We're holding at +5 so far this afternoon

and calling for +8 today.

Before bed this morning I signed up for a Chapters plumb account which gets me wifi at all Chapters locations. Handy to download ebooks a gift card. Apparently though my set up got compromised somehow as something went wrong. I'll bring my Kobo into Chapters to see if I can still access their wifi anyway.

If everything goes according to plan I should have 100 hours on my next cheque. That's if I get all the hours in from tomorrow until Friday. However, anything can happen to offset that plan off the rails. The client could pause the project to look at the data, or even end the project right there and other things that could take me off the project. For now I'll take it day by day. I haven't had 100 hours on a cheque since the old ACT days in the early 1990's over 22 years ago. These days I'm lucky if I can get 40 hours/week.

It's a nice looking day out there for our last day of daylight savings time. Overnight the clocks get set back an hour. I'm about to head out to Northgate/Chapters get my things, Wendy's Dollar-rama and home. 

Today its BC/Eskimo's and Vancouver/Oiler's. I love weekends like this even though I'm back tomorrow noon-8pm. Anyway, that's about all for now.

Last night Anne and I went to the

Horseshoe lounge just over here on 58th street and 137th Ave. It's just a little bar behind KFC there. Its been around for years. We checked it because they had WWE's Summer slam on pay per view. They charge $10/person but they couldn't get the sound working. My mood changed for the better as I was getting into the show. I was in a bad mood mainly because of the heat and I hadn't eaten and the heat of the day. We ordered pizza and pop but enjoyed the show anyway. They finally got the sound on about about 70% into the broadcast. They didn't charge for the show, which was a nice gesture. They had about 50 people. It's actually a nice little bar. The bus isn't that far away to take me home on a Saturday afternoon. I'm glad I went after all and I'll be back next pay per view. 

This weekend was kind of a good news bad news type weekend. Saturday morning the boss wants me in for a meeting. He gave me a 2 week notice to pick it up. It's telemarketing, what can I say? The other thing is I won on 3 of my cfl proline games. It's about enough to by a case of beer but at least I'm winning.

I'm looking at getting into the eBook reader business. After doing a bit of research I'm warming up to the 6" Kobo Aura. I'm using it for Warhammer 40k short stories and ebooks. Stuff I can't get at Audrey's. 

Tonight is Monday night Raw on the aftermath of last nights show. Looking forward to it. Anyway, that's all for now. 

The new job seems to be

running along ok. Its basic telemarketing but I'm not selling anything. It's easy enough to do and the hours are decent enough.

Sometime this month I'm supposed to know, one way or another, if I'm going to get on this extended medical benefits plan. It's from the Alberta Government and is similar to a company health care plan. It's different then Alberta Health care. It's set up for emergency situations and was strongly recommended in writing by my Doctor. My local PCN feels that there's no reason why I shouldn't be accepted. It even covers my wife as well. My PCN says I should get a card in the mail very soon. Maybe next week sometime. it's mostly to cover my diabetic needs but the plan covers beyond what Alberta Health care would cover. The plan covers my diabetic supplies, vision/optical, and most important right now, dental and dentures. If I get the card this week next time I see my Doctor (Monday) I'm going to ask about my dental and what we can do to get my teeth done. Pending of course when (and if) I get the card in the mail. I might some time off in the hospital until my gums heal but I'd do this about mid September. I'm sure my job will accommodate me. Getting my teeth done has been on my mind for sometime now.

Yesterday I went to Audrey's and picked up my Warhammer 40k book. "There is only war." It's a Warhammer anthology of 42 short stories published last year. I hope it sells well enough to bring out a 2nd volume sometime this year or next. 

Also on my commute I read a bit at Campus waiting for the #4 bus and then I had a bit of a wait at wem. ETS had this grey low floor bus. It's an electrical bus. Not a hybrid and apparently its wifi enabled and looks really cool. I'm going to try and see if the fellow I'm meeting with after coffee can drop me off at wem so I can get a photo and try out the new bus. This bus apparently is the only one of it's kind in all the 900+ buses in ETS's fleet of bus.   

Prior to when my colleague was living at Westmount my drive home colleague and I would take the Yellowhead and run down 50th. I mentioned to her if she would be able to pull into the Wendy's drive through on my way home as it was on the way. Then I realized as we were heading towards the Canadian tire store off 129th to Fort Road, we were not anywhere near Wendy's. I almost said to cancel because my meeting ride this afternoon can always go to "Harvey's" on 170th there. She said it was no problem. So as we went over the Manning overpass it was just off in the right side lane by Pet Smart (Sparky) and a few minutes South on 50th. I got a Double Baconator and biggie fries for my lunch and watched Smackdown. That way Anne didn't have too cook anything.

