Wednesday, November 29, 2006








I lean with my back against the wall. Today was supposed to be easy, just a quick check in at the office, enjoy a coffee and then head to the indoor golf range.
doesn't look like I'll be working the irons today though' I mutter under my breath as I pick my head off the concrete wall and move towards the cafeteria.
I scan each area of the hospital quickly and am back to the main entrance in under 10 minutes, my futile search ending where I started out. Uneasy doesn't begin to describe the feeling as my eyes drift, as if in slow motion, to the front door where shiny chains are strung through the handles effectively trapping me in. My heart starts to pound as I quietly head back down the hallway, checking for an unlocked door but only the windowless bathroom is open. I slip in and check the stalls to ensure I'm alone and once satisfied I sit on the counter and try to think.

Drop-Ceiling.

In most retail/business buildings there is no solid ceiling, a false one is created so there is easy access to cabling, pipes and lighting. There is a crawl space large enough for me to fit! I jump up on the toilet and climb onto the top of the metal divider. Into the musty ceiling and through a tangle of wires I go and then softly settle the tile into place after me. The dim lighting makes it hard to navigate but raw determination to survive drives me on, my thoughts just earlier spread through my head and 7 layers out, now intensely focused in on one objective.
Get out Alive.

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I can see Mr Morka through the thin slit I've created by slightly raising the edge of a ceiling tile. His balding head shaking as he spits Russian into the grime covered telephone, definitely convincing me he isn't all that happy with his day. As the conversation comes to an end he sits down and switches to English, talking in slow deliberate tones.
" Ven I ordered da hit I vas only sinking of da brosahood.'
My blood chills and I let the tile slap down causing Mr Morka to jerk his body around and yell something unintelligible into the phone. I hear crashing and movement and suddenly a large ice pick comes through the tile beside me, weakening the support system my body is perched on and I crash down to the floor losing consciousness.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Unfinished basement






Doesn't take long around here to fill up with snow! Started last night some time and covered up everything.

Good thing we still have somewhere to drive that jeep!




Walking to work in this doesn't look very fun.. sounded better on paper when I decided not to reinsure my car for the winter.. just park it I said.. sure! I'll walk to work.. it'll be great! What was I thinking?


Dentist today.. first appointment in a long time.. I better not have to get that flouride stuff. I think you only get it when you are a kid but they might get confused when I start playing with the 10cent toys and make me take flouride before taking my rubber ball home... I'll let you all know how it goes.

Ok I know I've asked for hobbies before on here... but I'm really lookin for some good suggestions today ok? This is the situation. I dont like the gym. I would like something active to do with my time. I looked for Rec hockey leagues online but couldn't find anything.. not that I can play hockey particularly well. And swimming is out of the question.. you have to get wet all time. Yoga is for gay men.

Help me find my active activity.. or just any activity for that matter! My choices so far are online poker or video games on the xbox.


Martina says HI.

P

Monday, November 13, 2006

I am a kool dad






Early christmas!!

















Got it put together... with a little help.

Super-cool princess!

I'm OUttta here!!

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Do this

There is a new virus out.

DO this so you dont get infected..

Tools- Options- Use Current.

Click ok.


Peece Owt

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Mr Morka


Tired hinges creak and echo through the workshop as I step inside Mr. Morka's lair. The Russian engineer is hard to understand but apparently knows his stuff, so we put up with the gutteral G's and the neverending V words ( vas is dees? My GGGrandma vould do dis verk betta!)
Just as I had suspected the shop is empty so I move quickly to where the keys are stored. An electrical panel with a false backing that unlocks by flipping the right sequence of breakers is all that stands in my way now. 62748902. The door opens and I pump the air like I just made a 42 foot putt for birdie. 'The old code still works' I laugh internally with a smile on my face.

"Vat de Hell are you doink?" A voice booms from behind me.
"Uh, Security check" I smoothly reply (stammer) to the short round man as I start to sweat.
Mr Morka narrows his eyes and then a like a light coming on he chortles: "Dat vladimir! E is a sneaky one eh! Alvays checkink on me!"
I join in the laughter and slam the panel shut and slap Mr Morka on the back. "You guessed it Mr M. you guessed it.." My hands are still shaking and I wonder why I don't just tell the truth.
"Do you know vere everyvone is today?"
"I was about to ask you the same question"
"Dere is only vone tink ve can do. Ve Must call in de professional!"
"I'm not sure we need your sharpshooter brother just yet, let's just try to find out whats going on ok?"


I leave Mr Morka and slip into the dimly lit hallway, determined to find out what is going on. The smell of bleach was overpowering when he had entered the room, and I suspect he may have something to do with why the hospital is so quiet today.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Silence




















I turn off my car and get out as the dynomax performance exhaust settles and stops its delightful rumbling. I've had to park in the lower lot which has significantly diminished the awe of the surrounding mountain view, for now I have to walk up the never ending monastery like steps to get inside to the warmth of Mills Memorial Hospital.
The eerie silence greets me like a stranger entering a bar in a small town, granted, my entrance is without the stares and snickers one might encounter at Harry's ol Beer Barn but the lobby is normally alive with crying kids, moaning sick and dripping babies, especially when the parking lot is full like this. I pinch myself and feel nothing, but that's because I'm superhuman. Ok it hurt a little bit, and I keep moving past hemodialysis where 10 patients are normally seated, passing the time as the phlebotomy procedure toils on endlessly. But not today. The seats are empty, machines silent and no nursing staff in sight.
I start to feel uneasy, wondering what could possibly have happened to lull the building to sleep. As I turn the corner and pass by the elevators my shoe squeaks on the shiny waxed floor, indicating the night shift staff were busy as usual last night, scrubbing the thousands of square footage by hand ( the machines broke last fall and we're still fundraising to have them repaired.. darn government cutbacks).
No sounds come from behind the doors in OR, Recovery or staffing and I choose not to look, but continue through to admin where I spend most of my days training the nursing staff computer skills and shuffling through the never-ending layers of political emails and voicemails.
The doors are locked, normally wide open by now inviting staff to come and complain about the lack of staffing or surplus of patients. The only option now is to backtrack and visit engineering to get a key, although if the rest of the hospital is any indication, I'll be on my own once I get there.
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