John Speaks

A new place to read

2012-12-01T08:18:00.002-08:00

The process of collecting all of my writings is moving forward.

All of my poetry is now John Looks Out On Life and for all of my stories,

rants and raves, and thoughts on Life, The Universe and Everything

please drop by John Tells A Story

I look forward to seeing you all there soon

Cheers

Some people are just amazing

2012-11-27T16:38:00.000-08:00

I don't know who thought this one out, but I believe that person deserves the Noble Peace Prize for humanity.

Some peoples children, makes you wonder just how much better we can get

New Blog Site

2012-11-25T21:13:00.001-08:00

Greetings one and all

I have decided to expand my poetry a bit so from this point forth, any poetry I put together will be here

John Looks Out On Life

Please drop by and have a look and should it strike you, write a poem and send it to me and I will put it up for the world to see

This site will remain for anything else I see need to write

Be well one and all and I hope to see you all on my new blog

Cheers

Command

2012-11-21T13:22:00.000-08:00

To lead

One must first be able

To follow

Cable TV

2012-11-21T13:19:00.000-08:00

Anything you want

Anytime you want it there

Same crap just more

Letter Arrived

2012-11-21T12:55:00.003-08:00

One unread email

Been waiting all day for it

Damn its spam

Dependancy

2012-11-21T12:54:00.000-08:00

Caffine daily start

Glucose to spike through the day

Little pill to sleep

Communicate

2012-11-21T12:53:00.000-08:00

Off on and on off

Data flowing back and forth

Thougths and feelings flow

Untouched

2012-11-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

Forbidden to touch

And yet the sweetest of fruit

Ripe for the picking

Katana

2012-11-21T12:47:00.002-08:00

Rasor edged steel

Slicing throught the morning air

Peaceful end follows

A Picture

2012-11-21T12:46:00.003-08:00

A simple pencil

Move it to mark the page

Draw it for your joy

Seasons In Flux

2012-11-21T12:44:00.002-08:00

He woke that morning

The sky glazed over in gray

Red leaves are falling

Nightmare

2012-11-19T10:47:00.000-08:00

Primal terror

Lies behind closed eye lids

Sleep is denied

Doing the Popcorn Dance

2012-11-18T12:15:00.001-08:00

Betty - The baby

Cricket - The Mom

Popcorn Puppies

My two papillons can be the funniest of critters when they want to play. Had an opportunity to
make a short video of them doing the cute thing. Have a look see at the Utube link above

Cheers

Santa Parade

2012-11-17T21:51:00.000-08:00

The first Santa parade of the season has officially come and gone today. The weather was the oddest thing, it was cloudy and windy and rainy all day until about 4pm. Then it cleared up, the wind died down and the streets all dried up, just in time for the parade. After the parade had been cleared away, it started raining again. I guess the Gods like to watch parades on the occasion <g>

I volunteered to drive one of the taxies for the parade - I haven't ever done such a thing before, I have walked in numerous, but never driven in one. I got to the appointed spot with my wife and daughter, not really sure what to expect but if you go expecting anything, you won't be surprised when it happens. I found the car I was to drive and we all helped get it prettied up for the parade. In total there were 6 of us running around getting all the lights and decor put together and a blind gentleman who played his guitar and sang Christmas songs for the entirety of the parade.

While we were waiting to get going, the street beside us filled with a marching band and a donation truck so things were pretty tight by the time the parade started. At 1800 the parade marshal said go and go we went. It took about 15 minutes before I was able to actually move because some fool had parked a train full of clowns in front of me but what can you do. I hit the start button (the cab was a Prius), put the car into low gear and started forward. I turned the corner and got to the official start line for the parade. HOLY $@*$, look at all of those kids! They were lining the starting line 4 deep and the kids were going wild - oh yeah, Santa was about 2 floats behind me. Still, I heard more than one little kid scream "ITS THE TAXI DRIVER!"

The parade progressed slowly in front of the Empress Hotel and every 20 feet or so the people who were walking with the cab came back for more goodies to hand out. The kids were going wild, my wife was passing goodies out the car window as fast as she could, the mistral in the back was singing his heart out and I really was thinking it was time to change my knickers. All I needed was for one little kid to go completely wild at the sight of my car and come rushing out of the crowd. I tell you to have hit some kid during any other time would be bad, very very bad, but to do it right in front of Santa? I think I would much rather have a large scrub brush remove everything from my small intestines, newest to oldest.

