If I read a fiction book

non stop, I can get it read in a few months, probably shorter if I use audiable books. I'm a slow reader. I'm considering an audiable book service. Try an audio book. This last book I read I began January 4th of this year. I finished it last night. I moved house in March, the job appointments, lodge. All kinds of stuff. Audible lets me join for free, cancel anytime and i get one book I can keep for free. I've never lisened to an audiobook before. I'll try it out. it wont cost me anything. I'd keep these audio books on my iPod. There are a bunch of audio book platforms. I'll be investigating all of them.

This was yesterday but worth mentioning: First observed on August 4, 1181, Chinese and Japanese astronomers recorded a supernova in the constellation Cassiopeia. The phenomenon was visible in the night sky for around six. months.

Not much going on this week. We have no outings. I think I'll go down to the coffee club Wednesday morning for a coffee and muffin I'm usually awake by 9am anyway, that's all for now. 

Mac chicken strips

and a potato patty, was my dinner last night. I don't mind dinners like that.

Not much going on for today. A bit of a myster solved yesterday. I've often seen in Hermetic circles this symbol ∴ displayed. I've always wondered how this was done. Google said" press numb lock press Alt and 8756 ∴ I can't do that here. Unless I CP in Libre Office Writer 😀excellent.

The Leelaverse has her Art show on @ 3pm. It being Wednesday the coffee club downstairs starts at 9am. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. For 1 Dollar you get a cup of coffee and a donut or muffin. It's a nice touch. I haven't been down there yet. I haven't even been to the court yard or basement. Anyway, that's all for now.

I'm not a watcher of the

Royals but I am aware of the passing of Prince Philip. The UK is going through 7 days of mourning for the Prince. on the positive side for the UK, they have almost reached Covid heard immunity. A lot of their economy is opening up now with 30 million citizens already vaccinated.   

I'm up early at 8am tomorrow out of here by 9am. I need to get to London Drugs at Northtown to scan my tickets as I won $20 Saturday and I might have a free lotto 6/49 ticket. Then its off to Healthcare solutions across the street for my 10:30am appoinment for fittings for some compression stockings. Hopefully I can get them with no ordering. Then its  upstairs to the food court to see about ordering lunch for Anne and I to take home. My last Northgate bus that drops me off at my door. Its small but its the end of an era bus wise. 

Still no announcement of work. I doubt there will be any for this month. I've had a few shifts earlier in the year but that's been about it. Two years in, recieving full pension came in at the right time. We'd be in deep trouble otherwise. Anyway, that's all for now. 

Finally a bit of time off for myself

not that I want any but I've been coming pretty hot and heavy over the past 2 weeks. I've had dental appointments and work, all kinds of things. I'm hoping we'll get one more small project for a few days when we officially break next Friday the 13th. One of "my lucky" days.

Speaking of interesting days on the calendar, one of my friends/Facebook friends, sent me this gif:

I'm not sure about the money par of this but its just kind of interesting.

The other day, Anne helped me place my first Amazon order. I've had an Amazon store front since about when we got married. I've never had to use it before. I  ordered 3 items, a ball mount, a microphone thread adapter, and a pair of led lamps for my music production. No shipping, or currency exchange rates. I should get the order next week. Other then that, I've got a dental appointment Thursday at 1pm. Then, its off to get a bite to eat then head out for lodge. Friday I've got a staff party to head out to and the LAK/Oilers game after that. We could get a small project at work next week but I doubt it. I'll know on Friday if we do. Anyway, that's all for now.   

Over the past few days

I've been having these sudden frequent stomach convulsions. Its more of a feeling of bloatedness, I think brought about to the Metformin I've been taking. Anne made me a Agnes beef cheese burger and her home made fries earlier and I had apple crumb pie topped with strawberry ice cream. I'm stuffed and feeling bloated. Uggh.

