We're in the middle of

a heat wave here in Edmonton and most of the province.

We're prbably going to max out @ +33°C this evening. All windows are closed to keep the hot air out. Most fans are on including AC. We got the labour day weekend like this. Speaking of weather, we didn't get our first snow until Sunday November 24th. I believe this late season snowfall cotributed to our heavy wildfire season.

The largest mass balloon release --a staggering 1,592,744 balloons-- was staged by Disney Home Video in Wilts, UK on August 27, 1994.

Doesn't look like we're going to have an EA° in lodge next week. I'm in for an easy night. Just doing my music. That's about it. Anyway, that's all for now.

Wrestlemania Saturday

is wraped up and over. I really enoyed it. The last match was a jaw dropping came out of left field moment. It was a Holy fuck moment😲

I'm getting a lift at noon tomorrow to Chapter to do my rehersale introduction for Thursday. I have it mostly memorized. I have the music loaded and ready to go. I just need to charge my speaker. The music is part of the practice as well. The practice starts at 1pm

After that Wrestlemania Sunday. That is going to be eepic as well. The best part of all that is, the Oilers/Kings game (round one) is holiday Monday. It's a late game so I'll be watching most of Monday night raw weekend fall out. It's turning out to be a fantastic weekend. Anyway, that's all for now.

Not much going on this week

as our heat wave is more or less over. I don't do well in We're back in the low 20s and even high teens. Still pretty dry out there. 

This Saturday morning I'd like to head out to Highlands Hall. At Highlands there is a Canadian Rite lodge I'd like to visit while the weather is good. This would be my first time at "Ye old Craft" lodge. I'd be up at 7am dress and gather stuff to be outside for the first Saturday bus @ ~ 8:15am. It's one bus ride there and back and they tyle at 9am. Feative board could be brunch. If I knew about this lodge back in 2002, I'd have attended it instead because I could get there and back on my own without asking for a ride home because the bus service stops at 9:30pm. 

Today I have my favorite You Tube live stream on at 2:20pm. "Rise of Dark Leela." After that stream, Jade Starr has a good show once in awhile as well to check out. After that, lunch about 5pm. Then in and out of Monday night Raw for the rest of the night. Anyway, that's all for now.

Tomorrow I'm off to

Northgate to get my CVI tested and the proper calibration for my compression stockings. Then it's off to get a bite to eat and home. That's my big outing this week🤣

My YouTube channel subscriber count is trending upwards. I'm trying to get to 200 subscribers by the end of the year. I'm at 124. 76 more to go. I'm uploading 3 times a week. now.

The video above is something I put together using launchpad.

I don't have anything going on other than my outing tomorrow this week. Next week I'd like to attend the celebration of life for a brother from our lodge that passed away in January. Then the Saturday after that is the lodge BBQ. Anyway, that's all for now.

I'm having a good fathers day

Sunday. We're not much for going out doing the family thing, other than going out to eat but we did that last Thursday. I did watch a couple of hour-long streams earlier.

I uploaded my latest video. Just go to my channel to watch it if you want. The link to my channel is in the top left icon of this blog. My channel is sitting at 114 subscribers. I'm uploading 2 video's a month on average. 

I'm having trouble though getting a Giff (animation) file image to mask (transparent) to add a bit of spice to my uploads. I've got one source but they won't accept that file type. They will for MP4. Maybe that's what I need to ask. 

Not much going on this week. I'm watching hockey and I have a breakfast gathering Saturday morning. Basically, that's about it. Not much going on. I've got a couple of chats with the same person this week. Anyway, that's all for now.

Last Thursday I went and got my

Covid 3rd dose "Booster" shot as it's called. The Booster is in reaction to the Omicron variant. The difference this round is I got the shot at the Pharmacy in Franco's strip mall Hermitage and 50th street. Same type Phizer, which according to a presser, "completely naturalizes". the Omicron variant. The shot didn't cost me anything. 

Anne and I had a nice Christmas. Late Christmas evening we had her Christmas turkey dinner. I enjoyed it. We usually exchange gifts on Christmas eve after Anne returns from mass but Covid changed that for many. Anne told me that her sister Donna in Winnipeg, separated the unvaccinated from the vaccinated so mass can be enjoyed by all. Our family is Anglican but I've never known mom or dad to participate in anything like church. If they did, it would be St. Lawrence by Parkland school. No doubt their last participation would have been when my younger brother was baptized

The James Web space telescope was launched Christmas morning as it's on its way to the L2 point 1.5 million miles away from earth. It should reach that point 29 days since launch. After a bunch of tests. We should see early images sometime in June.

