Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

Abstract

bedside clock alarm on when he leapt maniacally in fright. I had no idea how to turn it off, so it was back on with the light to figure it out. Are you kidding me? FFS!0428: I was wide awake; the neurons were firing, and there was no point stopping them as my real alarm was going to go off 32 minutes later. I picked up my phone and started reading the news. The BBC newsfeed is all doom and gloom. Putin is acting like a spoiled brat, not getting his favourite toy. What the hell is wrong with this dude?0450: Oh boy, I’m so tired! I closed my phone and my eyes and relaxed.0500: Gentle sounds emitted from my phone; that’s preferable to blaring, but I did not want to get up. I hit snooze. Just ten more minutes, please?0510: More gentle, probing-the-body-awake sounds, and I realized that a cat was standing on my chest. Get up, grandma and feed me! Oh, the nerve!0511: Feet hit the ground, reluctantly. Pushed the start button on the coffee maker and prepared the kitties breakfast. While they were eating, I made my sandwich (the board and knife were rescued at 0311).0520: That classic heaving sound emitted from the kitties’ direction, and Booboo chucked up his breakfast. He’s scoffed not only his, but Bubba’s too. Stoopid cat!0521: I cleaned up cat vomit, cussing like a trooper while doing so. I didn’t care if I woke my son; these fur babies have done me in, and one of them is his.0610: I’m showered, fed, and hit the road for work. Finally, a speck of luck; I don’t get stuck at the traffic lights that take forever to change, and I got a park right outside the care centre.1345: Survived the day — miraculously. We escaped early; the weather is now frightful outside; thankfully I was smart to have reduced our breaks to be able to negotiate/ be rewarded at the end of a long week. And, next week, it’s March break!1355: Narrowly missed being hit by a car that decided to cross the intersection just as I was passing through. The driver was stopped but then decided to put her foot on the accelerator. I had the right of way. What the hell was she thinking? Probably just as well for the snow as she didn’t get going faster. More cussing and hands — and a finger — flying.1430: Long trudge home. It was snowing, and traffic snarled. I’m on a two-lane exit ramp on an incline that is now reduced to one lane due to the snow build-up. Where the eff are the plows? There’s a double-articulated truck at the lights, and I saw his wheels spinning when he attempted to move; he wasn't able to gain traction. The car in front of me — an Audi SUV — seemed oblivious to the problem. I honked, suggesting they attempt to squeeze past. Two light phases later, they started to pass the truck, then stopped dead. The sound of impatient honking from the cars behind me was savage. Finally, the Audi gave it a shot and made it past the truck. I followed suit. It was extremely tight. PHEW! I knew if I didn’t go for it, I could be stuck there for ages. Thoughts went back to a<a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/highway-13-drivers-st

Options

uck-1.4025860"> similar situation </a>a few years ago.1445: Home safe. Time to relax.1510: Damn, I forgot I had to drive my son to his girlfriend’s. Why did I promise that? Got stuck behind two snowplows travelling at 20 km/hour. Oh, there they are! A 1-minute drive took 10 minutes. We took a detour to avoid further disdain and passed where the truck incident was at 1430. He was still there — and now there was a concrete mixer wedged beside him! Clearly, that driver had no perception of his girth. Did I dodge a bullet or what?1620: A 25-minute return trip took over an hour. The things you do for your kids! Drove back past the ‘incident,’ and the truck was STILL STUCK! At least there was now a tow truck and a cop there, finally. I felt very sorry for the poor buggars who were stuck behind him.1625: I had to wait another 5 minutes to get into my garage as the snowplow was clearing it. He had to navigate around the 30-odd recycling bins that have been sitting there for two weeks now. It seems the minute there is a storm here, all services stop. What’s with that?1630: Home, safe, and sound. Time for a nap — or a w(h)ine?!As much as I felt like the world was against me today, I had an angel on my shoulders. My ‘Friday the 13th’ was irritating, but ultimately insignificant. Sleep deprivation is horrible, but I have a bed to snuggle into tonight to recharge those batteries — and another week to do so too!The kitties drove me bonkers last night, but they’re a welcome part of our family. I was close to being in an accident, but miraculously, the other car stopped short of broadsiding me. I could’ve been stuck with nowhere to go for hours behind that truck, but I was saved by an inch or two of space. The snowplows were painfully slow, but they were doing their job. The weather was shite, but that’s Montréal! And — thank goodness for my SUV. It’s my saviour. It’s an added expense, but today, it was totally worth it.Having days like this is a good reminder of what we can be thankful for.BUT; the more I cursed, the more I felt guilty. I was mindful of the frightening situation evolving in the Ukraine, and that really, I had nothing to complain about. I’m conscious that there are people right now who don’t have a bed to sleep in or can’t sleep because they’re too scared to. They have had to leave their homes and live in fear of an enemy knocking on their doorstep, robbing them of their homes, their dreams, and what we tend to take for granted; our safety and security.I am so lucky not to have to deal with more challenging moments.My story was written in jest; to highlight how the small things can irk us and upset our day. I wanted to make you laugh and appreciate the insignificant moments that we often embrace too seriously. At the same time, I wanted to highlight other people’s struggles.What happened to me today was simply laughable.I hope I made you smile. There’s not much to chuckle about these days. My thoughts and positive vibes are for all Ukrainians right now.Peace. Happiness. Love.</article></body>