Update: I'd be totally in remiss if I didn't say "Happy Star Wars," day everyone. When I first saw the original Star Wars A new hope 1977, wasn't in a theatre. The hype for this movie was building all year at the time. I saw the movie at a Drive in in Surrey. My friend Gord and I got to the movie early that day in May. After the movie fans honked their car horns in appreciation leaving the movie. I always new this was going to be a trilogy but since then there's been a prequel trilogy, and a sequel trilogy, and a anthology. Hard to believe the original movie was 40 years ago.  

Even though the Oilers lost last night 4-0, they put up 44 shots against the Visitors back up goal tender. I'm sorry for saying this but, our current back up goal tender is not a NHL goal tender. I'm hoping Talbot will be ready for tomorrow's afternoon game against the Wild.

Still now work for this week and the boss doesn't suspect anything will be taking place until early in the New Year. I wish I had my other job back but I got fired by way of an email. Very professional huh? other then that, I uploaded a bit of an ambient track to my You Tube channel, using the new Garage band. Tomorrow is the hockey game, Sunday is WWE's night of Champions. Its not like I've nothing to do. Anyway, that's all for now. 

This afternoon Anne's

sister is on a working visit to Edmonton. Her job takes her out here at least once/year. Its good because she takes us out for dinner and my wife gets to spend some quality time with her other then face time over the iPad.

I've had 2 major posts over there at the Novation Circuit Facebook owners group. Each of them have received over 45 responses. If anything else, I know how to generate conversation. 

Here it goes. Since yesterday this place has had a construction crew out there. They are digging out the ground level concrete (patio) area outside of the ground floor suites here. They've had a Bobcat beeping periodically out there starting from the South side of the building.

I'm calling the office tomorrow  to see if I've got any work this week. I set up a Doctors appointment for 3:15pm Friday, so if there is a new project coming (I don't see it happening) it come as early as Thursday or as late as Friday. Or my higher ups might just put the project on hold until summer break is over. that'd be ok by me. Anyway, that's all for now.  

Things have been picking up

around here for the birthday boy lately. I discovered by accident on Friday that my place of employment had moved since I last spoke with the area manager about returning in September near the end of July. The office had been there since 1968 and we knew last March we were going to move but near Southgate? I couldn't reach anyone by phone Friday to confirm or deny or to get any details over the automated greeter. Press 1 for that, 3 for this etc. When I was on the phone with the area manager in July, I asked if we were in the same building, she said yes. Most likely they moved all the admin stuff over to the new place but we could still do the calling at the original office until the new year. I have very little information but that's what I figure.

Last night after watching a convincing 46-26 Eskimo win over the Argo's, I got into my you tube channel subscriptions. So I'm scanning Home, Trending, Subscriptions, and following the Riders/Hamilton game. I came across a Paul McCartney urban legend video. "The last will & testament of George Harrison" might be good for a laugh. Read the "show notes" under the video and it explains that this is a mockumentary, a spoof. John Lennon apparently called the faux Beatle Faul and It seems that John was so overcome by losing Paul he kept putting clues in following album covers like Sergeant Pepper, and backwards masking in the audio. The break up of the Beatles had to do with Paul's death and deception since 1966. Now I'm no stranger to concept albums. Frank Sinatra had a few concept albums, Sergeant Pepper, The Who's Tommy, Pink Floyd "Dark side of the moon" Here's a list of some concept albums. So basically Sergeant Pepper was a concept album about "the death" of Paul McCartney, which never happened. So this got me to investigate a bit further as to when this rumor of Paul's death originally surfaced. I came across this interesting article. I stumbled upon another article that had Ringo Starr "admitting" the deception last year but surfaced again earlier this month. This got me going. This can't be true. It had to be a gag article. Then I read Sir Paul's reaction to Ringo's claims. Then I found out that Ringo's admittance was a work of fiction not on his part. I'm wondering then since the Ringo Starr "interview was a work of fiction" why did Sir Paul invite the media to his home to debunk Ringo's claims a few days ago? The media should have seen the work of fiction for what it was. Personally I think Sir Paul's media gathering was a chance to promote Wings going into the rock n roll hall of fame. Then there's the dna conspiracy over a paternity lawsuit etc. Its a convoluted story. Personally I'm not buying the Ringo Starr "interview" any more then I'm buying the Paul is dead urban myth. Its fictional folks. Paul McCartney didn't die in 1966 but its a fun conspiracy. Oh and the Riders lost to Hamilton 53-7 Chris Jones is 1-7. I hope he goes 1-19 on the season, since he jumped ship for the money.     