As for yours truly, I'm trying out a new font. This doesn't look like Comic Sans. This week is the last week of the year. It's been a heck of a year, what with Anne causing a small kitchen fire, in July and us moving into Wyndham crossing next door, yeesh. The good news is there was no loss of my income in 2021. That could be a good or bad thing. Won't know until August. About tax time, I might need to work 3 days a week. This week I've got to call Walmart today, and Healthcare solutions. I'm about to have another track uploaded to Jim Shannon on sounds this week. Not much going on other than that. I'm still active on  FacebookThis might be my last post for 2021. I'll be back in the New Year. Happy New Year everyone. Anyway, that's all for now.

Monday I received my 2nd dose

 of Pfizer. I had the say off but i probably could have worked the shift. I really hadn't experienced any side effects. It doesn't mean that I still can get Covid, it just means i've got another tool in the tool box to fight against it.

I alsmost bought the Sony Zv-1 Vlogging camera. At $800 Canadain it was a good deal, However I would need a few accesories, like the tripod and the Rode wireless go mic. I like the Sony because it can shoot in 4k and has a recording time of 70 minutes. Once all the accesories are bought, the camera will cost as much as my computer a few years ago.

I've still got hours for this week. Not sure when the project will end as its still up in the air. 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. 

I'm posting more video's now to my

you tube channel then before. That's one good thing about lockdown but at least phase one of Alberta's economy is opening.  So, I'm just making beats, having a good time. 

Hard to believe that it was 30 years ago Sunday that the Edmonton Oilers won their 5th Stanley cup in 7 years. I don't have my 1990 diary handy but most likely I was working that night. Speaking  about the NHL there is some talk that the NHL could resume play this summer. There's a lot of moving parts here. Something about Hub cities and a 12 team/conference to either finish off the 11 games remaining, or just start the playoffs. I'd like to see 3 on 3 hockey. Not sure how that would play out though.

Still no word about work. I think we're shut down for the summer until October or so. Other then my once around the block walk, most of my time is at the computer. Anyway, that's all for now.

We're having a snow day out there

but at least its mild enough for my commute in a couple of hours.

Even coming home tonight should be alright. Hard to believe that within 27 days Edmonton Sunsets about 7:25pm. Although the snow will still be on the ground, our cold snaps 
will be more or less behind us.

My activity tracker on my iPod has been sketchy lately. Some days are better then others. On a good day, I'm lucky I can get ~ 4k steps. Others like yesterday about 700. At the festive board bar the other day the guy there showed me his activity tracker on his phone: For that day 36,000 steps 😲? his job requires lots of walking. Plus he has a wrist activity tracker connected to his phone. Heck if I had one of those and a set up like his when I was working at the Army & Navy in the 80's, I'd have at least that many steps. Plus I had the paper route at the time as well.

I had a great 4 days off there. The wife and I were fighting for a bit in there, but that happens. I was able to lay the groundwork for a bit of a drum & bass track. Its just a short track but its going to have a trumpet as its main melody. I'm working on it when I get home this evening. Its in the C Major scale.

I should have enough work this week to last me up until Friday. This weekend being Valentines and Family day next Monday. I'm hoping to take Anne out for brunch at Albert's Londonderry mall. Anyway, that's all for now.

My dental visit wasn't that bad

and I had 3 needles and 5 teeth removed! The bad news is that my insurance will only cover a upper denture 5 more extractions, but not the lower partial or fillings. However we have a plan for that moving forward. I was surprised that other then the 3 needles (and they were less then a mosquito bite) I felt no pain. I felt pressure but that wasn't bad. I have 5 more teeth to be extracted in 2 weeks. After that its just impressions and then 2 weeks after that, fittings. I should have a denture and partial by the end of November. Thank you Alberta Government 😃

Although its only 5 out there, I had my sweater on open window and I felt pretty good in here. Because its the first day of fall, we're down to single digit temperatures here in the Capital city. Our Sun sets now about 7:30pm.

Speaking about weather and climate change, I have to give a nod to the poster Gretta girl that has galvanized a world wide movement. I'm kind of on the fence on this issue. There are some environmental issues I sympathize with like plastics in the ocean, over fishing, landfill diversion. Those kinds of issues I feel more strongly about then climate change.  

I got something going on for later today but I don't want to mention anything until I know for sure, but it looks good. I decided that until I get my dental work paid up I'm not buying anything major, like the Nintendo Switch. Looks like this is going to be a good week. Anyway, that's all for now.

