Out & About #833 | Two Weeks of Visuals + The Final Bay - Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger

Out & About #833 | Two Weeks of Visuals + The Final Bay

9/3/2022

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If my work schedule is tumultuous and unceasing, then my internal state of mind can only be more chaotic.

For seemingly every challenging task, there is an even more grueling hurdle.

Interactions with residents can be tiring, but even more so is the commute, which constantly fluctuates between forty and sixty five minutes.
Early mornings, sleepless nights, and long drives are exhausting, but even more so is the act of deducing unclear objectives and obtaining direction from those unwilling to provide them.
Corporate greed and inconsistent work responsibilities present further obstacles for fairness and equality, but even more so are the underlying, unspoken financial matters surrounding my everyday life.

I've come to realize a distinct weight loss over the past few months. While originally thought to be temporary and ensuing as a result of poor eating habits, fluctuations in the scale have been minimal. The combined effects of fatigue, restlessness, stress, and anxiety are evident. Physical strain - cramped hamstrings and chest pain, to name a few - and emotional pressures have surged from extenuating circumstances, none of which could have fallen within my realm of control even if I tried. 120% of efforts were exerted in vain, for one cannot reason with the world. Society is discovered to live on rotating about the axis of each individual's selfishness and lack of consideration for unity. One could say that I've lost faith in humanity, yet, as third-party spectators never fail to point out, "I care too much to stop trying".

The mindset is both a blessing and a curse: a drive to constantly find new ways to perform better, all while succumbing to the thoughts and beliefs of others and losing yourself in the midst of it, unconsciously.

This short-term fieldwork assignment has taught me plenty. It was more than mere education by ways of municipal priorities and sidewalk remediation. Throughout this project, I've had the opportunity to witness unyielding stubbornness, a typical element of small town culture, as well as the interconnecting implications of certain actions. Certified within the company was the boundless gluttony of those who have tasted profit, and the drastic actions taken to ensure consistent flow of such profit for personal gain. And while I tried my very best in handling a daily routine occupied by work, timely conflict resolution, and weariness, my actions were responded to with laziness, lack of consideration, and further pressures to "do more", to do "better".
It would be a lie to say that feelings of inadequacy weren't experienced thoroughly.

But such scenarios lie beyond my realm of control. A sense of helplessness is often felt, as knowing that any and all attempts at altering the situation for a more preferable outcome is futile.

In the past two weeks, I've tried to stomach various meals. From PC's Extra Cheesy Mac & Cheese to even the plainest of takeout items, my digestive system refused them all. Stomach pains, headaches, and more resulted from any intake beyond rice, kale, and lean pork. Moreover, I'd expect constant dreaming to also contribute to an overall decrease in functionality.

Chocolate chunks had been retained for the construction of Banana Chocolate Chunk Muffins, which ultimately never materialized due to - you guessed it - tiredness.

Interestingly enough, one of the few items capable of being digested was alcohol. I had no issues with Tiger Beer, and even sensed an urge for Sapporo.

My mandated thirty-minute lunch periods were spent browsing autumn/Halloween décor at the nearby Dollarama and Michaels.

These air-conditioned stops were likely the most exciting ventures of my work week, beyond the occasional conversations exchanged with members of the Contractor team.

Hankerings for bottled Sapporo were eventually satisfied at Sobeys, where the last can of Dark Dab was also secured.

Another Real Fruit Peach Slush concluded the week, for Mango is being reserved for sampling with the sleepy polar bear.

A last-minute decision for the construction of a Black Sesame Japanese Cheesecake would be squeezed in prior to CNE.

Opting not for the finnicky formula of cotton cheesecakes past, I jumped to integrate unsweetened black sesame paste with a relatively simple, comparatively quick, and relatively popular, Chocolate Japanese Cotton Cheesecake recipe.

Results were fabulous, with absolutely no cracking, no crumbling, and, best of all, no wait time after baking! The impromptu experiment marked my swift conversion.

The days of my site presence are coming to a close, as made evident by the rapid progress thus far.

While a part of me is excited for later mornings and shorter commutes, I am less than pleased to return to the miserable, never -changing scene of micromanaging and soul-sucking.

Revisiting Michaels for breezy, Wi-Fi-accompanied walks, I chanced across a shelf of colourful FIMO clay. The small blocks of clay instantly ruffled childhood memories. It is strange to think that the ever-excited crafter of the 2000s would evolve into an adult allergic to sitting still for DIY projects.

Stops at bulk barn and Shoppers were made for the restocking of gummies and investigation of Halloween candy selection. Not so attractive were the opaque qualities of the eyeballs and brains; instead, I took to a small bag of the tri-colour pumpkins. Albeit cute, they taste tacky and almost licorice like, especially the yellow-tinted variety.

A rain day prompted an early return, continued paperwork and neck pains at home, and a comical communication mishap with the sleepy polar bear. Alas, I received my Koala's March (and an unpictured glass of bonus Pocari Sweat).

On Thursday, the last bay of sidewalk was poured. I observed from a distance with bittersweet feelings; the moment was shaken as resident and client issues surfaced. Settling them quickly, I zipped towards Mapleview Mall.

I remain of the opinion that Decathlon ought open a location closer to the GTA, be it Oakville if not Mississauga. Over one month later, I finally managed a time slot to tend to my online order return.

Frankly, it was my first time visiting any of the Decathlon stores in person. Lofty celings and an unbelievable selection of merchandise filled my perspective. A fully-furnished rock climbing wall was arranged at one side of the entrance, and an automatic checkout system (like UNIQLO) resided on the other.
My return was processed in the blink of an eye. Having entered within the first hour of store opening, the grounds were fairly vacant. Uninterrupted assistance was received on distinguishing sock sizes and types (cotton vs. running).

Concluding the week are sightings of an inflatable monkey in a birthday cupcake, a Coco Grape beverage from the sleepy polar bear, and a too-soft Black Sesame Rice Krispies.

With weekend plans postponed by a day and frozen pie crust (or was it galette crust??) residing in the freezer for far too long, I did the unthinkable: Pecan Pie was revisited.

On hand was about 175g of pecans, which was augmented to the prescribed 225g with a handful of almonds. Volume-wise, the batch exceeded that tart's pan's capacity. The delectable, nutty custard overflowed, and the sugar crystallized in the pan after cooling. It was a nightmare to remove, even with the tart pan's loose bottom.

Beyond the sticky removal process (pun not intended), I am proud to declare my third pecan pie a grand success! The crust, despite having been frozen for who-knows-how-long, was crisp and flaky, succumbing not to the liquid nature of the custard pre-baking. To ensure rolling without ripping, the doubly shrink-wrapped disc was allowed to thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours, then at room temperature for about thirty minutes while I undertook other preparations.

The almonds, though not a regular constituent of any pecan pie, contributed a crunchiness more distinct than pecans without overwhelming the overall composition and pie personality.