Having a nice long weekend

that started Thursday night, so I have including today 2 more days off. I adjusted my summer hours but I'm going to make a slight tweak and have Friday, Saturday, Sunday off. I need two days off to myself.

Its Canada Day and looks like a trade war is about to escalate between Canada and the US. From my "research" nobody comes out the winner in these kinds of things. Canada got hit with tariffs on steel and aluminum. Trump whines that Canada's diary supply management system is unfair but the supply management system is nothing compared to the $Billions of subsidies the US already offers on its own diary industry. The problem with the diary industry for example is that the state of Wisconsin alone produces more milk then the whole of Canada. The real problem is the oversupply of milk that drive prices down. American farmers already export five times as much dairy product to Canada — under tariff-free quotas worth over $550 million a year — as flows in the other direction. Personally I don't mind free trade as long as its fair and balanced.

The other night at Commonwealth stadium, our Edmonton Eskimo's (EE logo on helmets) or Esks, hosted the BC lions. I didn't watch the game but it was military appreciation night as 29K showed up. The CFL is basically AHL level quality. Just a small portion of the 9 teams are competitive. Back in the 90's we'd get about 40k in attendance and occasionally about 50k. I think the reasons for the slow attendance lately is there are other entertainment options, like the Edmonton Prospects (Baseball) that posted a perfect game the other day. Plus there is other things in the City going on like the Works festival near the ledge etc. I'm hoping as the Esks win more games (now 2-1) attendance will be up. The home team won Friday night 41-22. 

This week I'm back to work Tuesday-Friday, from 4-9. I was offered 1-9 but I can't do those hours anymore. They are taking their toll on me. I don't want to be working full time at the age of 66 (August) closing in on 70. So I scaled my days back Tuesday-Friday, 4-9. I've had a couple slow years in the 70's and 90's but since after my back operation in 1968 I've been more or less working steady. Even more so since Anne and I got married in  2000. Anyway, that's all for now. 

Canada day 2015 was relaxing

as I spent it at home mostly watching Free Agent Frenzy and on YouTube going over various music hardware and browsing over my YouTube subscriptions and answering email, that sort of thing. It was a beautiful day.

Two things I'm worried over. Firstly because my 3 month probation period on the job has expired. I'm wondering if I have a schedule next week and I won't know that until Friday. The boss said Tuesday night from the office (at another location in the city) he'll get me a TD1 form and my deductions will be on the next pay period. The other item that is nagging at me now that my name is officially on the lease here, will a rent increase be next? Our rent for a 2 bedroom is the lowest in the premises where we live. That'd be a $400 increase from where we are now. it means we'd have to look at moving. They'd give us at least a 3 month notice. 

I appreciated having the day off for Canada Day. This time last year I was just starting my fill in summer job at Direct Buy. This morning I'm out of bed early as I need to be on the road at about 9am for my pcn 10:15 appointment at Northgate as it's going to be a hot one tonight. Anyway, that's all for now. 

Just one more day off of my 5 day weekend

but there will be others. What I like about this job is that it's steady. Sure I could have booked as much time off as I need at my last job. However, because it's project based if I lose a day and if the project ends during that time, I really feel the loss. Especially weekends are felt the most because they are full days. The other nice thing about the new job (if I work out) and plan it right, I might be able to take off a full summer. Lots of options.

It being July first, Canada's new Canadian Anti Spam Law takes place, other wise known as CASL.This piece of legislation is supposed to put a big dent in email spam. It allows someone to "opt out" of unsolicited emails. I've been getting emails from businesses I have actually subscribed to but the Government says they must give me the option to "opt out." It's actually called "Unsubscribe." How CASL works is a email that I have subscribed to asks me if I want to further continue receiving emails from them, to "opt in." They send me a link to which I'm supposed to click on to accept and continue, to give my consent to further send me their emails. It's kind of silly really but it's just another step for business I want email from to show they are CASL compliant. To read into it further here's a CASL link. 

There's been some discussion around the blogosphere of a strange cube discovered from a photo of a Mars rover. Just YouTube cube Mars as key words but its intriguing. I wonder if there is any connection to the white light that has also been noted recently on Mars. Mars no doubt about it has some strange anomalies. Like this one from Curiosity:

Monday night Raw last night was awesome. I actually thought Seth Rawlin's was going to cash in his "Money in the bank" briefcase. At the last minute Dean Ambrose comes in and foils that idea. Love it. 

Today COE is demolishing the 102 Avenue Groat Road Bridge which will be closed to traffic for 15 months as the City constructs a replacement bridge. 



The 102 Avenue over Groat Road Bridge serves as a major east/west corridor into and out of Edmonton's downtown. Constructed in 1910, the bridge has reached the end of its lifespan and will be demolished and replaced with a new bridge to better serve Edmontonians. There's even a webcam available here to watch the construction progress.  Happy Canada Day everyone. Anyway, that'.s all for now. 

That was my Canada Day

long weekend but at least this week is a short week, so that's a bit of a bonus.

In the news is about the heat wave that's in Death Valley. Temperatures are 130F never mind the humidex. 

I'm in for a full day today and after work I'm picking up a Horus Heresy novel and a audio cd. I'm watching to see what's going on with the NHL Phoenix Coyote's to see if the city council of Glendale is going to keep them, or cut their losses and my guess, to delay again. Friday is the NHL free agent day and Sunday the Eskimo's are playing but Anne want's to go out and see a movie. I'd rather wait until next weekend for that. That's basically my week ahead.

On Coast tonight the topic is about Magic & Ancient Egypt. Should be a good one. I like shows like this. Most likely they are going to make reference to Crowley. Anyway, that's about all for now.

in weeks but at least it wasn't a total washout as I got my only sale on a card but it made for a long 6 hour shift yesterday.

I was so exhausted and maybe that's why I didn't have a good day on the job but I met my colleagues after for a beer and some Laughs. I needed to use Tim's bathroom badly and got double chocolate donut for my ride home trying to catch up on the Justin Schultz deal the Oiler's made to get him. It was a good day for the Oiler's and signing Ryan Smyth for a 2 year contract. The only question now is our goal tending. Everything else is in place.

When I got to Clareview station in the +26* heat and seeing the score on the Argo's/Esks game I decided to walk over to Future Shop look around and buy a set of cheep headphones. I paid $10 and headed home. I was sweating so bad I had a shower. After that I had bite to eat and watched the last of the Argo/Esks game. Esks won 15-19. 

Anne called and we had a chat and I tried going to bed for a nap but it wasn't going to happen. I relaxed until Anne came home and had some lunch and had a nice evening.

Earlier I began working on my track but I discovered when I opened the FL Studio file for my track my wav files vanished. Then I realized that I need to have the tracks recorded. Yeesh. 

Anne left to Pet Smart to get some cat food down the end of the block and when she comes home, she's going to start laundry and make breakfast and I might catch the Montreal/Stamps CFL game for latter. Anyway, that's about all for now.