I had a great weekend, watching football, reading, getting my Space Marine Battles book Saturday morning at Audrey's. Last night though a tooth started to bug me. The sleeping pill Anne gave me over night helped and I was able to get some sleep. Anne made us a great brunch and I started to get into Summerslam. What a show. I thought the main event was to short. It could have gone longer. Monday afternoon Anne and I need to go to a Commissioner of Oaths to have a document signed and I'm having my oas form notarized (if it needs to be done) at the same time. Anyway, that's all for now.

At Clareview station last night about

9:15pm it was like a Spring like evening. As soon as I got off the bus just outside of Shoppers here, boom! An instant blizzard. Talk about a shock to the system. Anne suggested I call off the appointment and not go in. I did that before bed after I finished reading my book and left a message saying something that I'll re-book before Family day. So this morning I get up and I look out  my window and:
                          
At the moment its -12 out there and we got Rusty inside because it was pretty cold for him over night. We got him here for a couple of days.

So, its my last night at the 2nd job. Hopefully I'll have work at my main job tomorrow and beyond. My 2nd job has another project, which they send out letters of invitation at the end of this month. Its a smaller project so they'll need less staff to do the calling. If I get one of those letters in the mail, great, I'll go back. Unless there's another opportunity first. Last night a colleague was telling me that he will receive his first Guaranteed Income Security (gsi) cheque next month. Its pro active from the time he applied for it last year. The applicant for this has to be on oas first. That means he'll be getting a lump sum and the gsi will follow. I won't know how much he's getting (as his situation is similar to mine) because when and if I go back, I'll probably never see him again to ask. He told me he likes the job for pocket money. So, we'll see. Anyway, that's all for now.

Tonight is my last day of work for

2015. I lost my 1st market research job and applied for ei in February. Then I had another "job" that lasted for 3 days in March. Then I got the other market research job in early April and I'm still with that, for now. Then I'm working at something else trying to recruit volunteers for a non profit agency for their door-to-door campaign. I'm going to that after I do business with my market research job. I'm looking at another job opportunity, and if they call me in for a interview and I get hired I might leave the recruiting job but only if its long term. 

 Anne was there last night and Army & Navy staff don't seem to know where they are going or if they will be out of a job at the end of January 2016.

Army & Navy department store at Londonderry Mall is closing at the end of January 2016. The mall feels its going to compete with the high end clothing Simon's. Army & Navy has been at Londonderry mall since 9/11.

I'm out of here at 3:00pm today. I want to pick up my cheque at the other place and hopefully do my business and make it in time for my shift or be a bit late. After that its to my bank. Anyway, that's all for now.

This is unknown territory for

for the Edmonton Oilers. Last night they won their 4th game in a row. Not only that but they are just 3 points away from the last playoff spot! With the NY Rangers in town tomorrow night, honoring Glen Sather, can the Oilers make it 5 straight wins? Sather's name goes up with Gretzky's, Messiers, Kurri's etc tomorrow night. Of course the other team always comes into our barn on special nights like this to spoil the party and win the game. As for the Oilers winning streak, I hope it keeps going but after Friday the Oilers go on a 4 game road trip. So much for 3 points away from a play off spot.

I'm just waking up with a cup of coffee this afternoon. At 1pm I'll be calling to set up a appointment to get some insulin. I hope I can get a couple of boxes to last me for a couple of months. I'll be doing that before I leave out of here today.