I'm out here at 8:30am. One of my colleagues from my lodge said he'd be able to pick me up this morning and said he'd be out here at 8:30am. I emailed him and called so he doesn't swing by here thinking he's going to pick me up. I called him before Anne got in and left a message for him not to pick me up as I wouldn't be attending. I feel bad I can't make it but I need the hours as well. I am however going to meet with the fellow running the meeting after. If there's no snags. He's got the address to where I work and he said he could meet with me after 1:30pm for coffee today and to give me the details as to what happened. Also, if that electric bus is there I can get off at 95th ave/156th street and snap a photo of Sandy lane. I've been wanting to do that since last Octobers fire. Anyway, that's about all for now.

Dilemma's are interesting and mine is

challenging to say the least. My current situation with my market research job is project based, what my availability is and my flow rate determines if I get any hours. Also, the tap on my current job in the summer (as far as work goes) trickles out like a leaky faucet. We're expecting another project but that's up to the whim of the client when we start. It's up to the whim of my survey house manager to determine how many hours I get. So here's the dilemma part, I got a more or less permanent job today way out in the West end. It's only 26 hour/week but the bonus structure is good. People have been there for as little as 1 month to 4 years, 8 to thirteen etc. It's from 3-9. I get Sunday's and Mondays off. Sometime this afternoon I could get a email from my market research job saying for me to come in Saturday onward for 6 days. That conflicts with my other job that starts Wednesday. I'm not sure what to do here. Hence my dilemma. If a schedule doesn't come in today, then great. If one does I'm going to say something like a situation has come up I'll be in on Monday. Monday night I'll explain face-to-face with my manager and ask if I can work just Sunday's as others have done 1 day a week. If that's ok, then great, there is no conflict. If not, I'm just going to ask for a couple of months off, return in September. My market research job will dry up in the summer anyway but if I work out at the new place, then all the better. I want to keep the doors open too my market research job, if the new one works  out. I'm just three years away from my full pension and the market research job would fit in just perfectly with that. "What? I'm off for 2 weeks, wu-who," type thing. Ok that dilemma is more or less ironed out. 

While Anne and I were out this afternoon after our successful interview, we had just missed our #137 bus. I always bring my camera along. We waited in the hot Sun at 108th Ave and 178th street waiting for our 137th home so Anne snapped this photo of me sitting on the grass on the corner there with the Evergreen tree behind me:

People are already saying good things about the picture above. So our bus came along and it packed up in a hurry. I sat facing East to get a good glimpse of where the new West end Long & McQuade (LM) store is. We got held up by train traffic in a bus that was standing room only. I caught a glimpse of the LM logo and now I know where it is just off of Saint Albert Trail and 137th Ave. Anne had a great idea: Lets go into Wendy's at Northgate for dinner. I hadn't been at that location before.

Coast to Coast has another great show underway. Tonight they are talking about water locked up in rocks 400 miles under the earth, strange droning sounds in Michigan, and "Kewper Anonymous," the US Army cryptographer who worked for the CIA in 1957-1960 and was briefed about UFOs. Sounds like a great show. Thursday's usually have great shows.

We decided to get the #11 bus at Northgate home and got in about 7:30pm. It was a long afternoon.

I bought my first CFL Proline ticket earlier at Clareview, 4 games all ties on a $2 ticket. If I played this out correctly it would have paid to win $554! First game underway, was Argo's/ Bomber's. First Quarter it was Winnipeg 28 Argo's..0? Whaaaaaat? The game ended  up Argo's 24- Bombers 45. Note to self, next week Home teams to win. Anyway, today I'm sleeping in. Anyway, that's all for now.

Its been a quiet week around here

but yesterday got a bit active. We  got a couple of nibbles on the job front as Anne is up for a interview this afternoon and its all the way out in the West End in the industrial park area about 8 blocks north of West Edmonton Mall (WEM). Or West Ed as locals call it. Its for 4pm and I'm going out with her upon her request. We're leaving out of here at 2:30pm. This time of day we can take 1 bus and its a one way 40 minute bus ride. We're going to have a look at the operation anyway. 

Waterfalls are a splendor to behold no doubt about it. We have Niagara Falls in Eastern Canada. There's Victoria Falls bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe and yes we have our own waterfall here in Edmonton! Yes, you heard that right. It's not that well known but water comes from the North Saskatchewan river. It's recycled water that is pumped up to our high level bridge 156 feet from the river below. Its only turned on a couple of times/year but this year there has been a project called "Light the bridge." It's a privately funded project to raise $2,560,385, from nearly 12,000 people. The light-the-bridge project will feature 1,120 luminaires (fixtures) containing almost 60,000 light emitting diodes (LEDs). Each luminaire will be fastened in such as way as to achieve a 3G vibration rating to maintain the integrity of the presentation through the natural rattles and vibrations of the working bridge.The lights can be individually controlled and dim, flash, glow and glitter in one or every imaginable colour. In other words the lights can be programmed. Its an interesting project. I don't know if the led's will be on year round or at (obviously at night) what times I'm not sure. I can almost see it coming where this will turn out to be an advertising opportunity. "Shop at Acme 50% off on all housewares tonight only from 1-9pm."  Yeesh.

