May 2022 Monthly Entry
I've been surprised by the amount of rain we've been getting this spring, more so than usual. It's on and off, with some sunny and overcast days thrown in. Things should change next month as we near summer. All the cherry blossoms are gone and green leaves have come. Tomorrow I take my car into the shop to replace all the tire sensors and fix the driver's side lock that was ruined last month by some downtown junkie. June 11th is my Class 5 road test, which if I pass it, will finally graduate to a full driver's license in BC. I've had my novice license since June 2012 and I've been driving on my own since September 2015 when I was about to start my current employment. I'm going to be taking a couple of lessons the weekend before and just before my scheduled test to practice some things. Not a big deal if I fail, it'll be awhile before I can try again as there is a backlog. Passing and getting my full license will lift restrictions on GPS use, and I can carry as many non-family passengers in my car as allowed.
Work has been pretty quiet but with the usual struggles. The upstairs boys washroom still has some problems -not quite as much before- as it seems the little fucker and his friends are being monitored. I've changed my routine a bit when I clean the upstairs section of Montecito. I first start with the usual: all garbage cans emptied, then clean the southern-most section of the hallway with one classroom, the three washrooms, and three small rooms. But when I start the seven classrooms from the north and work my way back south, I now sweep all seven classrooms first, or mix sweeping and disinfecting in intervals (sweep the first three rooms, then disinfect them, sweep the next two rooms, disinfect, and then sweep the last two rooms, disinfect). Going back and spot mopping all seven classrooms is next and finally, vacuuming the rugs in four (or five on Fridays) of the rooms finishes off the upstairs run. I don't save much time doing it this way, but it feels less stressful and I'm tackling the hardest and longest job first. I don't think it will ever be possible for me to wet-mop all those classrooms every day. Even getting one is considered luck for me. The only other thing to mention is that while we lost our great temp custodian for the daycare centre last week as he got a regular contract for Sperling and Parkcrest, the position was finally put in as permanent and the guy we got has worked on the run before. It saved me from having to train a new person. Whew! Still, I'll miss our (now) past guy as he was very helpful.
Last night was the first Vancouver Men in Leather monthly social at the Pumpjack Pub in just over 2 years. The turnout was quite good, though not packing. I was with Wayne T. and Pat as usual. There were a few hot Daddybear-types, but none cruised me. I was the only one in uniform and it was the first time I wore the red uniform shirt I ordered last year from Mr. Riegillio. It was also the first time I smoked a cigar outside the Pumpjack Pub, which I did just after 10pm. I was thankful it wasn't raining that night despite the clouds. A couple of pups who were also outside having a smoke were cruising me, which was nice and I got a couple of compliments on my uniform from others. The cigar lasted just over half an hour before I went inside and re-joined Wayne and Pat. We stayed until around 11:15pm, transited back to Maywood School by Metrotown to my car, and I drove them back to MasterG's place in Surrey. I didn't get home until after 1am.
On my way home from Toronto last month, I started watching the 2009-2011 Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas series on Netflix. Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas tells the story of the previous Holy War, taking place in the 18th century, 250 years before the original series, in the Saint Seiya universe. The story centers on the fight between Tenma, one of the 88 Saints following Athena, and Alone, the reincarnation of the God Hades. While the two were close childhood friends in Greece alongside Alone's sister, Sasha, the trio separated. Sasha was sent first to the Sanctuary and then, a short time later, Tenma was sent to the Sanctuary too; while Tenma had the Cosmos, the Saints' energy, awaken, Sasha was revealed to be the reincarnation of Athena. As years passes, everything that Alone paints is destroyed, and he is convinced that death means salvation by the god Hypnos and his follower Pandora. Alone then gathers Hades' soldiers, the 108 Specters to start a war against Athena. I didn't know at first that this was a prequel to the original 1986-1989 Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac (which I reviewed here) and upon watching all 26 episodes of The Lost Canvas, didn't find anything that linked it to the original anime. The Lost Canvas is all right, but it spends way too much time on the background of it's various characters that the series ends pathetically. There was no second season and it ends pretty much in a loss. While Knights of the Zodiac can be drawn out, it allowed for more epic battles and a more satisfying ending.
And on my way to Toronto beforehand I watched the 2018 animated film Batman Ninja. It is both an American and Japanese co-production, with the film being somewhat re-written for the American release. While battling Gorilla Grodd at Arkham Asylum, Batman is caught in Grodd's Quake Engine time displacement machine and sent to feudal Japan. There, he is chased by samurai working for the Joker. During his escape, Batman meets up with Catwoman, who reveals everyone else arrived two years earlier (due to Batman being in the outermost area affected by the Quake Engine). He learns from her that all of Gotham City's top criminals have become feudal lords after deceiving the Sengoku daimyo, battling each other until only one state remains. In order to stop the villains from altering history, Batman and Catwoman must get to the Quake Engine in Arkham Castle (formerly the asylum). Batman discovers that Alfred Pennyworth is also in the past and has built a Batcave outside Edo. When the Joker's troops ambush the hideout, Batman storms his way in his Batmobile towards Arkham Castle, which transforms into a giant robot fortress. Just as Batman confronts the Joker, he is forced to leave and save a mother and child below from being crushed by the robot's hand. He transforms his Batcycle into an armored suit to defeat a sumo Bane and stop the robot hand, only to learn the mother is Harley Quinn in disguise. As Batman is surrounded by the Joker's minions, he is suddenly whisked away by ninja led by Eian of the Bat Clan of Hida. He learns the Bat Clan helped Nightwing, the Red Hood, Robin and the Red Robin upon their arrival and the clan has followed a prophecy of a foreign bat ninja restoring order to the land. Robin gives Batman an invitation from Grodd to a nearby hot spring. There, Grodd explains he intended to send the villains far away so he could take Gotham for himself, but Batman's interference sent them all to feudal Japan instead. Batman and Grodd agree to work together to return to Gotham. I thought this was an interesting take on Batman, going with full-on Japanese themes and tropes. The 3D art style and use of colours is pretty impressive. While I prefer other Batman animated movies, this one isn't half bad as a stand alone.
I'm almost done Breath of Fire IV as I've been slowed down by the game's fishing side-quest and gaining enemy abilities. The review should be up very soon. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition will be reviewed not long after. I've recently started the first two episodes of season 4 of Star Trek: Enterprise but I'll be working on season 2 of Picard very soon and have the review up in next month's entry. I'm almost done season 1 of Sailor Moon too.
Last Movie: Spider-Man: No Way Home (Theatrical), Batman Ninja (Netflix)
Last Book: The C.S. Lewis Signature Classics - The Screwtape Letters
Last Game: Fallout 3 (Xbox 360)
Current Book: The C.S. Lewis Signature Classics - Miracles
Current Games: Breath of Fire IV (PSN - PS1) & Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (3DS)