(lygenztia *303) Don't bug me, i'm on the phone.

What did people do before cell phones when they sat at a bar or pub whilst unaccompanied? The watering hole has long been a gathering of the eclectic, eccentric and ebullient. The opportunity for raw conversation is inveterate and everywhere.

But what do we do now? We bury our faces in our phone. Most people go to the pub in search of conversation, some form of companionship and hopefully a laugh or two. Often, the beer is just a secondary diversion...and a good one at that. Next time you are at the pub, have a look around.....every single person (male or female) that is alone will have their face buried in their phone. I think, it's a method many of us utilize to appear relevant and to appear as if they are "not alone". By being on the phone you are silently screaming out to others "I HAVE FRIENDS, I KNOW PEOPLE, THEY JUST AREN'T HERE RIGHT NOW".

I get that approaching others for conversation can be intimidating, even daunting for some. But, if you make the effort to go to the pub, you should be able to make the effort to hear someone else's story, or, tell them yours. It's way better than playing Candy Crush on your phone while trying intently to appear relevant.

(lygenztia *302) See, I just did it! (and you missed it)

I frequently use brackets when I write. The "best" writers say you should never use brackets. (why, I do not exactly know) Well, I am not a great writer...I am (arguably) not even a "good" writer. But alas, I digress. (I stole that quote)

I suspect experts advise you should not make use of brackets as you may be planting leading thoughts into the mind of the reader. The idea being the writer should instead provide clear suggestive literary ideation, so the reader can form their own mental picture. (either way, I don't care)

For my part, I am reviving the use of bracket. They have been over-looked for far too long. You read my stuff, i'll provide you with bracket use and in doing so.....i'll tell you what to think. Or, you could read the "good" writers (although my writing is "free" of charge) that follow the writing rules.

(Just remember, my writing is free)

(lygenztia *301) Mmmmmm.....new and "improved"

I always wonder when I'm shopping and come across a can of soup that says "improved recipe" or "new recipe". Now, to be fair I am a soup guy. Love the soup.

When the label says "new" and/or "improved recipe" does that imply the old recipe sucked? What if we liked the old recipe, which is why we have bought that product for the last 20 years?

Who decided the new soup is "better" anyway? The canned soup expert? If the expert is that smart, they would likely make their own soup anyway and wouldn't mess around with the canned stuff. If canned soup makers choose to come out with actual "new" soup flavours that's awesome. For example "Cream of Fiddleheads". I've never seen that, it would be "new" and it would be awesome.

So, unless it's really and truly a new flavour don't mess with our soup.

(lygenztia *300) I have fought the good fight, but alas I surrender to...... gravity?

When you are an adult male and you wear track pants in public, you have completely given up on outward appearances and dignity. I am not talking about wearing track pants while outside doing house chores, like putting out the recycle. Or, actually putting track pants on in order to go to the gym or in pursuit of some other athletic endeavour.

I am talking about wearing track pants in public, as your attire. This is never "ok", with the exception of the aforementioned caveats. Now look, I am certainly not a fitness model, nor do I have the comely looks of a movie star so this isn't about appearances...it's about effort.

Track pants are basically pyjama bottoms, except they are marketed as "track pants". It should be noted; men that wear track pants in public never go to the track. (except to bet on the ponies) When you wear your track pants in public, you basically make the following statement to the world "I can't even bother putting pants on, it's just to much work. I'm going to go with the track pants option. It's easier"

The other issue with track pants, is they sometimes provide a view to the public that is.....ahem, "revealing". As men age, parts of the male body surrender to their battle with gravity. Other people do not wish to be witness to the outcome of that battle.

Cover up, fellas. Put on some jeans.

(lygenztia #299) Move your damn arm!

The console in any vehicle should be the one domain and area which belongs exclusively to the driver. ("me")

Why the heck does the passenger insist on leaning on the console, when the DRIVER needs access to the console? My first thought is always "oh, i'm sorry does my operating this 4,500 pound vehicle while you do nothing somehow interfere with your comfort?"
Move your bloody arm and get the Hell off my console. I need in there, don't you know?

AND....., while I am at it;

Why in the heck does the passenger always want access to MY console when they are in my truck? None of their stuff is in my console, but passengers always want to look in it. NO! Stay out. It's my console and my stuff.

It's like the unwritten rule that says you are not supposed to go into another persons underwear drawer. It's just understood that you don't do that. Nobody needs to tell you, you just know.

Same for my truck console. Stay the Hell out of it and OFF of it.

(lygenztia #298) I'm all warm and fuzzy....

I recently started a petition on Change.org with the intent of helping to save the last remaining building from the famous Canadian "Camp X".

Camp X is one of my favourite topics and when the chance came along to help preserve the building, I jumped on it. It's the least I could do, especially when you consider that others have done, given and sacrificed so much.

The petition really amazed me and showed me how positive social media can be, despite its pratfalls. Word spread as far as Europe and people signed on. People from literally all over the world were signing the the petition. Many people left insightful, positive comments on the petition and seemed to have some attachment to the cause, in one way or another. Now, I may have been helped by the popularity of the CBC show "X-Company" but that's ok; i'm happy to piggy back on their success.

What struck me most was the power of social media when it is engaged in positive manner. I am not naive, nor am I unaware of trends and "activity" in the cyber world. Quite the opposite; I guess I just see too much negative and forgot about the positive potential. At any rate, it is refreshing to see the cyber world doesn't have to be nefarious and nebulous. It reminded me social media can be refreshing, restoring and actually has the power to bring us closer, despite being continents away from eachother.