Now for a bit of This n' that: I'll be at the late job today from 4:30-9:30pm. I still get 5 hours in. I'm scheduling Friday off because I've been working steady since last Wednesday. That's Anne's suggestion, not mine. Then I'm in Saturday and Sunday for the full day and Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at the other place. They have their office Christmas party Monday. I'm considering another part time job from say 10-2pm during the week but I don't want commission. The other 2 jobs would be just to cover my domestic expenses. The 10-22 job would just be for myself. I'd do this only until pension. Anyway, that's all for now.

Its not very often that I give up on a

book I'm reading but "Back to the moon" wasn't doing anything for me, sorry. After a couple of years of reading "Horus Heresy", what can I say? I was spoiled. I'll return to the book "Back to the moon", eventually. Its just not on my reading radar at the moment. For that matter, I'm a little burned out from reading Warhammer 40K. I'll still buy the books. So, I thought I'd try for something a little different: A John Scalzi book. I've got a few of his books on my shelf. I thought I'd try his first novel "Agent to the Stars." I'm reading along and its got a few good things going for it already; first person point of view. That's always a plus for me. Its got some comedy :) Moving forward it looks like a good yarn. It'll keep me going far into January. He's got a few more books in the first person point of view. "Old mans war" looks interesting as well. There's also a few Robert J. Sawyer books I need to get to for 2016. So, I can take a break for a few years from reading Warhammer 40K. Like I said, I'll still buy the books and all.

Switching gears here, I've watched a few episodes of "Ring of Honor" (RoH) wrestling lately. I was really impressed with what I saw in last weeks recorded to pvr show. I really liked the fast pace of the "Television championship" match. It was really good and fun to watch. I'll be watching RoH on a more regular basis. I like how the announcer table is right up against the ring. Very old school and reminds me of the old Stampede wrestling in the '80's. Anne's recording this for me every week so I can watch it Sunday nights. 

I sent out a resume last night. I'm not trying to replace my job. I just need something that will keep me going during times like this. I've been without a income for the 3rd week this month and its bugging me. I got one cheque last Friday. I don't want to be caught without any income for summer 2016. When I get something part time I'd like to go 3 days at the new job and 3 at my current job type of a situation. If there's a month without work at my current job I'd like to have the option of pick up hours at the other job. Most people in the market research industry, working in a call centre do this. 

Tonight its wrestling and Oilers road hockey. Tomorrow I'm out at lodge for the evening as our lodge and another lodge are holding a joint degree. Wednesday night is another Oiler game. To decide the CFL West yesterday, we hosted the Calgary Stampeders at Commonwealth stadium to a 31-45 decision. In other words we're going to meet Ottawa at Winnipeg for the Grey Cup. First time since 2005. 

One thing about this downturn in the economy is we're getting a lot more faces out to lodge. Brothers I haven't seen in awhile are showing up, which is good for us bad for them I'm sorry to say. Thursday (where I work) we're having a staff Christmas party early because the office is expected to get busy from here on in. I'm hoping at the Christmas party we're going to get news of the upcoming project. Other then that, not a lot going on. Anyway, that's all for now.

It was on this weekend

27 years ago was "black Friday." It was when Edmonton got hit by a F5 tornado that killed 27 people and injured about 300 people. It was the first F5 tornado in Canadian history. A YouTube search of Edmonton tornado, will provide some video of the event.

The Edmonton downtown arena project is coming along nicely. They are pouring concrete and moving forward n the projects development. There seems to be some activity today. By this time next year the Metro line lrt station wont be visible.

