Couldn't help myself

I know I wasn’t going to post anymore blogs but I just had too… People on the bus are just so damned annoying! For instance who in their right mind would bring a aircraft carrier of a stroller onto the LRT in the middle of rush hour? Women – Fat ones I tell You!!! Like their own bulk doesn’t take up enough room!

Speaking of women of girth – not that I’m picking on them but I don’t seem to see many large men on the train. But twice now I’ve had them sit with me… Once the lady and I use the term lady loosely sat across from me. No problem there. It was when she worked her feet between mine that I became concern ed… The second one landed next to me, and there was no budging her. No matter how cramped I was mashed against the wall.

I do get a kick out of the weirdo’s talking on their phones that still believe they need to shout into their phone to be heard. Usually it’s a black person talking to their “Brother” or “Sister”.

Oh and to my friend in security – I did see a gentleman in a bright yellow Paladin jacket ambling down the ramp… You’d fit right in here if you ever left your comfort zone. Hell you could probably get a transfer.

Just a bit more…

New Job!!! Working for the government. You know Head Office is out east when you have to use a French Keyboard so the techies at Head Office don’t get confused when they use your machine… Did I mention my desk is next to the IT department? Yeah doesn’t make any sense to me either. It was funny though – even in the meeting today the manager was having difficulties using his laptop cause it also has a French keyboard… Don’t think it makes a difference? Try finding the / or the ? or even the @. They either don’t exist or they’re in some totally obscure location.

Other then the goofy keyboards, work is good – so I’m out of here on a positive note! Don’t expect another Blog though.

Little Irish luck would have helped on an Irish weekend.

I thought I better bore you with my weekend escapades.

Friday starts the trouble... I'm on my way home from work. Eager to put as much distance between me and the office as quickly as possible, when just as I'm exiting from Deerfoot my radio quits - odd. Couple lights later the car starts running ruff... I instantly look for an escape strategy to get my car off the road. No sooner do I pull into a parking lot my car quits - I hate coasting when there's no power steering. Pretty much maneuvers like a rock at that point. Battery's DEAD! Dead DEAD! Thankfully I'm only about 10 blocks from home. So off I go on my forced march. I swear it wasn't snowing before I started walking - but it sure was when I was walking. I guess God couldn't rain on my parade so he snowed it in.

By the time I got home, and relayed my story to my Uncle he was ready to get my battery to see if we could charge it. So an hour later I'm in my car and just trying the ignition to see if it will start. EURIKA! Look out everyone I'm heading for home and you better not get in my way. But I didn't make it! Waiting for these damned long lights the radio cuts out and the car dies. ACK - I dont' want to push. Get the car to the side of the road when my Uncle finally ketches up in his car. So we use his car to push mine into the LRT parking lot. "Let's come back in an hour and drive it the last 4 blocks we decide"

So we come back in 2 hrs just to be safe... 2 Blocks later and I can no longer see my dash lights - radio's stopped and my lights no longer show up in the bumper of the truck in front of me! One block to go and I'm coasting again. Well at least my Uncles behind me and pushes me the rest of the way home.

Saturday Morning it's off to the Autowreckers with Alternator in hand. Wouldn't you know it, it's not a normal Chev alternator. It's only used the one year. Thankfully they had one, but I had to pry it out of the cavalier it was still in. No problem - take it home install it. It seems to work fine! Yay! Time to party!

Drinks at James Joyce, Extra in a Big Rock Brewery commercial & more beer, and Dinner back at James Joyce's. No you won't likely see me in the commercial - from where I was positioned I couldnt' see the camera so I don't imagine it could see me. Although my Arm holding a Beer might be visible.

Finally I'm on my way home - Did I mention I'd replaced my alternator? Good cause I no sooner got across the river out of downtown. When my car Died! Boost the battery drive a little ways, boost the battery, drive a little ways, boost the battery, drive a little ways etc. all the way home. I think it's time for a new car!

Well my second "new" alternator is now in the car - wish me luck I hope this one works!

I hate it when their right!

So Squirrel informed me that my blog was out of date! How right she was. I knew it had been a little while since I'd blogge, but I didn't realize it was 2 Months ago!

Something horrific happened to me on the weekend. And I don't mean horrific like a car accident. I mean super horrific, retna burning, soul searing, life scarring, shake the foundation of your being horrific. And all because I was being a nice guy! And people wonder why I can be such a BASTARD. So I give a friend a ride back to his house where I helped him take his suitcase and cot (that I was lending him till his bed arrives) down to his appartment. We opened the door and were greeted by the shock of my life. Getting struck by lightning couldn't be this shocking! But there was his roomate - sitting at his computer in nothing but his underwear. Good GOD it's a common AREA! It took every scrap of willpower, not to run screaming from the house. As it was I gasped out "I'll meet you at the car" and stumbled half blind back to my car. Even with the sub zero temperatures I was bathed in a cold sweat by the time I reached the relative safety of my car.

