Anne and I left out of here

about 1:30pm. I had to trudge through a snow bank up the ramp here to the bus stop. They cleared the snow away here as in this photo taken about 3:40pm

I had a bit of a wait because of the blowing snow we got here. I met my wife at the train station ahead of me. I met Anne at the platform by the stairs, missing her completely before I got her attention. So we went down to Edmonton Centre. At Shoppers drug mart I got my Pro-line ticket, getting Toronto/Anaheim game on my ticket before the 3 pm deadline. I got a bag of plain chips and Anne wanted some cookies. I had a bacon cheese burger and fries as Anne had a breakfast and I had a bacon cheeseburger/fries. Anne had to go to the West End Pet Smart to get a canopy light for our aquarium tank because they didn’t have any at the Pet Smart location down the street continue on here:

So, I went home on my own after lunch and she went the other way. I was going to get my book at Coles but I thought I could always get it at Audrey’s after work, right? I got my train at Central Station and had a long 10 minute wait five minutes away from Clairview station. There were no buses waiting there so that’s when I figured I’d walk home. The snow had stopped for a bit but the snow bank just outside here was still there. All evening even while watching the Oiler game I was bringing up flem and so was Anne causing me to lose sleep. Keeping each other awake we talked about me staying home.

I figured what with the snow storm and all and it being a Monday experience has taught me that the trains would be running slow and the platforms would be packed. Not only that but the snow bank out here would be a factor and even coming home as well. Anne would be worried about her diabetic husband, so I put it all together and figured this: I haven’t had a week off since 2004 when I was in the hospital. I’m diabetic and put it all together I made a decision to call the office answering machine and left a message that I’d be in for Tuesday. I tried to sleep earlier and I did for a few hours and I got up to watch the 2011 trade deadline countdown.

Not much was happening on that department There was a minor Oiler trade but with about 30 minutes left remaining the big almost expected announcement about Dustin Penner to LA for a big D and a first round draft pick (Shenn?) I‘m actually comfortable with this trade even though I liked Penner and he wanted to play here. He‘ll be wearing jersey #25 in LA. He has a house in LA and a car so it’s a good trade. Actually there were only about 10 trades today. But if we can finish last again and get Sean Couturier (41 goals this year) this player could be the next big thing. Add him to the Sean Hamilton/Braden Shenn mix and the Oiler‘s look really good for 2012. Moving Dustin Penner to LA only helped our cause. Ok enough of hockey.

I haven’t been outside today but I’m thinking about stepping out to see if they’ve done anything as far as clearing the snow bank outside.

For a short month it

has been way to long.

I had a nice Saturday off here and just hunkered down all day. I tried looking on TCM or AMC for a movie this evening but there was nothing that I liked.

This isn’t exactly new news but I find it sad in a way that Nasa is finally going to retire the space shuttle series. There’s 2 more shuttle launches before this happens but the system will be retired by the end of the year. I hope the space elevator gets built to replace the space shuttle but I doubt that will happen in my lifetime.

I’ve never been a big fan of shooter games but “Bulletstorm” from EA looks interesting. That and “Little Big planet 2” are the 2 console games I’m looking at getting for two different platforms. I’ve been seeing reviews and promos for Lbp2 for awhile now and today X play had a special dedicated to Bulletstorm. Also, there’s the sequel to Oblivion coming out in November. After I get Cubase 6 my next tech toy is going to be the IPad (2nd gen) when it comes out only if it comes with a camera of course. I think I want to wait a bit and abandon the Itouch for the IPad or get both.

Despite the cold weather out there I suggested to Anne that we go out for brunch (if there’s no contingency buses) at Rickies in City Centre mall. it’s a very busy establishment on a weekend but we like Rickies and I can get my book on the way out and Anne can get us our bus pass for March. I also want to get my Pro-line ticket for 3 NHL games today and I‘ll update this when we come back before the Boston/Oiler game this afternoon while Anne is watching The Oscars on the other TV. Anyway, that‘s all for now.

I'm half

awake here this morning.


Not a lot going on this week. We're in a bit of a cold snap here for about another week with a bit of a break on Saturday of about -5. Then the thermometer starts climbing up.