Yesterday we boarded the train to the University and got our bus to Royal pizza. I brought pop with me. Anne brought the little Rush Phillips player she bought me in 2006. I think the pizza outing was a pretext for her to go the store "No Frills" in the same shopping centre complex but while waiting for her and our pizza they had the "big screen" TV on with the Riders/Red blacks CFL game on. In the first quarter the score was something like 17-0 Riders. I had ice cream on my mind after the pizza but the waitress didn't know where a Dairy Queen was. After pizza we worked our way across the parking lot area and to the corner of 104/82nd. The press of people way too many. Then I realized: "Heritage days." Then Anne pointed across across the street on the corner "Dairy Queen." I'm surprised I didn't see it but our bus was coming and I just wanted to get out of this heat and home. At various points of the outing due to the heat our patience with each other was causing some stress between us. Anne had her music player on in the train there and back and I couldn't talk to her during the whole trip "I can hear you", she's raising her voice a couple of decibels louder above the music talking about my personal life, my job by name and my medical issues in around a lot of people. Sure they're not listening but it makes me feel uncomfortable. That was pissing me off. We're ok now but throughout the whole experience yesterday, I realized it was just the heat of the day. Anne blew up at me again before bed but apologized. I don't do Summer heat very well. I prefer winter -18-+18. Anywhere in there is ok by me. At the moment its +25 but feels like +31. That's a bit more bearable. I like Summer and the odd hot day I can tolerate but not for days on end.  

Out of the whole day yesterday I was able to have Anne take a couple of really nice photos of me in my Esks CFL hat, wearing my green and gold. I'm using that for my blog as I'm updating it yet again. Not much going on for today just trying to enjoy the weekend. Anyway, that's all for now.

Our artic vortex is whats causing this cold snap all over the prairies

with wind chills like -38 here in Edmonton. This morning it's going to be -40! I was bundled up and I didn't feel it that bad yesterday morning.

Saturday morning I had my Tim's breakfast and had a good start to the shift, except a minor error on my part. It was about the last hour of the shift when the error was made. The way I'm screwing up there, I'd be surprised if I'm still there by the end of the week. I'm not going to worry about it. I've got a weekly classified street paper here, and there are a lot of call centre jobs that pay $18/$22 plus I have AW as well. Despite the error I made I still had a killer day. I've got some phone calls to make Monday. Just think James, 3 more years.

Even though it was -24/35 out there when we left the office, it wasn't that bad heading towards Corona station with a colleague just after 6pm. The Sun was just going down and still light outside. I caught my train home. 

In my email I got a quote about replacing my iPad glass and the repair kit costs $200. They don't have any kits in stock but have some on order. It's not a must have item at the moment but I know the glass can be replaced and the price is reasonable.

Anne had chilli slow cooking in the crock pot and for desert pumpkin pie and whipped cream. Very good as we were watching the news. 

It's a very tense situation going on over there in the Ukraine. I just hope calmer heads prevail.

I got my casual Lodge meeting at 7pm tonight, which means I'll be leaving out of here about 6pm or and I might even get a ride. I'll try and negotiate a ride first. That way I can get a Tim's coffee on the way in. I have keys to the building so it won't be too bad. Anyway, that's all for now.

When my lower back is soar this is a signal saying ok

its time to get out of bed.

I'm up for a few hours so it's time to put a blog post together, it's my favorite day of the week. Plus it's a new  month. So lets get started. 

At the moment it's about -27/34 It's a cold one. The good news is by this time next weekend, it's going to be about -3 or -5 in that range. My morning commute in about 5.5 hours is going to be a cold one. At 9am I'm on my bus to Clareview and into Tim's for a bit of breakfast. It's a chance for me to wake up check on my email on their wifi and then that long 800 foot walk or so to the Financial building. The wind chill is going to go right up my arse all the way. I've got a full day of 7.5 hours, then home. 

I'm looking at several call centre jobs to fill up hours from 11-4. I've got phone numbers I'm calling Monday, so if I get sent home, I'll have something other then my savings to land on.

With any luck at all I might end up getting home by about 7pm have a nap and settle in with a cold beer and watch the Oiler game. Win or lose should be a good time. Anyway, that's all for today.