Whatever happened to common decency?

Ont he lighter side! Looks like my job will be completed by the end of this month! Hot Dog that will definately motivate me to find something a little better. Not that I mind this job, it's definately mindless and comfortable. But there's no room for advancement - or really any knind of movement.

Hopefully I'll find a job that will keep me on full time, then I can start to look for a permanent residence. Not that I mind camping out in my Aunt's basement. But it would be nice to have all of my own stuff available to me, not just piled in the garage.

Gotta run - Lunch hour is half over and I still haven't eaten.

Cheers

For the Record

Lord have mercy on the fools I passed. There was no doddling on the way to Calgary this time. Even through the National Park we didn't drop our speed below 100km unless grid locked, which doesn't happen for long when your crowding someone's bumper at that speed. Boy the rain held off just long enough to not bother me, and I found a group of crazy Albertan's in a hurry to get home. Yee Haa! 6 and 1/2 hours, with a break for washroom & dinner (take out) in Golden. That's movin.

Anyways I'm in Calgary now for a job interview. And I went! within 24 hours of being in the city I was on City Transit. Yes you people who know me and how much I love my car know how that was like parting with an arm or leg. Nice trip on the LRT as well. It dawned on me as well that it's called the LRT which makes much more sense then calling a subteranean (I know the spellings wrong but I didn't pre-write it in Word for spell check.) subway the "Sky Train". Anyways it was nice, quiet and quick and the only drawback was how far away I had to park in order to get on it. Nearly needed to take a bus from my car to the terminal. Good thing I'm still young and healthy.

Back to the interview! The building had a revolving glass door! I loved it. Woulda played in it if I wasn't in a suit and trying to be impressive. Next step was the office. Big Office! Lots of windows! Way up in the air! I'll bet I was higher then Dilworth Mountain. That's embarrasing for Dilworth.

Anyways the trip there and the door were the most interesting things about the interview. They made me take some tests. They were impressed with my Exel Apptitude test and were really impressed with my typing. 66 words per minute with 100% accuracy. I guess chatting on the computer really is good for something. Anyways the interview was fun so lets hope it becomes a job.

On the way back to my aunts I dropped into Sunridge Mall. Got a key cut for myself for my Aunts house. Gawked at the teens strutting around in their new clothes, and berrated myself for being a dirty old man.

For the record - It aint that WARM here, no matter what the crazy Calgarian's say.

I thought Santa was comming to town!

Christmas is approaching, and here I thought that meant Santa was comming. Hark now hear me, it isn't so!

I decided after I finished wrapping my presents and decorating my house today that I should probably get some groceries.

In the TV show Drew Carey there's a character named Mimi. She's an incredibly outlandish woman who's got enough makeup on to make a circus performer envious, and her clothing is just as stylish. Who knew! I seen her in the parking lot at the grocery store. The similarities were so canny that I did the big double take and stare. That is until I realized I was staring and attempted to hide my rudeness with all haste. However, it goes without saying Mimi was there in all her finery. Although the clothing was a little more sedate - only a brown fur coat.

Now I don't mind fur coats, in fact I quite like the feel of them. Much like the softness of a real fur teddy bear. I'd have one if I could find one. However there is a time and place for fur. and 3:00 friday afternoon at the mall is not the place. And no there is no place for her to buy a fur or have anything to do with the fur in this mall.

Alas my adventure was not to finish here. As I'm standing in line with my minimalist looking pile of groceries on the belt. Starring at the magazines learning that Angelina was stealing another of Jen's boyfriends when the next person in lines started putting there stuff on the belt. Normally this wouldn't bother me, and I wouldn't pay any attention. But apparently she felt that she needed more room and instead of waiting for it to automatically move the groceries forward as the cashier took them off the other end, this lady stars pushing. She's got a BIG bag of Sugar or Flour or something and she's shoving it to make room. While I didn't buy a lot of food I was suddenly very protective as I watched it's area on the belt decrease - something akin to the trash compactor scene in Star Wars.

Generally speaking I don't deal with the public if I don't have to. Other then a polite greeting, or thank you if they hold the door for me. *Note* you better thank me if I'm holding the door for you, as I can get snarky and sarcastic fast. But I'm sure you knew that. Anyways the look of distaste I threw at the lady clearly didn't hit her hard enough to make an impact. So I placed a hand on her flour/sugar to 'suggest' she stop.

She glared at me and said "Excuse me!" in an insolent tone, like I was doing something wrong.

Oh I feel the sarcasm building. I replied, "Correct! excuse you."

