to think the opposite: Why not create more work? Why not explore opportunities beyond the scope?

And truthfully, it should be more appalling that these thoughts come not out of a consciousness, but rather a narrow mindset of reluctance to alter one's existing ways for the greater good of the working team, and the conclusive benefit of society.

"What do you think is hard about this project?" I was asked towards the end of the week.
I considered my response thoughtfully before responding: "Doing things beyond the project scope."

There are plenty of items that fall under this category, with just a handful being:

• Structuring a spreadsheet from scratch on a constrained timeline, then being instructed to downgrade to manual entry with manually colour-coded cells, manually inserted equations, misaligned formulas, and a plethora of merged cells.
• Receiving criticism for the aforementioned bettered spreadsheet and being told to "dumb it down", in spite of the data tracking device to be more efficient at meeting the objectives of end-of-month payment needs
• Reprimanded for "neglecting my other duties" without even bothering to confirm that the act of neglect had taken place
• Dealing with resident backlash for inquiries and aspects beyond the jurisdiction of the third-party inspector, inclusive of threatening behaviour ("Don't lie to me! I hate it when people lie to me! I WILL FIND YOU!")

Pragmatic is my general approach to all things work and life. Regrettably, the same simply cannot be said about others, for the atrocious amount of attention to trivial matters in the mere 22 days of my project assignment is all too evident.

​Masking nearly all the time outdoors, in the sweltering heat, has led to another issue: dryness of the skin, regular nosebleeds, and general irritation and redness across the nose and chin. But is there really a more preferable option to dust filtration and potential COVID exposure?

​Lunch breaks in the early half of the week were spent either seeking A/C and Wi-Fi at Shoppers or seeking assistance from a nearby frame shop for the unexpected loss of a screw. While I was not a client of the boutique, the staff had been kind enough to undergo a trial-and-error process to locate the correct screw for my dilapidated frames. The arm was saved. Vision was restored.

As Tuesday afternoon (and several concerns over food inventory) rolled around, I opted to order UberEats to my site location prior to leaving. The estimated delivery time had aligned perfectly with my departure time, yet the actual process was far more frustrating.

​Hogtown Smoke in the Creek was but a ten-minute drive away, but preparation of the order somehow extended past the 90-minute mark. All crews had departed for the day before my order would arrive, twenty minutes later than I was required to stay.
There were alternate options to prevent my delayed departure, and I proceeded to explore each and every one of them. In the face of a pricier pick-up option and even pricier cancellation fee, I took to messaging the driver, looking for an opportunity to intercept him along the way to the freeway exit.
He didn't respond, and proceeded to drive up in his creaking, peeling vehicle without remorse, one hand on the wheel and the other pinching a cigarette between his index and middle finger.

I braved the grueling drive back, for congestion had only increased exponentially during my unwarranted wait. Signatures of Texas Brisket and St. Louis Ribs had constituted the order. Both appeared tremendously promising, with the Ribs adorning a thorough char. The Brisket being extremely delicate, disintegrating instantly with any attempts to lift or remove it from the grease-lined wrap. We dismissed the pickled onion and Jalapeños (obviously).

The St. Louis Ribs retained an adequate amont of fleshiness, but were on the drier side. They only grew progressively drier with each passing day. Meanwhile, the Beef Brisket was incredibly greasy, but otherwise bland.

That evening, I began to suffer from indigestion and nausea. Hogtown Smoke in the Creek did not agree with my digestive system.

Despite attempts to combat unwellness with rest, I awoke to nausea, weakness, and subtle faintness. The symptoms are not unfamiliar to me, for they tend to arise after eating items of extreme oiliness and failing to purge then from my system. I made it to the site without issues, though shaky legs and inkling to vomit had me re-evaluating whether I would survive the day. Eventually, I headed home around the lunch hour mark, but not before an intensely 長氣 call with a scatterbrained member of the client team.

​My weekly gas usage now approximates 575 km, 453 km of which I shall be reimbursed for (albeit at a higher rate than spent).

With each week, my skin becomes redder, my feet calluses tougher, and energy levels lowered. A sense of weakness was likely my first warning sign of withering health.

Not withstanding its associated hardships, I enjoy the work. Fulfilling it is to observe work progress steadily before one's eyes, and witness the responses - positive, negative, and perhaps neutral - of residents as construction unfolds.

​My Blueberry Crumble Muffins were consumed for three out of five days, until a longing for banana bread-filled mornings prompted thawing of slices from the freezer.

​Snacks made more frequent appearances than expected. Ranging from stale Rice Krispies and expired Hello Panda from the sleepy polar bear to discount Pineapple Cakes from T&T and CoCo pick-me-ups, energy was sustained without overloading the sugar meter.

Admittedly, the cakes were a bit...pasty (?) for my liking, and totally unlike the scrumptious, buttery squares from Ximending.

​The Real Fruit Strawberry Slush was deemed too sugary and excessively milky with its double dairy inclusion of milk and cream foam. Crushed ice was splendid for alleviating a long, humid day's work, though the beverage was less desirable following dissolution. It was more akin to a Strawberry Milkshake at that point, encouraging the addition of Chamisul to offset its sweetness and contribute depth. This combo was well-received and promptly utilized to extinguish the embers of bibigo pre-packaged radish kimchi.

Although 100% of my working hours are now spent immersed within Mother Nature herself, I often miss the view from my second-floor office, particularly at dusk. Since the commencement of the project, this period has coincided with late pilates sessions, late showers, or, on the more strenuous days, bedtime.

​To Friday afternoon I bid farewell and to Saturday afternoon I anticipate, readied with the latest addition to my eau assemblage (aka perfume collection, in simpler terms). Green Tea Sakura Blossom has served me well; now, it is time to put Lychee Lime to the test. Though, Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea line has never disappointed across all its countless floral-fruity iterations.​