I got a call from Audrey's yesterday saying my 3 Omnibus Hammerslamer books are in. That's got to be a special book order record. Usually it takes Audrey's suppliers 3-5 weeks from the time I place an order to the time I get the call. I only ordered the books last Friday! So, I'll go in on my way home, pick up one and then maybe treat myself at Boston's or something up here.


Tonight the Oiler's are hosting St. Louie at 6pm, so I can watch the first period on BP's big screens and maybe have a beer with my burger and fries, then head home. I'm not a heavy drinker when I'm out. I usually have 1 and then I'm done.


Even though its been a short week, I feel like its been a long one. Well, I got to go get my bath, clean up take my insulin and a bowl of cereal and dress warm to get my 8am bus then train and into the office. Anyway, that's about all for now.

That was a nice long weekend

I couldn’t sleep the last 2 hours there, so I’m up now. Sorry no graphic for the post today.

Most of the time our local media (Global) is pretty good when it covers world events. But our local media at the same time occasionally doesn’t get it right either. Yesterday we had here in Alberta something called Family day, which corresponds to presidents day in the states. Local news media through out the weekend kept making reference to Family day as something that began in 1980, when in fact it began by then Premier Don Getty because his son got into a driving accident which was influenced by cocaine. He was so torn up by this that it caused him not only to call an early election (3 years then needed) but to have a day just for families. This was in 1989, not 1980 as local news media would have us believe. Lately a lot of the Global news anchor people have been coming from other Provinces and don’t do their research properly. I‘ve also noticed the quality of the coverage slipping since Global was taken over by Shaw, it‘s gone down hill lately.

Well, that was the “Family day” long weekend. I had a nice 3 day weekend. I watched a couple of Oiler victories and a game on for tonight. Should be a good one. We’re at Minneapolis tonight at 6pm then Colorado Wednesday. Today it’s a full day. I’ll be wandering into the office at about 8:30am. The morning usually goes by fast but the afternoon drags on especially the last half hour

Last night I discovered Cubase has released their 6th edition and they’ve got an incredible suite of tools and accessories in their recent application I’m seriously thinking about getting. I was going to go for FL Studio but FL is in between things. They are in beta testing 9.8, then its going to be 9.9, 9,9 A, B etc. As soon as I buy 9, 10 will come out. I’ve tried Cubase before and I liked it. Cubase 6 is a higher end suite then FL studio. It’s kind of like in the area of Pro Tools. A Kegan version of Cubase 6 isn’t available yet but by the time it is, I’ll have the funds to get a licensed edition anyway. Anyway, work today, hockey tonight and that’s about all for now.

My first/3 days off

checking out SF signal’s site they announced that they are now have a Community. So I joined under my own name Jim Shannon. I haven’t made any contributions yet but if there’s time I will this weekend.

I got up out of bed about 1pm because I wanted to watch the Oiler/Thrasher game. Our boys were losing 2-0 but kept in the game. Right after Anne had left just as the 2nd period was about to close we scored, 2-1. They scored 3-1, Then Taylor Hall, for his 18th. Then Hall for his 19th and then Hall for his 20thand his first natural hat trick! History in the making. I’m not saying Taylor Hall is another Wayne Gretzky but he’s got the capability of being an elite player. Maybe Commissioner Gary Bettman should come out more often. Great game and I'm glad I was able to watch it and be a part of it.

Speaking of hockey, the NHL is having their Heritage Classic game this Sunday in Calgary‘s McMahon stadium. This is a bad move on the Nhl for several reasons. First there’s the trade deadline a few weeks away and the Flames are trying to make the playoffs. This is just another distraction they don’t need. Tomorrow’s outdoor game is more for the fans then it is for the player’s. The NHL should have had this game back in November.

There‘s a few good movies coming out I want to see: “Sucker punch,” “Adjustment bureau”, “Thor”, “Captain America” and Philip K dick‘s movie adaptation “UBIX not to mention “Priest.” I haven’t even seen “Tron” Legacy yet.”

Not just are there a lot of exciting movies coming up but also some games I want to get playing: I want to get a Play Station 3 so I can start playing “Little Big Planet 2” and there are a few on the PC but I need either another/new PC or an upgrade to my system.

Anne’s working tonight and it’s very cold out there. I’m glad I’m inside with the only thing I want to do for the rest of the night is read and drink some tea. And maybe listen to a few podcasts before Anne comes home.