Its been my experience that

anything can happen in life at anytime. I'm blessed with having a good life, even though its been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. When I get sad or lonely, I think about all that God has given me. I have regrets, yes. I think we all do but in the end at my age I'm in a good place. 

I finally have Streamlabs OBS more or less sorted out. How I got this far, I have no idea but at least its working for me. I want to put up a live stream today but at the same time I've got a phone call to make with Alberta seniors. Plus I want to get out there and do my 2k walk. I might have to do the live stream tomorrow. Or do 4k Saturday, idk. We'll see. 

Weather wise, we've been getting a nice mix of rain and sun for all of June and the trend continues into July. Most likely thought its going to get warm in August. Just as long as we  fon't get the smoke like we've had last year in August. The smoke got so thick it looked like LA smog in the 1970's.  Anyway, that's all for now. 

Folks in most parts along the Eastern

seaboard, Maritimes, New York, Boston Washington and all the rest are in the grip of a massive cold weather front. I heard wind chill reports of -40 in some places, been there done that. They're getting snow in Florida. Meanwhile we're basking in the pleasant temperature of  +4*, it feels like Spring out there. Its a reprieve from last weeks -28/32 wind chill and the das are getting longer. I hope everyone is hunkering down doing the best they can.

Finally I'm back to work on Monday. I've been off work for 6 weeks now. The bills are covered and that's the main thing. I put a couple of jams together on my You Tube channel, watched a lot of hockey, played with some of my recent apps, lots of reading. I'm back this week at least, Monday through Friday. I'll know next week's schedule Friday. If there is one. A photo coming in soon :-)

Today, I'm taking it easy, watching the Oilers in Dallas in about half an hour. At the moment I'm enjoying the old sip of the coffee, and writing this blog. Anyway, that's all for now.

Here I am with the I'm so old jokes......

Ok I'm so old, I've seen Bell bottom pants come in and out of style 3 times. For more old age jokes you can go here but when I heard that men's chokers are back in style, I thought here we go again. I thought men's chokers went out in the early 1980's? Sigh....

On Coast this morning the topic was space exploration. They talked about dead satellites in earth orbit, many of them risk colliding into each other. Kind of reminds me of a artificial asteroid belt. Even the space station apparently has pot marks all over it due to space debris, some the size of a corn flake whipping around up there. When its time where this space junk loses orbit, most of the smaller pieces burn up in orbit. If ever there is a asteroid on collision course with earth, our space junk will probably slow it down

Its a day off today. The idea was to go out to pcn and my Doctors. I'm at my pcn January 12th. I'll be setting up a Doctors appointment for next week. I'm down to the last 4 Coversyl pills, so I'll try and get a to the pharmacy on my way home from lodge to take a blood pressure reading. I'll be leaving out of here at 6pm for Highlands Hall. My wife has a few 3 hour shifts and I'll be 5 hours Friday and I hope a full day on Saturday. Anything can happen with market research. I hope I'll have a full week next week. If I can get past this month and I have the other job confirmed, great. We'll see how it goes. Anyway, that's all for now.

Earlier this morning I finally got a chance to

play with the iPad on a more or less full charge. First thing I did was play around with Samplr. I got the camera angle figured out to record the iPad screen, and when I'm ready to record the audio, Audioshare will be recording the audio in the background. Then the video gets synced up with the audio in something like iMovie. I hope to have a video uploaded to my music channel (see pages above) on Friday. Remembrance Day. I'd love to get a audio recorder. I'm looking at the Zoom H2, not the cheap one.

Another beautiful day is shaping up out there under blue skies. Now that we're in Daylight savings mode its going to be dark at about 5pm. So its going to be nice heading into my Southside job today. I enjoy the lrt commute on the train, as it gives me a chance to wake up, then I catch the #52 bus at Southgate, and if there's time, I'll buy a Blackjack ticket, or get one at the Redimart at Clareview. Well see. I'll most likely be at the Southside job for the balance of the week.