The first part of the parade wasn't too bad until we hit government street when all of a sudden the road went from 4 lanes to 1 for about 100'. Ah well, the people walking with the cab (including my wonderful daughter) did a great job of helping the little ones contain their enthusiasm while I passed by. Driving through that many people gave me new meaning to keeping my eyes everywhere. Once I relaxed a little (read into that VERY little) I got right into it and had a lot of fun. We ran out of give aways about 1/3 of the way through the parade but still had a great time seeing everyone being so happy.

After the parade we made our way to a bizare restaurant called Hope Key. We sat down, had diner, unwound a little and started breathing again. After supper we were going to go on a ferris wheel that had been set up but we were all a bit wiped out and it had started raining again so we went home and got to our separate corners to unwind a bit more.

All in all, a very fun event, one I would rather enjoy doing again.
Just not tomorrow

Moving Forward

2012-11-17T13:49:00.003-08:00

To trudge: the slow, weary, depressing yet determined walk of a man who has nothing left in life except the impulse to simply soldier on. "
Geoffrey Chaucer - A Knights Tale

How many people out there trudge through life? Do you know any? Can you walk down the street and someone who is?
There are times in most peoples lives that they must trudge and really it is not a bad thing when you get down to it. Anyone who is trudging is making progress, moving toward a goal. It may be slow progress but give them the kudosfor putting the effort to keep moving.

Now look in the mirror. Have you stopped putting the effort in? Have you decided there is nothing to gain so why bother? Is there nothing out there to inspire an effort? Yes, there may be a long black tunnel but somewhere down the end of it there is a light.

Keep moving, in the end you will be better for it

Reality TV - Why?

2012-11-17T10:21:00.000-08:00

The question of today is about "Reality TV". I am sure that most people can name at least two or three of these shows, heck are shows for just about any taste out there from people stating why they shouldn't have to pay for the car they wrecked to the pinnacle of cuisine.

Some of these shows are just a bunch of cameras placed in a house to watch what everyone will do - Mr Orwell? Have you seen this? We have a whole fist full of cooking competitions - 3 or 4 of them hosted by an abusive, pompus Brit. For those who are looking for adventure we have the continuing saga of Survivor - maybe one of seasons, someone is really going to keel over and die. Fear Factor, The Amazing Race, Jersy Shore, The "Real" Housewives of ....., the list goes on and on.

For the most part, I find them without any sort of redeeming value, take Survivor for one. This show has been going on for what, 25 seasons? They can now have a season that pits all of the winners against each other, not that it would make much of a difference, every season its the same thing. The same 2 groups of people, doing the same things to each other to get ahead so that they can win the $1mil, until it gets down to the last 3, who always have to do some big soul search about the 17 people they have walked over. Then its the final jury where the last 2 people say how great they were and how they are the right one to win. The jury ask questions, then they cast their votes and then everyone gets to wait a week so the the shows producers can decide who will win. For a million dollars? Okay, I can see that making it worth the crap.

There is one show I really find amazing, Judge Judy. Now, this show I frequently get a kick out of. Judge Judith Sheindlin is a very interesting lady, she has been around a lot, and done this show for 16 years. 16 years of her sitting up at her desk and telling people that:
1. She is smarter than them
2. They are not going to talk over her
3. Did you know that you were coming to court today?
Some of her shows she sits there and dishes it out fair and hard. If you are a dead beat, you will lose. If you show up presentable, with all of the appropriate paperwork, stand there and smile and say YES (saying yeah goes right up her nose) and keep your mouth shut until she asks you a question, you will probably win. Frequently those who do win should - IMHO. While I don't like some of her attitudes about the value of being a stay at home mom, for the most part I think what she puts out is pretty good.
What I don't understand is, what is it about being on TV that makes some people be complete morons? If you walk into her court dressed like you are going out to party, she will kick you out. If you are act like an idiot, she will either kick you out or dismiss your case, or both. If you say yeah to her, she will berate you in front of 20 million viewers.

Judge Judy has been doing the same thing, the same way for 16 years for everyone to see, why don't the morons who go in front of her seem to know this? What is wrong with them that they will activily participate in themselves being humiliated in front of 20 million viewers, and all for a maximum gain of $5000. After 16 years, a reasonable person would think that people would have picked up on a few thoughts of how she expect you to conduct yourself and yet people still show up in front of her looking like a hooker, or a drug pusher or some other sort of lowlife.

The great question of why people subject themselves is one of the great mysteries of life.

All I know is that I enjoy watching Judy rip a strip off of some overly important wingnut who thinks he is not responsible for his actions. As for Gorden Ramsey, his latest show has him behind bars. Maybe we will get lucky and someone will forget to let him out.