I am not sure if I have any actual readers, but just in case....if you are interested in helping to save the last remaining Camp X building click on the following link:

https://www.change.org/p/the-city-of-oshawa-and-the-town-of-whitby-save-the-last-remaining-camp-x-building-help-preserve-our-proud-canadian-heritage

(lygenztia #297) Why oh why?

I just don't get it.

Despite some of my silly rants, I genuinely like (most) people. I also recognize my numerous shortcomings and my own complete and utter lack of perfection. That said, why in the **&&## must people park beside my truck when I go out of my way to park as far away from other vehicles as possible?

I do this out of courtesy because my truck is large. It's large, it blocks other drivers view and also makes parking tight. I do not park far away because I am afraid some cretin will damage my truck. That's what insurance is for.

It's actually a gesture of consideration on MY part.
Do people do this because they want to intentionally irritate the other vehicle's owner?
Do people do this because they want to be cool, like me? (I said I wan't perfect, I never said I wasn't cool)
Do people do this because they think this is the only spot left? (scary, but possible)
Do people do this because they want to follow the actions of others, like a sheep?

Tell me...Why, oh why? Because, I sure as Hell don't know.

(lygenztia #296) Limp Bizkit knew stuff.....

Limp Bizkit does a fantastic, rowdy, pump up song called "break stuff". And that song also carries some very therapeutic advice, my friends.

Had me a minor melt down last week. Too much stress, too many demands, too many tasks....

Stress, can be like water in a glass. The glass, despite convex meniscus will only hold so much water. Even one drop can cause the water to spill over. One tiny little drop.

Ergo, your "stress glass" when too full at any given time has the potential to overflow. Overflow can happen, despite our best efforts at managing the stress. (water) Just last week, my glass went one drop too many due to my cell phone and the accompanying messages it had for me. Solution? See Limp Bizkit and the song Break Stuff and it will be a good indicator of the life of the aforementioned phone.

Oh yes, i'll get another phone. But...destroying that phone and the stress (water drops) it carried with it at the time, was money well spent. If anyone requires a similar treatment for their phone, give me a call and i'll be happy to help. Have sledge, will travel.

But, you'll have to wait until I replace my phone to call me. Just saying.....

(lygenztia #295) Ain't happening.....

It's April 10th. April freaking tenth.

And, what can we expect today? Snow and freezing rain. Well that's just swell. I'm putting the entire world on notice that I am not shoveling my driveway, or sidewalk. Nope. No way. Nada. Nyet. Nature can deal with this debacle in it's own unique way. I'll walk in it, i'll shiver in it, i'll slip in it...Hell, I will even brush it off my truck windows. But I will be damned if I shovel in April and further, not one day prior to the upcoming December in the Year of our Lord, 2016.

Oh and for you folks that say "oh, I just love the snow" well; my rejoinder to you is "Winter lovers are sadists".

Old Man Winter, go away. Now.

(lygenztia #294) Helloooooo in there.....

The public/work/restaurant washroom toilet stall is a place that none of us would prefer to be. Let's face it, most people (at least the normal ones) would prefer to take care of business within the confines of their own domicile. I don't think anyone would begrudge me that point of order.

Perhaps this is due in part to the "door puller". Now, i'm not sure if the "door puller" phenomenon takes place in the female washrooms because I don't use them, or go in there. The "door puller" is an odd sort, to say the least and typically appears when you least want them to. You know how it goes; you're comfortably seated...well at least as comfortable as you can be with your pants down in foreign confines and the "pull" comes.

Being imposed on you cough, you clear your throat, you end up saying "hello" in hopes the door puller will go away. But, they try the door again. What the Hell, man? Once they try the door once and it's locked is that not an incredibly strong indicator that the stall is in use by another person? What, exactly, is the "door puller's" thought process anyway? Do they think to themselves "if I pull enough on this locked door, it may open and it may happen that nobody is actually in the stall". Is that what they are thinking? I sure as Hell don't know but the next time it happens to me, I plan to say (loudly) "Phew, glad you showed up...can you go find me a hacksaw please?"

Chances are, they won't return to pull the door as they run out of the washroom.

(lygenztia #STS-103) Camp X

I went for a walk yesterday to explore Camp X and take some photos. I wish it wouldn't have been so darn cold, but the excitement of walking in the same fields where secret agents also walked in the 1940's warmed my blood quickly. I won't go into the history of Camp X here (aka "STS 103"), because I can't do it justice. But briefly....Camp X was the first "secret agent" training school on North American soil. Camp X is rife with local history along with Canadian, British and American WWII history. Some great books have been written on the subject by skilled and dedicated researchers. The CBC series X Company is based on the legendary Camp X and is a great show.

When you walk the fields of Camp X, you can't help but wonder what it was like for the agents that trained there. You find yourself standing by a tree and thinking to yourself "I wonder if an agent ever leaned on that tree?". You walk on the beach and imagine the agents scaling the small bluff and doing exercises in the cold, rough waters of Lake Ontario. You can't help but picture the past in your mind, the experience of being on the old Camp X grounds just takes over your imagination. I picked up a few rocks on the beach and thought to myself, "I wonder how many agents walked on this rock?"

Camp X has been closed for decades, but like many that have explored there before me I still found myself looking closely for artifacts as I walked the fields and beach. Constantly imagining to myself "wouldn't it be cool if i found something...."

I didn't find anything to take with me. But the experience left me with something that i'll never forget.