In the Eyes of the System

Gab: Vicki Law

Even though I did not put myself to bed until after 9:30 p.m. last evening, when my cellphone alarm roused me at 1:30 a.m. to get up and ready for a five-mile+ walk, I felt decently slept.

My wife's bedroom door was pulled tight, so I knew that she had come home at some point following working at the Thai restaurant where she is employed part-time.

An online check of the claimed temperature for hereabouts netted 1.7° Celsius (35.06° F.), so I opted to wear a lined suede leather varsity-style jacket. Fully clothed for the outing, I easily weighed 192 pounds.

It was 2 a.m. once I was on my way; and although it was chilly, I could have made do with my heavy denim jacket.

When I stopped at the elementary school playground three or four blocks away to perform a half dozen sets of token pull-ups and chin-ups, I needed to spend time with a bandana wiping as dry as I could the two jungle gym monkey bars that I would be using, for they were as wet with condensation as if it had been raining instead of being under a mostly clear sky.

The sawdust on the ground was crunchy with frost, so it won't be long before even the equipment will have frosted up.

I exercised bare-handed as desired, but my grip was fast slipping on the first pull-up due to the residual dampness of the bar I was using, so I only managed three pull-ups, and then two in the second set.

Sets number three and four were chin-ups ─ I also managed three and then two repetitions in these sets as well.

However, I could only achieve two pull-ups in each of the two sets of pull-ups between two bars. And although I had my doubts that I would be able to endure the cold metal in the final pull-up to hang on at highest elevation for a 15-count, I did do it.

And as I often do, I finished up with 10 slow full-range push-ups in a declined posture on a cement ramp.

The sole incident worthy of mention during my walk occurred when I was walking Fraser Highway and soon to take to unlit Quibble Creek Greenway (Google Map).

Someone was cycling my way from the other direction along the walk I was on ─ I figured that it was likely a street person or even a drug peddler. I correctly reckoned that I would be able to have begun the Greenway before the cyclist had quite passed by its mouth, but I only barely did so.

To my surprise, the cyclist spoke just one word that I could not identify, but it was the delightful melodious sweet voice of a young woman. I figured that she had issued a greeting as she passed, so I laughed a bit and issued my own to her receding back.

The sound of her female voice was incredibly uplifting to me, and for some while I felt buoyed of spirit. It is times like that when my inherent loneliness becomes so starkly apparent.

Anyway, I was back home a few minutes ahead of 4 a.m., but probably not back to bed until maybe 5:30 a.m.

After some sleep, when I later checked the time, I was most surprised to find that it was 10:02 a.m. ─ I have never slept that long before after one of these walks. My younger brother was already readying to leave to pick up his girlfriend Bev to drive her to work.

He would be back within a half hour, so I turned on the T.V. and used our Android TV Box to have something ready to watch.

My choice was BitChute's TheCrowhouse channel, a 1¼-hour (1:15:17) video added two days ago: In The Eyes of The System We Are All Palestinians.

There was no video description, so I will not attempt one of my own. Just know that it focused on the Israel / Hamas / Gaza / Palestinian tragedy presently taking place.

We had no time for anything further. My brother did not even seek any bed rest ─ at noon he headed away for the day to socialize.

The day was reasonably sunny, but it did cloud over as the afternoon progressed. I have no idea what sort of weather to expect overnight, but I will not be taking any especially early walks. I in fact do not intend to be setting off in the morning any earlier than 5:45 a.m., so I will not be rising overnight until 4 a.m.

My wife had to work the latter part of today with a 4:30 p.m. start, so she left on her fairly long drive in the mid-afternoon.

I have been undergoing a Sabbath fast since dark yesterday, but it is now 5:01 p.m. and well past sunset, so I am going to take a break and heat up some soup my wife earlier directed me to. I also plan to watch a Christmas movie and have some drinks with it.

I will report back later.

oooooooooooooo

Okay, I watched the 2017 Christmas movie 12 Days of Giving, which is apparently available presently on YouTube, but I used our Android TV Box to watch it via the NOVA TV app.

Provided that the YouTube link remains valid, you can access it here: 12 Days Of Giving | Heartwarming Christmas Family Movie: Ashley Jones, David Blue, Jax Connolly.

It was not initially the sort of romantically emotional movie I was after, but it slowly worked there and succeeded. I would happily watch it again as soon as Christmastime with good company.

Actress Ashley Jones portrayed exactly the type of woman I have longed for through most of my adult life, but I never had the fortitude to dare a life with her if even I did recognize any such woman ─ maybe no such ever did actually cross my path.

I think she did, but I was in no position to take on the responsibility of creating a life with her ─ I was too insecure and weak.

Ashley grew more beautiful as the movie progressed ─ what a realistic babe! Lead actor David Blue is actually something over five years younger than Ashley, so she would need to be a sweet babe in order to 'realistically' net the younger guy.

David was familiar to me, but I have no idea why in scanning his acting credits. Sure, I expect that I have seen at least some of the features he has acted in, but I cannot see why he would still seem recognizable.

Incidentally, where Ashley was concerned, I often felt like I was watching a young Kathy Baker (Ashley is a bit over 25 years younger than Kathy).

Yes ─ I wholeheartedly recommend the movie if you are a Christmas movie romantic.

I drank two cans of Cariboo Malt (8% alcohol) during the movie. Since it is early enough still, I am going to indulge in a brimming shot glass of Kraken Black Spiced Rum (47% alcohol).

But I shan't be sitting up late ─ I mustn't become entangled with my brother once he gets back home.

Substack: Andreas Oehler