And the Winner is....

2012-11-16T09:18:00.001-08:00

ME!!!
Johnny, let's show the contestant what he won.
Well, behind the door is ...A BRAND NEW JOB!!! (much clapping from the studio audience)

Sometimes my life really does feel like a game show but for today at least, I am okay with it.
A little back story is in order.

Last April I retired from the Royal Canadian Navy and began to live life as a civilian again - man, I thought is was tough being a sailor, this civilian crap is way worse <g>. After 20 years, I acquired a few skills, a few interesting ways to look at life and a few friends. One of these friends called my up and told me of a position that was needing a warm, friendly and totally awesome computer tech. Since I fit all three qualifications, I wandered myself down to the person who managed that chair, smiled and said, "Look no further, I am here." It turned out that the manager was someone who I worked with in the closing days of my military career, someone I got along with very well. He was happy and he knew it so he clapped his hands. He dragged me around the shop and introduced me to the rest of the crowd, all of whom used to work at the same location at the same time as I did. We were all happy and we all knew it, so we all clapped our hands. (isn't life grand?)

The manager set to find a way to get me into his shop. He looked and looked and looked some more and finally he found a way. I was hired as a temporary casual for 4.5 months (micky mouse government crap). Sweet, an relatively easy job, great people to work with, lots of learning, and my pension to boot.

After 3 months of proving myself to be indispensable, I started making noise about how to keep me there forever. I mean, there was a legitimate position for me, I had the skills and attitude that made me fit beautifully into that spot so what is the problem here? Oh, I see, more micky mouse government crap. Well, the boss swears on a stack of used RAM modules that he will find a way. Two days before my contract was up he found that way. He would post the position for a Class B Reservist.

A Class B Reservist eh? Hmmmm, well, when I retired I did transfer myself to the Supplementary Holding Reserve so I should be able to transfer myself back, yes? A quick call to Ottawa confirmed my suspicions so great, transfer me! No, can't just do that. The position has to be posted for 30 days and then we have to interview everyone who applies and then all of the administration can happen.
Gah! Okay, the last time you did this, how many people applies for it?

A: 20
B: 10
C: 5
D: None of the above
Correct answer D.

Right now, how many people are jumping up and down wanting to do it, proven that they can do it, and have had customers say just how great that person is?

Oh, only 1?

What is the question here? Slap a uniform on him, tell him to park his butt in the chair and get to work. How hard is this to figure out? As it turns out, the manager would love nothing more than to make it that easy but no, it can not be. The proper forms must be filled out, the proper timing must be met. IT MUST BE SO!

And SO it was. The manager filled out the forms, said it must be 30 days until he could begin to make an answer and I sat there, waiting.

That was yesterday. Today is day 31. Having just called, I now know that my application on his desk, my application and all of the other ones. Errr, it appears that there were no other applications. Well, that will make his job of choosing a little bit easier.

Now, I just have to wait for Johnny to roll my prize out from behind the door

Kicking it Auzzie Style

2012-11-14T23:01:00.002-08:00

In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned my love for the Royal Australia Navy. A great bunch of mates, the kind of guys you want at your back when things don't quite work out as planned.

My first operational deployment was back in 1991, just after the first Gulf War. The ship I was on was sent to the Gulf of Aqaba (northern end of the Red Sea). The task group we were assigned to was given orders to stop and search every vessel going into and out of that Gulf. In total, there were 6 ships, us, 4 US ships, a French ship and a vessel of RAN. For the four months we were on station, a great rivalry existed between us and the Auzzies. By the time we have left station and headed for home, the score was officially even (but I know who really won)

To search the vessels entering and leaving the Gulf, we all had our own methods. The Americans used Zodiacs - a 20 rubber boat with an outboard motor. Not really all that awe inspiring. We used RHIB - essentially a slightly longer Zodiac with a rigid hull and a really big inboard engine. These RHIB can mount a heavy machine gun and go about 35kts - not to shabby. The Auzzies, well, they did things just a bit different. They would load the boarding team into a helicopter , hover over the bow of the ship to be boarded and then push the team out of the helo and have the team members slide down to the ship down a rope - HEAD FIRST.

Now, just to give a bit more perspective. Everyone knows how insane US sailors are. The Auzzies scared the Americans. Just look at that chopper, about 50 feet above the deck. All of a sudden, 10 heavy set men, armed with big guns jump out of that chopper and fall head first to the steel deck below. If I was a bad guy and saw this happen in front of me, I would have serious thoughts about sitting down and being very mellow about life.