The Oilers won 2 weekend road games back-to-back, wow. They go into Pittsburgh tomorrow for a 5pm game. There's been a bit of hype generated over this game because of the McDavid/Crosby match up. I'll be at work when the game is underway but my neighbor in the cubical next to me usually gives me the scores on her phone when I ask. Next year I hope to have my own cell phone with a data plan. I'm getting tired of always asking: "what's the score on the Oilers game?" etc. Right now the Oilers are in second place in the Western conference with almost identical records with the Chicago Blackhawks, except their plus minus is better then ours. Looks like we'll be (I hope) chasing these guys for the balance of this campaign. On another sports note, Our CFL Eskimo's blew out the Argos Friday night here at Commonwealth. Ricky Ray's last CFL game? The score was 41-17 for Edmonton in the last regular season. Twenty weeks went by so fast. We now represent the East thanks to the crossover format. This last weekend was a great day for Edmonton sports fans. This CFL season had its controversy with our head coach Jason Mass. The league fined coach Mass with a $15,000 hit to his wallet due to not complying with his mic not being on. This time he obeyed the ruling. The ruling didn't say when the mic had to be on. So instead of calling the plays with the mic on he turned the mic on and said stuff like "Good job, here" and "Good job there," type thing. Its a stupid rule. But the way the plays were called that last time there was a lot of technical chatter, "Alpha, to Beta, run wide, copy," Sounds like air traffic controller jargon then football plays.  

So tomorrow is the big election day in the US. Personally, I'll be glad when its all over. Whoever gets in wont matter too much to my bottom line. They'll be one term Presidents. If I was a US citizen, I'd probably be a Republican but not with Trump. I was hoping Jeb Bush would get in. Bush kind of reminds me of Premier Brad Wall of Saskatchewan. Anyway, that's all for now.

Still plugging away here

as its mostly overcast out there at about 18. Not much going on today. No football. So I'm taking it easy, working on a track in my daw, checking my email, reading, that type of thing. Anne's making us her traditional Sunday brunch later. I'm sitting here with my first coffee. Pretty basic stuff.

I've had the Alberta Health benefits contact details on my iPod Touch for quite awhile now. This last Spring, I've been waiting for our notice of assessment (what the feds send at tax time) which is a summary of combined taxable income. The noa is a accurate account of income filed each year by revenue Canada. I was waiting for that, and time off before I began to file for Adult health benefits, and a year to date printout of our bank statements. Last year when I did this I was working, and my only way to get this to the program was to fax my bank statements. The fax machine I was using at employabilities was brand new, and I don't think they were  comfortable working with it. Since I was getting insulin anyway from my pcn, I figured at the time I'd just wait until next Spring. No rush. Also, I didn't know prior to that I can access the program with bank statements year to date. The program is based on income and last year we certainly qualify. Now that I have time off, and rather then fax stuff to the program I can just drop it off in person to the reception counter. Once I have the location of course. My work schedule at the time prevented me from doing this. Next week I hope to have some full time hours for a few weeks anyway.

The other day on local news there was a story about the Valley line lrt. A "spokes person" from the program saying that they are on schedule. There's a lot of road closures due to preliminary work but they hope to have a work schedule posted within the next 4-6 weeks with a target date for 2020. Ahh, now the Sun is trying to come out. Boots seems to be enjoying himself. Anyway, that's all from me for now.

I slept ok up until about 9:30 this morning but after that

my rls got in the way. I think I got 5 hours of sleep, and I'm ok with that. At 9:30 it was time to feed the cats anyway. When rls gets in the way, sleep comes slow. I have my first coffee and I'm ready to take on the day. I got out of bed by 11:30.

I didn't think it would happen but the impossible, did. I'm referring to the UK referendum this week, leave or remain part of the EU. The decision was made: Leave. David Cameron resigns to take over the duties of phasing out of the EU. The markets reacted of course. Cameron will remain as Prime Minister, until the fall. I'm still in shock.

Its slightly overcast out there. C2e is still struggling with some real old vB code for the new upgrade. I've got week 1 of the Red black/Esks game tomorrow. I missed the Argo's game as that was on last night. I'm out of here in a couple of hours to go get my cheque. Not much going on. Anyway, that's all for now.

Not that the boss could confirm but just from what I could see

after loging in and out last night there is work coming up. I'm to call Tuesday, and he might have a more definitive answer for me then. I was surprised on my pay, and I felt good heading back home stopping off briefly at Audrey's. I let the them know I'd be picking my book up at the end of the month. They're ok with that. Always have been. 

Mr. Hockey aka Gordie Howe past away. I got the news in my email today. Gordie Howe was a bit before my time and many consider him the greatest that ever played the game of NHL hockey. Making his NHL debut for Detroit on Oct. 16, 1946, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Howe played 32 professional hockey seasons, more than any other man. He also was the oldest player to score in the NHL and made hockey a family affair when he skated with sons Mark and Marty. I never met the man but his post death accolades obviously are significant to the hockey world. He passed away at the age of 88.

