I get these strange thoughts when I travel.

#1  While I was on the plane, I kept thinking if I packed my underwear.  I had to go directly to the office from the airport.  I couldn't really unpack my bag at the office to check.  By the time I left work, it was late already and I figured there's no way I could find a dept store.  I kept thinking, should I go commando for the rest of the week?  Do I wash my undies every night?  Should I just douse it in Purell?  Or just flip them inside out?  As soon as I got into my room, I dove into my bag and surfaced with clean undies.  Whew....

#2  I was standing just inside the main entrance of my office building while waiting for my cab to take me back to the hotel.  I heard some door behind me open with a loud click.  There aren't a lot of folks that work late in this building anymore.  I did see the office cleaner walking by when I was packing up.  I didn't see anyone else near my cubicle.  But this guy came out of the doors with a pair of latex gloves.  He was tall, lean and looked kinda angry. I clutched my laptop bag and got ready to swing it if he came near me.  I figured he must be wearing latex gloves because he didn't want to leave finger prints in the crime scene!  Actually, he was another office cleaner and he started to pick a few things off the carpet before wandering away. 

I was relieved and resumed staring out into the the dark suburban wilderness, one of Jason's entry came to mind.  What if there were zombies out there?  It's just a big glass door in the main entrance (no security guard) and it won't take long for the zombies to smash through.  I started to think of all the places where I can hide.  Of course - I had to find my way to the elevator and hide on top of the elevator.  Being a glass is half full kinda guy, I also figured if there were zombies out there, it would at least give me something interesting to blog about. 

Thankfully the cab came and quickly brought me back to reality. 

P.S.  My hotel room faces 2 churches.  No wonder I don't have any naughty thoughts when I'm in my hotel room. 

I attended  a wedding recently with my family.  The happiness I felt for the bride and groom was tempered by my gloomy and cynical mood.  It was an unusually warm and sunny day for November.  The setting in the small town church was beautiful and everyone was happy.  I smiled politely and made the usual niceties.  I took a few pictures but didn't try to get any good shots.  It was just point and shoot.  I kept one eye on my dad as he started to wander off to the parking lot.  Someone asked to take a picture of me and my dad.  He said no and said "take a picture of my son instead and send it to all the girls you know."   There were chuckles all around although I cringed at that remark.  

On the way back home, I started to pay a bit more attention to the rural scenery.  It was beautiful and inviting.  I made a mental note to come back again with my bf.  The thought of this gradually softened my gloom.  I took my dad to dinner later that evening so he won't eat alone.  As we sat down, the manager came around to welcome us.  My dad told the manager that he was famished.  We quickly ordered 2 dishes, chicken and fish.  We chatted a bit here and there as he was content to just eat.  I dropped him off afterwards back at his house.  On the way out, I took a pile of letters to be mailed out.  It's bills and some donations to charities.  I didn't want to say anything.  I don't want to take over managing his finances yet.  As I drove off, I wave back at him.  It's our little routine. 

Was it a nice way to end the day? Well, not really.  During the day, he forgot my name and called me by another name.  I had expected this for years now.  I just continued on as if nothing happened.  His pride is more important than my name.  Aging gracefully - I hope I can do this when the time comes.

Snippets... just bits and pieces from my fractured brain. 

1.  At a recent birthday dinner for someone, the guest of honor was over an hour late.  The hosts (not the birthday boy) waited for over an hour and decided to serve dinner for the other guests.  Dinner conversation started off with someone extolling the virtues of breast reduction surgery and liposuction.  While I generally am ok with small talk, this time, I kept my mouth shut.  Sometimes when you have nothing good to say, it's best to stay quiet.  At least the food was very good. 

2.  I've been eating a lot of veggies and grains lately.  At a recent spree of very fibrous veggies, bran flakes and oatmeal, my stomach started to feel bloated while I was at work.  There was no way I could let the excess gas out at my cubicle.   I ducked into the washroom only to find all the stalls full.  No doubt, everyone must be on the same diet I'm on.  I walked out to the street.  Thankfully there was a lot of road construction.  All that drilling and hammering covered up the "noise" from my thunderous ass.  I had to do that several times.  I gotta find the right balance of veggies and grains.  I mean, I'm going to the washroom 2 to 3 times a day.  But at least my insides are clean. 

3.  While walking home today, I walked past a local arts college.  I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of Asian students here.  I automatically assumed that most of them were 2nd or 3rd generation.  When I grew up, I just knew I had to get a university degree.  I didn't get a stern lecture or anything (at least I don't remember).  I didn't become a doctor, engineer or accountant.  My parents never pushed me to any field.  It was really to get a good education.  I wasn't an academic star.  I had some As and Bs, but also C's, D's and a lower.  I think when I get rich, I'm going to start a scholarship fund for just for average and below average students. 

4.  This past few days, I am getting a lot of signs and signals about writing.  I turn on the TV and I see the show about WP Kinsella.  Yesterday I turned on the TV while cooking and caught an interview with all the Giller prize nominees.  An alumni newsletter highlighted one of the Giller prize nominees is one of the writing instructors at the school.  I was roaming through a discount bookstore and found The Time Traveller's Wife.  It's been out for many years now but I've never read it or watched the movie.  There were about 4 or 5 copies left but only one had the author's autograph.  It was waving at me so I had to get it. 

I think if I was to write a book, the main character will be a gay Asian vampire.  His main love interest is another young man who just happens to be a wizard.  Their lives intersect back and forth as they struggle to sort out sexual tensions, evil spells, lust for blood & racial boundaries.  I think I have all the elements needed for a best seller.