Mon cerveau de poisson rouge (My Goldfish Brain)
This week I had trouble finding something to talk about. I couldn't fathom what I had done that was the slightest bit interesting to anyone but me. Even to me.
Then I realised, I have become very good at doing nothing!
There is no thrill to it anymore. I had to start to look outside the box.. (and not just the one with the moving pictures I am staring at!)
Usually I wake up between 6 and 7am, listen for CBC for two news cycles, get up and make breakfast, do a french lesson, realize I still have no clue about French verb conjugation while screaming "BUT WHY IS IT "ILS" NOW?!?" at Duolingo, on odd days head to the gym for a "Poutine Removal Cycle", then head home for lunch, couch time (usually with Ancestry insertion), then dinner, and bed!
Sure it sounds sweet, but after three weeks, I think I'm bored!
I know, "woe is me".
My mother warned me I had the attention span of a goldfish.. but Mr Google tells me this isn't unusual these days!
I think I am, however, in dire danger of slipping below my mothers standard of the millennial-goldfish brain to Dory-like attention spans..
Action must be taken!!
I must focus on the fun! This adventure is supposed to have me yelling C'est ben l'fonne after all!
My first big excitement this week was finally getting the cable hooked up on Monday. How can I happily and effectively do nothing without a full size, remote accessible, boob tube?!
I only have 4 english channels, but there is a PVR so I can record all manner of bad TV to veg out to. PLUS I can watch the sports on RDS, and marvel at commentary in French! It's much more enthusiastic, and complete with dramatic music in the breakaways. It's kinda fun not really knowing WTF is happening half the time. BONUS: I can watch the Olympics in a few weeks!
I thought that this might be the key to my "donut doldrums". Sure it's vastly superior to the laptop, but nope, I was still out of sorts.
In an effort to shake up my "regime", and give me a reason to leave the house when the temperature is hovering in the negative double digits, (SERIOUSLY, anything up to -15 I'm OK with... but this -20 rubbish is just NOT ON!)
So, I started looking for volunteer gigs where my lack of Duolingo mastery wouldn't be an issue.
And I think I've found it at Maison de l'amitie! Starting on Monday, I will be a "conversation monitor" in an ESL class, primarily for new immigrants who want to learn English.
At the intake interview, I was asked some pretty basic questions about English grammar. My pathetic answers quickly demonstrated that a) I should have listened more in Ms Gionnatis's grade 7 English class and b) I have no idea how / why English is the way it is, so it's no wonder I can't fathom French conjugations! Anyway, we both agreed that although I couldn't teach the class, I would know when something was mis-translated, and correct it, even if I didn't know why!
It's only one hour a week to start, so it will not impinge on my "donut poking" too much. SUPER BONUS: next door there is a new vegan patisserie that will be over 50% gluten free!! Dugout is due to open soon!! To say I can't wait is putting it mildly.
More excitement ensued when my BFF advised me she had finally booked her flights to come and visit me! Muchos research will now ensue to figure out how to show her the glories of Montreal in the 3 short days she will be here! That should keep me busy for a few hours at least! She is one classy chick (well as my friend would she be anything else?!) so we will have to pull out all the stops!
Another element I have been waiting for since last Fall also starts this week. My life drawing classes begin tomorrow. Naked people, charcoal and my estimable talent (?!) What could go wrong!?
So now there are multiple things for my goldfish cracker brain to concentrate on- for limited periods of time!
PHEW!
All these elements, combined with a weather forecast hovering near zero, and a night of snowshoeing on Mont Royal planned for Friday night, have me all very excited for the next 7 days.
Restez à l'écoute !