I’m really looking at before the end of this month in getting a PS3. I can’t justify buying something like this to Anne and keeping it out in the living room because I’m not even playing anything on my Xbox but Elder Scrolls 5 is coming out in November. Plus if that’s not enough I got other Lodges I want to visit and I got that big FC part to do in April at our Lodge etc. Lots going on. This year is going to be a big year for me. Anyway, that‘s about all for now.

From yesterday and today

back from being laid up Wednesday and we're doing the circus.
It was rough going but eventually I got a sale. The regional manager from Vancouver was also there as well and apparently they were there to go over strategy for finding us another office as our lease at our present location will be up before the end of the year.


*I felt OK by going in about 8:30am I figured I would be about the only one there. Sure enough there was about half our crew there, mainly because it was Friday/payday. Jay filled in for Gerry apparently doing something with the GM so we got a break from circus and did cops. I had a great morning and got bonus money for top total and my check just after I came up from getting my 2 Proline tickets for 3 games. 1 ticket to win pays out $20 the other one reversed order, same games pays out $12. I spend $4. After work I went to my bank and over to Audrey's to get my special order and shop. I got book 2 of the Stephen Hunt's Jackelian series:


I thought I had 2 Warhammer 40k books but the other one is my 1st ever steampunk read.I also ordered the 3 Omnibus volumes of David Drakes Hammer slammer series. They were still in print. The LRT ride home was better then last night, that's for sure. I was in the apartment, half expecting Anne sitting on the couch off work having a cold but she left me dinner to heat up and a night by myself.

I had an OK day for my first day on Circus but nothing on card. I called Anne on my break and after work handed in my recap and went to Corona station so I could get home and have a chat with Neil for a ride to the Lodge. But the weather made the trip so long with all the interruptions up and down the line, a 20 minute train ride took an hour! I got home at 5:45pm. Too late to set up a ride in this weather to the lodge by Neil. Wait, he's not slated to do anything anyway. So I called Nathan and he picked me up. I forgot my Apron. The whole evening was a mess because of the low turnout but we were able to form Lodge and put 2 candidates through. I screwed up my lines in the beginning but the middle was good and messed up near the end. Yeesh. Also, there are a couple other lodges that are doing something this Saturday at the Lodge downtown. I was thinking about going in and work until noon and then head up to the Freemasons Hall and sit in on their FC degree and fellowship for later. Interesting.


I got up a bit early because I couldn't sleep. Anyway, today I'm in for the full day. I'll leave out of here at 4:30pm do my banking and head for home and the long weekend. If I feel any better I might come in for Saturday morning. We'll see. Anyway, that's about all for now.

I took an unshedualed sick day off work

Last night this virus had gotten so bad, every time I lied down to go to bed, I kept hacking and coughing.

So this went on all night and my voice got so bad, Anne suggested I take the day off so I could rest my voice and try and shake off this virus/cold. I called in and left a message on the machine at work took my insulin and went to bed. That didn’t work so I rested on the couch a few hours and took another flem removal type pill or whatever it was Anne had picked up for me. Much to my surprise I was able to sleep so I slept until about 1pm this afternoon and I feel a lot better.

Anne made me some lunch as she was watching “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” It makes her laugh. I don‘t mind it. If I had a chance to watch “Merlin“ or that, I‘d watch Merlin. But Anne had left about an hour ago and has all TV services locked out because she‘s recording “Doctor Oz.” Even if “Stargate Universe” was on right now, I wouldn’t know how to get at it.

On my plate this evening, I’m going to try and listen to the latest SF Signal Podcast featuring an interview with David Drake. I’ve never gotten around to read this author before. He’s got 4 books coming out this year. He’s well known for his “Hammer slammer” series. Some of his stuff you can still read on line. I think when I go into Audrey’s this week, I’ll be ordering all 3 volumes of the Hammer slammer series in in Omnibus format.

And finally, at last the Oiler’s won a game at Rexall place. This victory said No-way to a Dallas sweep of the Oiler’s this season. Talk about a decisive victory: 4-1. The Oiler’s seldom win decisive victories and especially at home but this one was sweet. Tomorrow while I’m at the Lodge, it’s the Habs in town. Anyway, that’s about all for now.