FREEWRITING FRIDAY

Was it Friday the 13th Today?

It sure felt like it, but it made me appreciate life.

**Evil comes in many forms! Bubba, AKA the BRAT BLACK CAT** © Barb Dalton

0300: I was woken with the sound of objects meeting the floor from a height. My tired brain attempted to figure out what it possibly could be, but it quickly decided sleep was more important than fact-finding.

0305: Brain, startled back into consciousness, told me my bladder was full. Best attend to that sensor…

0307: Booboo thought it was breakfast time and jumped on my bed, standing on my chest, meowing plaintively. Eff off, cat!

0310: Damn! I was thirsty, and I’d somehow already drunk the water that I put beside my bed when I hit the hay at 10 pm. Best get up, refill, and quench the desire.

0311: While walking the ten paces to the kitchen, I stood on the breadboard that I had put on the counter to make my sandwich in the morning. I’m forever the Brownie “be prepared”! Luckily, I didn’t also stand on the knife that was close by. Putting two and two together, I then knew what the clatter was at 0300. Then I noticed the covered butter dish teetering on the edge of the counter. I know who did this! Booboo is a butter licker! (for the record, his brother, Bubba, is a butt licker!) Picked up the breadboard and knife and moved the butter dish. Filled up my water and climbed back into bed. Bloody cat!

0315: Bubba appeared, wondering what all the kerfuffle had been about. He decided I had replenished my water for his benefit and furiously lapped from the glass. Hmmm, so that’s where my water disappears to…

0316: I’m wide awake and now aware of a constant stream of noisy trucks passing by my window. I got up and saw a parade of snow-laden, double-articulated beasts trekking to the adjacent snow dump. GRR. Do you really have to do that now?

0330–0350: Tossing and turning ensued.

0351: I rolled over to get into a more comfortable position, not realizing Bubba was back at my water. I spooked both him and Booboo, who had settled to sleep at the end of my bed. Booboo leaped off, and Bubba jumped, knocking over the water and sending the contents of my bedside table flying.

0351.05seconds: I’m cursing loudly as I turned on the light to survey the damage. EFFING cats! I stomped off to get a towel to clean up the mess, swearing even louder the whole time. Cats fled. They know when Grandma is pissed off.

0400: I climbed back into bed, telling those little furry fuckers not to bother coming back, or else! Dozed off into blissful slumber, well aware that my alarm was going off in an hour. Sleep? I’d better get some or I’ll be a cranky pants.

0427: beep, beep, BEEP! WTF is that? Bubba somehow turned my bedside clock alarm on when he leapt maniacally in fright. I had no idea how to turn it off, so it was back on with the light to figure it out. Are you kidding me? FFS!

0428: I was wide awake; the neurons were firing, and there was no point stopping them as my real alarm was going to go off 32 minutes later. I picked up my phone and started reading the news. The BBC newsfeed is all doom and gloom. Putin is acting like a spoiled brat, not getting his favourite toy. What the hell is wrong with this dude?

0450: Oh boy, I’m so tired! I closed my phone and my eyes and relaxed.

0500: Gentle sounds emitted from my phone; that’s preferable to blaring, but I did not want to get up. I hit snooze. Just ten more minutes, please?

0510: More gentle, probing-the-body-awake sounds, and I realized that a cat was standing on my chest. Get up, grandma and feed me! Oh, the nerve!