So, on to the rivalry between us and the Auzzies. Over the time we were on station, we would play little pranks on the Auzzies and they would repay the favour. One morning a rather large red beaver was painted on the hull of the Auzzie boat. Hmmmm, somehow I think that was about as good as it was going to get. Go ahead mate, top that one off if you can. Well, they did. Later that week it was time for the Auzzie boat to host the weekly Commanding Officer get together. They came by to collect our CO via their helo. The helo hovered above our bow and hoisted the CO off our ship. The helo then remained hovering over the bow and one of the crew of the helo stuck his arm out holding an egg.

OH, HOW AWFUL! AN EGG ALL OVER OUR BOW! WHAT EVER WILL WE DO?

The egg was released and smashed itself on the bow. The arm went back into the helo and was struck out again. This time the arm held a 50lb bag of flour.

Oh, errr, I wonder how long he can hold that bag? Apparently about 3 seconds. The bag, following all the rules of nature and physics, hit the bow, much like the egg did. Unfortunately due to the rather large amount of stuff in that bag, the clean up from it took a considerable amount of effort.

Hmmm, I think I will call that exchange a draw

Karmic Bank Account

2012-11-14T21:50:00.001-08:00

There are times when I am very glad that I have a very well stocked Karmic bank account. On the occasion I chose to make a withdraw, it is nice to know there are funds available.

One fine night, not so long ago, I was out doing the taxi thing. Now, I will admit to not enjoying seeing someone else scoop my fare. For some odd reason, it annoys the snot out of me. The night in question, I was down town, waiting for someone to stumble out of a bar and desperately need a ride home. I was cruising along Wharf Street about 2330 when a block ahead of me, someone was waving to flag me down. Sweet. I make my way to this person when, from out of nowhere (okay, he was behind me) a cab from another company went screaming past my left side mirror, cut in front of me and stopped at the curb to pick up the person who flagged me down. Damn, lost that trip. Oh well, carry on.

Carry on I did. I went past the cab that had just scooped me, and as I did, the driver of that vehicle saluted me with the middle digit of his left hand. Shmee, whatever. I continued to the stop light ahead of me and stopped, only to have the other cabbie pull up to my right side and continue to suggest the excellence of his prowess at driving and that perhaps my time would be better spent by engaging in sexual acts with a four legged creature. Waiting for the light to change, I looked over at the passenger in the back seat of the cab beside me. The gentleman in question was not looking to well, his face had a rather odd green tinge to it and he seemed to be sweating profusely. Perhaps something that this gentleman has ingested did not agree with his stomach.

The gentleman in the back seat of the cab beside me made some very quick plans to expel the contents of his stomach out of the window behind the driver. From what I saw, the plans where executed almost flawlessly. The only part of the plan that did not happen properly was the opening of the window. As a result of that failure, the contents of that gentleman's stomach were splashed onto the plane of glass that separated him from the outside air. Apparently, the gentleman had ingested a rather large amount of multi coloured liquids.

I turned my head forward and decided that the cab driver beside me was going to be too occupied to discuss opening his own Karmic bank account. Several moments later, the light turned green and the good folks at dispatch saw fit to occupy my time and energy elsewhere.

Those who serve

2012-11-11T12:57:00.003-08:00

This place is better

Your duty is done, thank you

Sleep in peace

Red Flower, White Flower

2012-11-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

Recently, a group of people have taken it to their minds that wearing a poppy glorifies war, that a poppy somehow symbolizes all that is evil in the world. These people have banded together and made a white poppy, saying that they want to show peace and not war. These people have it in their heads that by showing up to a memorial wearing a white poppy they are doing something meaningful.

Here in North America, we live in a society that is safe, secure and free. We are free to think and say just about anything without having to worry about being sent away to be re educated. Todd Akin can spout his views on ``legitimate rape``, I wonder if any woman he knows or child of his has had the opportunity to put into practice what he claims. christian extremists like Fred Phelps can spew hate and pain at people when they are saying goodbye to a loved one, a loved one who was out doing the same thing that allowed phelps the freedom to preach his hate. Some days, sadly, it amazes me how far the envelope of decency is pushed by some people. This freedom we are privileged with has a price tag attached to it, a price that was paid and continues to be paid by those men and women who choose to put themselves between harms way and you.

The red poppy is a symbol of remembrance, something to show you know what happened and who worked to give you the freedom to be who you are. Wear it with pride, and look at those men and women who fought and are fighting and remember that they are allowing you to be who and what you wish to be. The white poppy is a political statement. Fine, here in North America we are privileged to be able to make political statements, but there is a time and place for everything. November 11th is not the time, nor is there any place appropriate that day. If you can`t find it in yourself to attend a memorial without your political statement, then don`t. Those who were there do not need to see you. They have paid their dues for your freedom. Don`t spit on what they have done.

