Some good (interesting) days and some ... tough ones

Well, I'm sorry to say that I missed yesterday's International Men's Day WHICH just so happens to fall on the same day as... wait for it wait for it... World Toilet Day. There is, of course, no reason that these two days should fall on the same calendar day, it's just a day to celebrate Men (okay!) and, er, toilets. And sanitation. I believe that's the focus - sanitation - but who knows? I'll just have to look into it, say with the World Toilet Organization or the World Toilet Summit. Question: WTO = World Trade Organization or World Toilet Organization? Pah! Question #2: Which of these programs would you take at the World Toilet College?

WTC offers the following programmes:

• Restroom Specialist Training Course (RSTC)

• National Skills Recognition System Course (NSRS)

• Sustainable Sanitation Course (SusSan)

• Restroom Design Course (RDC)

• School Sanitation and Hygiene Education Course (SSHEC)

• Disaster and Emergency Sanitation Course (DESC)

Interesting career path that would inevitably invite non-stop toilet jokes and potty humour. Funny. I must say that I'd rather look into International Men's Day - even though it could just be a "we want a day too!" deal, seeing as how it didn't spring up until 90 years after women established a day for the celebration of the achievements of women. Hmmm... but I like it - we should acknowledge the men (and women) in our lives and all that they do for us and others.

The past few days have been a little... tough. Steve has been having major back issues and is constantly uncomfortable which is horrible - he's having trouble sleeping and practising is out of the question - so hopefully things start getting better for him and his back pronto. Yesterday I finally met with the president - he is such a buffoon! So, he tells me to come by his office after practice - and I do. I get there, and who joins me in the office but EIGHT other people, most with cigarettes a'blazin' - all (I assume) waiting to see and meet with him also. After sitting extremely patiently for 25 minutes (25!) the guy finally saunters (waddles) in, munching on an oversized pretzel, pieces and crumbs flying everywhere - stuck in his beard, lodged in his neck-fat and hanging out on his expensive sweater. He doesn't acknowledge me at all, does some work on the computer, talks with people coming in and out of the room, and answers his phone (several times) before he deals with a teammate who is also in the office. At this point, a manager offered me a cigarette - when I declined he asked, "Oh, you smoke only at night?" No. The president had just lit a fresh one and okay okay he's finished with the others and now it's my turn? YES! He addresses me, telling me that it's expensive to get all of the documents required for me to play, from the Canadian federation, the Romanian federation and the European federa... And then he was beckoned out of the room by a secretary and left for 15 minutes, at which point I was late to pick up Steve and take him to therapy. ARGH! So long story short - I went back to the office later where we came to the conclusion that there's a possibility that they'll be able to pay me to train. Right. He's supposed to meet with me after practice tonight to let me know what the management has decided. However, seeing as how he didn't show up last time, I'm not counting on him being there.... but you never know.