She glared, I glared.

She relinquished... Good thing too - cause I still hadn't decided what to say.

Finally the black belt started moving again and she had room to put her flour/sugar on the conveyor belt without shoving.

Of course my Debt card didn't work, but that was just par for the course. It never works here.

Finally it was time to escape the nuthouse. But not without some lady taking one last run at me with her buggy. Thankfully I had all my grocery bags in one hand so I could run a blocking move and hold her buggy at bay long enough for me to get out of it's way. To people not look? And if it was a mistake - why not apologize. A simple sorry wether you meant it or not it only polite. Grrrr....

Oddly the drive home was quick and easy! what a surprise.

Trippin to Calgary

So it was a trip to Calgary last week. 7 hours of driving is always fun. What do you know it actually was. Let me lay it out for you!

We’re cruising down the highway and by cruising I mean like a cruise missile. Grandma’s wasting no time! Yes I said Grandma! She was on her way to Calgary to fly to Denver to meet her boyfriend. Anyways I’m in the back seat of the car, pleased to be as far as possible from the impact zone, and my mom was in the passenger seat.

After a particularly swift corner, my mother pipes up “You know if you get a speeding ticket we don’t share the cost”

Grandma Says, “I wasn’t speeding”

Mom and I in chorus, “You were doing 90 in a 70” not that my eyes were glued to the speedometer or anything.

Grandma Says, “I don’t have time to look at the speed, I’m to busy driving.”

Well there you have it. Thankfully Revelstoke arrived swiftly and we were able to shift off drivers. Obviously I survived to write this blog.

Another funny incident happened while I was in Calgary. This one has to do with my Uncle. I ended up getting back to their house early one evening, and he was watching TV. So I sat down to watch an episode of CSI Miami, followed by Dead Like Me. I do enjoy the show Dead Like Me. Anyways the show starts with a caveat saying there is strong language, violence etc., etc. Well within the first 5 minutes the ‘F’ word is used. I know what a shock! Well my uncle starts muttering and huffing like Mother Superior. I kid you not. But if that wasn’t bad enough he’s even louder when within 5 more minutes it’s followed up by another ‘F’ word. This time I chuckled and he glared at me, which didn’t stop the chuckling. 10 minutes later time 3 for the ‘F’ word. Well he started huffing and puffing like the Big Bad Wolf and changed the channel.

I raised an eyebrow at him and commented, “You’ve heard the same word now 3 times, surely you’ve gotten used to it by now.”

He looked at me and said “I don’t appreciate the language.”

Guess I was feeling feisty because I replied “You got two daughters 23 and 25, surely you’ve heard the words before.”

While he did turn the channel back to Dead Like Me, he didn’t speak to me again the rest of the evening unless I directed a comment directly at him. I’d also like to point out that I never asked to watch Dead Like Me, nor did I ask him to turn it back.

Ah, gotta love family! Cause you can’t choose them.

Anyways that’s all for now. And if you’re in Denver lookout for my Grandma she’s probably piloting that speeding 5th wheel headed for Phoenix Arizona.

Nearly a month already

I don’t know where my time goes. When I was going to University it seemed I had more time in my day, even though I complained then of having no time. Now I have plenty of free time and I still have no time to Blog. Maybe it’s that I have so much free time I have nothing interesting to Blog about.

For the last three months I have been working for a fabulous company, unfortunately I only have a temporary contract with them. End of November my contract ends. I am NOT looking forward to that. The company is an Employment firm and I must say I have gotten a real inside look at what jobs are available here in the Okanagan. And it’s a dismal prospect. The chances of me getting paid anywhere near what I am now is SLIM at best.

So this Friday I’m meeting with a headhunter in Calgary. It should make for an interesting meeting. At least I hope it’s interesting. I have no idea how much headhunters cost, which makes me happy that the headhunter is a good friend of my best friend in Calgary. Hopefully I will get a deal. I’ll let you know how it goes. Maybe.

On the plus side I’ll be able to visit with new and old friends in Calgary. It should make for an enjoyable trip. Although nothing is planned as I’m “supposed” to be looking for a job.

Course that brings me to the question of – Do I really want to move to Calgary? On the plus side I don’t mind Calgary and I have lots of family there. But it’s not the Okanagan. There’s nothing like being surrounded by two lakes to make for lots of Bikini babe scenery. And I do prefer living in the smaller town. Everything I need or want is within 5 minutes. Course there may be only one store that sells it. Only competition around here is between wineries.

All in all though I do think I would rather be in Calgary. And I’m beginning to look forward to moving there. So cross your fingers for me, it would sure be a load off my mind if I were to get a job next weekend.

Cheers for another month… Maybe sooner, you never know.