Sunday afternoon Anne and I are going to Horseshoe lounge just over here to watch "Money in the bank." That's our favorite WWE event next to Wrestlemania. I like Horseshoe's pizza and we're having that and watching it on their big screen. I'm having a beer as well. It's not like going to WEM or anything but we don't have enough Scene points for that and as far as I know the WWE network isn't available here in Canada yet. 

I'm actually enjoying this week off even though there's been no income coming in, until tomorrow. I'll get my Eagles book and hopefully a nice weekend. Also, there's a CFL game on for tonight Toronto/Winnipeg and the Esks are playing Saturday and a game on Sunday. Looking forward to this CFL season: Bring it on. Also, there's the NHL free agent frenzy coming up. Good times for sports fans. Other then that not much is going on. Anyway, that's all for now.

Saturday I was up about 10am

ready to head out of here to meet my pick up ride to the Shrine club. Dan met me across the street from my stop at McKernan /Belgravia station about 1:15pm 

Dan picked me up right on time and we took the long way around and got there to the Shrine club about 2pm. People began to. Show up shortly after we arrived. My JW arrived and so did the caterer. We had about 30 people there. it was pretty good but expensive. We even had jobe's daughters and the D'Molay out to perform a murder mystery dinner theater. It was very nice, although I got home a bit later then I wanted.

I think from when we left the Shrine Centre to Southgate shown above we must have ran into 3 rain cells. Love this time of year. 

Today I'm leaving out of  here in about an hour for work. It's a short 4 hour shift but with the lrt off line and replacement buses taking over to fill in the gaps it's going to make things a bit awkward for me to get around today. I've got to catch the replacement bus from Clareview to Belvedere to get to work, then the bus to get from Belvedere to Rexall and the #8 from Rexall to my Lodge "Executive Committee" meeting. The last one before the summer. Then I can come home enjoy the rest of the hockey game and get ready for the week.

Speaking of which, on my plate for this week is continue with employment agency doing a job search, even though I have 2 part time jobs, I'm looking for a full time steady job. Then I have my last lodge meeting before our Summer break. I long for the "dog days of Summer." Anyway, that's about all for today. 

Most people where I work have a 2nd job

nobody could survive with just working the one job. Imagine my relief when I got the other job yesterday afternoon! I'm back working 6 days again but the other job is a bit off the beaten track as it takes a little longer to get to. It's going to be a bit of a struggle to manage both jobs but it was my boss that suggested I get another job. My 2nd job breaks in February and again in the Summer.

After my interview I decided to treat myself for a Wendy's baconator and I got the #2 Clareview bus from Corona station. It was a beautiful mild Sunny afternoon. I walked home in the mild afternoon air (for now) I was home by 4pm and didn't get to my email right away as I thought about having a nap. I should at least check my call history to see if any calls came in. It shows up on the TV screen. Sure enough I got one from my 1st employer. I called the Super and she said I got an extra day but I couldn't do this Thursday. I've got Monday and Tuesday are my normal 3-7pm but I go from Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday at the new job. Hopefully I can get the 6 hours out of the 8 and work 1-3. That would work until mid January where I can go from 11-3 and then 4:30-8:30pm. It's 7.5 hours/day. The 2nd job pays $3 more an hour!

I missed the first period of Fridays Oiler/Columbus game. It was 1-0 in the 2nd and I thought ok, lets see what happens. Then it was 2-0 and the Oiler's were playing sloppy. I checked back to the game and then it was 4-0 in the 3rd! Ok, that's it. See you guys Sunday in Dallas. The Oiler's made it interesting late in the 3rd getting their 1st and their 2nd goal but it was too little to late for these guys. It wasn't like they played badly but CBJ played better. 

Speaking of sports and all, the Esks hired their 20th head coach in franchise history with the hiring of Chris Jones. I think he was their defensive coordinator. The Oiler's might win 20 games this year but I'm already looking forward to the Eskimo's next season.

Anne got home about 10:40pm last night as I was watching what was left of wrestling and made me burrito platter and mixi fries, one of my favorites. I watched wrestling and here I am having a "long weekend" of sorts. Anyway, that's all for now.

We we're out at the bus stop about

2pm yesterday and we almost didn't get underway because of Anne's impatience we just about didn't go but a #11 was at the set of lights by Manning & 50th. We took the train to Southgate and after a 10 minute wait our #33 bus came by and we we're at WEM by about 3:40pm after a slightly uncomfortable bus ride through Riverbend, uggh. Anne wanted to go to Target but they weren't ready to open yet. I think the sign said April 15th. That took about 10 minutes off the clock before we actually got into the mall. 