There are 365 days in a year. You have the right to make whatever political statement you wish on any one of them because of what people paid the price for. The least you can do is remember that is by not walking up to a memorial with a political statement on your chest. If you can`t even do that, then just stay at home because you and your politics are not welcome

The Job That Needed Doing

2012-11-09T10:29:00.000-08:00

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

In 1915, Major John McCrae, a Canadian military doctor, wrote this poem about the people he had knew, the people he had walked with, drank with and then the people he had seen buried. Each man and women he saw were people, just like him, who had come to that place to do a job that needed doing. No one had come for glory, or fame. No one wanted to die or have to kill. Something needed to be done and they went to do it.

At 11 am, November 11th, 1918, the guns fell silent on the Western Front of World War I, ending the fighting between the Allies and the Germans. This war, then dubbed the war to end all wars, was effectively over. All told, 37 million soldiers, sailors and airman were counted as casualties, 8 million of those were counted as dead. 8 million crosses were needed to mark the spots where these men and women were laid to rest. Men and women who went to do what needed to be done.

On November 11th, stop for a moment and think about what happened and what is still happening. Men and women are out there doing a job that needs to be done. They are not there fighting for some oil company, or some political power play, they are out there because someone's little girl is in danger, because there is a madman out there wanting to erase an entire race of people, because someone needs them to be there.

2 minutes, that is all they ask for

Remember not who sent them nor why they were sent

Remember that someone needs them to do a Job That Needs Doing

Waiting for the trip

2012-11-06T12:04:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I was up, bright eyed and bushy tailed at 4am to start another exciting shift behind the wheel. If there is anyone out there who really believes I was either bright eyed or bushy tailed, please let me know - I have a bridge to sell you.

I used to believe that being out there bright and early was the way to do it. The busses don't run and people still need to get to the airport, get to work or get home from the night before. Yesterday drove the last nail into the coffin of that belief. I did all the right things, went to the busiest zone for that time of the morning and I sat there, for an hour, number one in the zone. I watched as every other zone emptied around me. It was like I was the zone killer, where I went, no taxi was called. Over the period of that first hour of sitting (first of 4 over the entire day) I twiddled my thumb, reminded myself that it happens sometimes, prayed to the Gods of Dispatch and contemplated sacrificing my first born - all to no avail. Finally, after 60 minutes of going nuts, a call was being held 4 zones away. In desperation, I asked for it and was given it. 30 minutes later I had made 1/6 of my lease. Not a great way to start the day, but certainly better than what I was doing prior to that.

At 1300 yesterday afternoon I looked at what little $$ was in my wallet, felt just how dejected and angry I was at the world and decided that enough was enough. I called up dispatched and told her I was done. I parked the car, went home and went to sleep for a couple of hours. After I woke, I had a good look at what wasn't in my wallet and figured that I had worked 9 hours for $50 - not even minimum wage. Ah well, it was $50 I didn't have when I woke up that morning so the day wasn't a total loss.

Over the past 2 weeks I have done 2 half night shifts, both of which cleared me $80. Hmmmm, $80 for 6 hours or $50 for 9. I am thinking that doing the half shifts are in order, at least until the paper gets pushed for my next position as a computer tech.

Another fine day behind the wheel

2012-11-04T17:41:00.000-08:00

Driving cab today started out just spiffy. I was getting good trips, making good money and having a good time, then noon came around and all of that changed.

The dispatch terminal in my car decided it no longer wishes to talk to the dispatch server at the office. So I sat there, for an hour, watching trips be dispatched to everyone but ME! A very painful event in any taxi drivers life. I called up dispatch and she confirmed that yes, cars were being dispatched in my place. She then proceeded to track down the problem and was unable. Finally someone in the office said "DO THE MICROSOFT". For those of you out there who are not blessed with Mircosoft, this is what you do to fix about 90% of the problems you will encounter

TURN IT ALL OFF. COUNT TO 100. TURN IT ALL BACK ON.

Well, I did the MICROSOFT and was immediately rewarded with a trip. YEAH, only 2 hours wasted.

Then no one got trips, anywhere, for an hour. No one in this town needed to go anywhere. Bummer.

Ah well, some days you make a killing, some days it is only a mild beating.

Speaking of beating, I have been, am totally wiped, and am heading for a pre dinner snooze.

Here is to hoping tomorrow is a bit better

TTFN