On local news last night there's a scam going around, how some scammers are claiming to be from Canada Revenue Agency. They call unsuspecting people claiming they are from the CRA, and that they owe a specific amount of money. They bully and harass their victims over the phone even threaten them that if they don't pay up with iTunes gift cards, they will be arrested. From this Global report: “We are currently investigating a file where a woman was convinced she owed the CRA $22,000. The woman visited two grocery stores and purchased $10,000 worth of iTunes gift cards at the first location and then purchased and additional $12,000 in iTunes gift cards at the second location. The woman then sent photos of the cards to the scammers.” The Canada Revenue Agency doesn't make phone calls to their clients nor ask people to pay up using iTunes gift cards or requests prepaid credit cards. My first clue something was wrong would have been iTunes gift cards? 

Well, it looks like I have a few more days off but I'm hoping to get back to work this week. Its still a pay period and I could use as many hours as possible. So I hope there's something sooner then later. I'm still going to followup on plan B on Monday. I'm not risking anything to chance. Anyway, that's all for now.

I'm cutting back on my intake of

diet Cola. I'll drink a bit with meals, that sort of thing but in between meals and even at work, its Crystal light. Anne puts 2 in a picture, which is one liter of cola. The important thing here is more water less sugar pop=less weight. I hope. We hope to qualify for a rec centre pass as we mentioned last week. I'm hoping for the summer off so I can set up getting my teeth done and make some appointments use the rec centre and lose weight. 

In my sleep I had this dream about Scientology. It had something to do with a book I discovered at a bus stop and this girl comes running up to me, "Oh there it is," reaching out to secure the book from me, "I thought I had lost my book, thank you so much..can I buy you a coffee as a reward?" Inwardly I rolled my eyes. In my dream she was a nice put together package. She had a car nearby. There were a few fragments of dream here. "I was waiting for a friend off the bus, but I think I found another." She smiled as we walked to her car and "accidentally" dropped her book and bent over to slowly pick it up her book, giving me a good look. "I hope I'm not detaining you from somewhere. I can give you a lift if you like?" Feeling adventurous: "I'm on my way into work," I explain the address."Oh there's a coffee place there across the street. We can talk and I'll make sure you get to work on time." We're drinking coffee and she tells me her life's story (dream fragments) She gives me her card and I slip it into my pocket without looking. "Call me. I'm free Saturday afternoon. Maybe we can party together?" I'm thinking wuwho,doing a left arm fist pump. During my break in the dream I call the phone number and its not in service. Ok, off to the store next door for something ( I for get what it was) Walking to the office door I see her parked car across the street. Maybe she lives in that apartment building. It's only 6:30. (dream fragments) I stop to see her get out of the car hurry to the sidewalk and rush to the bus shelter across the street. There's a woman in the bus shelter. I couldn't see much in between breaks in the traffic. What I did see to close out the dream was the Scientologist and her new friend heading towards her car and driving off into obscurity. I pulled out her card and in fine print under her name it read "recruitment officer" no name. Most dreams are weird but I never had one about Scientology before. I flirted with them here in Edmonton in 1980, briefly taking their "personality" course. Scientology made local news here when the group known as "Anonymous" surfaced and "began attacking" Scientology in 2008. Since then Scientology has located themselves in a industrial park somewhere in NW Edmonton. 

Its a beautiful day out there for a change as we close out April and move into May. I'm enjoying my first coffee of the day and I'm in for another 4 hours tonight. I hope my first job will call me back between now and Friday, anyway, that's all for now.  

Happy Winter

solstice everyone. Or rather on the eve of it. Apparently Solstice begins something like 11:52pm tonight. Its the shortest day of the year. The Druid's at Stonehenge come out and draw crowds each year. In light of whats going on  in the world, I hope security is tight on Salisbury plain today.

The Oilers are entertaining the Winnipeg Jets tonight at Rexall place. We need a win before we go back on the road for another 2 games. Even from the early beginning I never expected the Oilers to make the playoffs this season (2016). If they can get the 10th or 9th spot, I'd be happy with that. They can still get there when McDavid comes back. 

I might not get most of the game but follow the score results on my way home and I'll get the 3rd period and Monday night Raw encore show. Speaking of wrestling, I asked Anne to record both TNA and Ring of Honor wrestling so I can watch them Sunday afternoons. Today I'm in the office from 4:15pm-8:30pm. I'll get home by 9:30pm hopefully to catch whatever is left of the Jets/Oilers game. Anyway, that's all for now.