We settled for Moxie's in Bourbon street. I hadn't eaten in this restaurant before or in any Moxie's. It's kind of like Earl's but nicer decor and a better menu. My wife had the turkey club but she didn't like it too much. I had the classic bacon cheese burger. The service was good and the food was decent enough. I'd go back there again. On a scale from 1-10,I'd rate Moxie's an 8.5. Then 10 minutes off the clock was spent while Anne had to shop at London Drugs, which was cutting into our movie time. In other words I didn't get out to Games Workshop or Chapters. That and the mall was packed.

Onto the movie. The first disappointment (unknown to us) was the movie was in 3D and we had to pick our seats from a touch screen, which was 85% full. Dark meant the seat was taken, white meant free. First time I had to do this, which I thought was cool. We almost didn't get the seats as it was way in the back but they were good seats. I almost lost my balance getting to the top of the stadium like seating. I got my seat looking for Anne and held up my hand and she recognized me. She lost her 3D glasses but when she went to get an extra pair in the meantime the patron beside her spotted them on the floor by my foot. As for the movie itself, I really didn't need the 3D glasses that much. I'm looking forward to Brad Pitt's "World War Z " as featured in the trailer. GI Joe "Retaliation" was a good movie and I liked the mountain ninja scene as glimpsed in the trailer. Why ninjas would wear red outfit's in a snowy mountain scene, I don't know. The movie seemed really long but lasted about 2 hours. I wouldn't say it's worth spending the current going rate. To me this movie is worth seeing at your local dollar theater. We got it from our Scene rewards points. If it wasn't for our accumulated Scene points I would have waited until GI Joe "Retaliation" came to our local dollar theater in July. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I went out to see it. I'd recommend Moxie's and GI Joe "Retaliation." Out of 5 popcorn's I'd rate it 3/5.

Tomorrow, I'm going to call Jack to see if he's open for business and get my haircut. But before I see Jack I need to pop into Future Shop to drop off that disk and paper work, then see Jack if he's open. Then on my way home, pop into the Edmonton Public Library with my ID to activate my free library card, which I set up yesterday. City residence have up until the end of June to get it for free. After that basic renewal fees apply. I think. Then it's home to watch Monday night Raw and the Calgary Flames/Oiler's and my 5 day Easter long weekend will come to a close. But it's a short but busy week so I can't complain. Anyway that's all for now.
    

Having a decent Sunday and

it’s in the half Esks/Argo’s and it’s 7-31! Yikes. So much for the Edmonton Eskimo’s for the 2012 season. Trading for Ricky Ray didn’t help much. Though to be fair we got into the playoffs, even though it looks like only to the Eastern semi finale on a cross over. This is a hard game for the Esks to come back from, what with the Argo’s playing so well. Latter I’m following the Riders/Calgary game after this.

Yesterday late afternoon while waiting for a bus a block West of Wendy’s on 104th street I was wondering if there was another bus stop/shelter further East along the same block but after a look on Google maps, I couldn’t find anything. And from the time I got to the bus shelter itself trudging through a narrow snow path along the sidewalk and wait for 30 minutes, I could have easily walked from there to Corona station. It would have taken me 15 minutes but my right knee was acting up on me. Besides I didn’t have my iPad with me and it wasn’t that cold. My big issue was I needed to us a bathroom as I was holding my bladder. I could have ducked into one of the nearby shops behind the bus shelter but chances are I would have missed my connection. I didn’t see anything coming my way East along 104th street. At about 5:45pm it was busy traffic.

I remember taking the 104th street way home often working at Cobogo warehouse (behind the Grand Hotel) and I’d take a bus that would take me to the now burnt out Sandy Lane strip mall, cross the street and head home to where I was at the time from 1983-March 1985. Anyway, all along 104th Ave from 101st street right up to 121st was the CPR tracks and CPR sheds. It was all open, where Grant MacEwan is now and Oliver shopping Centre. It’s amazing how the city has grown in the last 30 years. About the only landmarks still around in the City would be the CN building the MacDonald hotel the Telus building, the Grand Hotel, The Bay. That’s about it.

At the moment it’s -11 out there and there could be a wind chill. Tomorrow (Monday) Anne wants to drag me out to West Edmonton Mall to get a bite to eat at the food court and try using our Scene points so we can go see the new James Bond film, “Skyfall” If we  make the proper connections and all we might be back by 10pm but I doubt it. If we go for the 4pm show and leave out of here by 2pm, maybe. I can miss Raw for one week, won’t kill me. Anyway, that’s about all for me for today.