0511: Feet hit the ground, reluctantly. Pushed the start button on the coffee maker and prepared the kitties breakfast. While they were eating, I made my sandwich (the board and knife were rescued at 0311).

0520: That classic heaving sound emitted from the kitties’ direction, and Booboo chucked up his breakfast. He’s scoffed not only his, but Bubba’s too. Stoopid cat!

0521: I cleaned up cat vomit, cussing like a trooper while doing so. I didn’t care if I woke my son; these fur babies have done me in, and one of them is his.

0610: I’m showered, fed, and hit the road for work. Finally, a speck of luck; I don’t get stuck at the traffic lights that take forever to change, and I got a park right outside the care centre.

1345: Survived the day — miraculously. We escaped early; the weather is now frightful outside; thankfully I was smart to have reduced our breaks to be able to negotiate/ be rewarded at the end of a long week. And, next week, it’s March break!

1355: Narrowly missed being hit by a car that decided to cross the intersection just as I was passing through. The driver was stopped but then decided to put her foot on the accelerator. I had the right of way. What the hell was she thinking? Probably just as well for the snow as she didn’t get going faster. More cussing and hands — and a finger — flying.

1430: Long trudge home. It was snowing, and traffic snarled. I’m on a two-lane exit ramp on an incline that is now reduced to one lane due to the snow build-up. Where the eff are the plows? There’s a double-articulated truck at the lights, and I saw his wheels spinning when he attempted to move; he wasn't able to gain traction. The car in front of me — an Audi SUV — seemed oblivious to the problem. I honked, suggesting they attempt to squeeze past. Two light phases later, they started to pass the truck, then stopped dead. The sound of impatient honking from the cars behind me was savage. Finally, the Audi gave it a shot and made it past the truck. I followed suit. It was extremely tight. PHEW! I knew if I didn’t go for it, I could be stuck there for ages. Thoughts went back to a similar situation a few years ago.

1445: Home safe. Time to relax.

1510: Damn, I forgot I had to drive my son to his girlfriend’s. Why did I promise that? Got stuck behind two snowplows travelling at 20 km/hour. Oh, there they are! A 1-minute drive took 10 minutes. We took a detour to avoid further disdain and passed where the truck incident was at 1430. He was still there — and now there was a concrete mixer wedged beside him! Clearly, that driver had no perception of his girth. Did I dodge a bullet or what?

1620: A 25-minute return trip took over an hour. The things you do for your kids! Drove back past the ‘incident,’ and the truck was STILL STUCK! At least there was now a tow truck and a cop there, finally. I felt very sorry for the poor buggars who were stuck behind him.

1625: I had to wait another 5 minutes to get into my garage as the snowplow was clearing it. He had to navigate around the 30-odd recycling bins that have been sitting there for two weeks now. It seems the minute there is a storm here, all services stop. What’s with that?

1630: Home, safe, and sound. Time for a nap — or a w(h)ine?!

As much as I felt like the world was against me today, I had an angel on my shoulders. My ‘Friday the 13th’ was irritating, but ultimately insignificant. Sleep deprivation is horrible, but I have a bed to snuggle into tonight to recharge those batteries — and another week to do so too!

The kitties drove me bonkers last night, but they’re a welcome part of our family. I was close to being in an accident, but miraculously, the other car stopped short of broadsiding me. I could’ve been stuck with nowhere to go for hours behind that truck, but I was saved by an inch or two of space. The snowplows were painfully slow, but they were doing their job. The weather was shite, but that’s Montréal! And — thank goodness for my SUV. It’s my saviour. It’s an added expense, but today, it was totally worth it.

Having days like this is a good reminder of what we can be thankful for.

BUT; the more I cursed, the more I felt guilty. I was mindful of the frightening situation evolving in the Ukraine, and that really, I had nothing to complain about. I’m conscious that there are people right now who don’t have a bed to sleep in or can’t sleep because they’re too scared to. They have had to leave their homes and live in fear of an enemy knocking on their doorstep, robbing them of their homes, their dreams, and what we tend to take for granted; our safety and security.

I am so lucky not to have to deal with more challenging moments.

My story was written in jest; to highlight how the small things can irk us and upset our day. I wanted to make you laugh and appreciate the insignificant moments that we often embrace too seriously. At the same time, I wanted to highlight other people’s struggles.

What happened to me today was simply laughable.

I hope I made you smile. There’s not much to chuckle about these days. My thoughts and positive vibes are for all Ukrainians right now.

Peace. Happiness. Love.