The weather we have now is

more like March weather. This isn't too bad. By this time next weekend, we are back to the -4 to 0 pattern. 

To recap January: It started off with my hours reduced. Then we had the dreaded bed bug inspection, which we were able to avert. Then we had that nice 2 week warming trend and then an inspection looking over us and 3 days trying to get our iPad fixed. I resolved that yesterday. On top of all that, I'm up early this morning for a full day and Sunday. I'm going to try for a day off Monday. It was Anne that suggested it. If I need it.

After work today, I'm going to indulge in a cold beer, probably at BD's (Bo Didlies) before the Oiler/Flames game and pass out on the couch and catch a bit of the game between dozing off here and there and back at it for a fill day Sunday. Anyway, that's all for now.

I had a great night last night on the

job but my blood sugar was dropping. I'm on the busy Corona station platform waiting for my train 9pm Clareview train home. It was pact as usual. All the University students At that time of night as Track 2 Clareview always has more passengers then track 1 Century Park heading South. I was lucky to find a window seat so I could doze off here and there.

I'm waiting on the 129 Northgate bus to clear out of Clareview nodding off here and there. There's that character standing at the front of the bus driver again. I pull the cord for my usual stop request. And a "Sorry." What? That character distracted the driver past my stop by about 100 feet. He let out about half a dozen of us onto windrows walking back to the lights. I was pissed off. So much so that I made a rare complaint to ETS complaint line and explained to the operator what had just happened. The bus driver is a  nice guy and all but its that distracted driving. The complaint line lady said this was something worth complaining about and asked if that was a ETS off duty driver standing there talking to the driver? I didn't know but he didn't look like that to me. If it was, the off duty guy should have known better. I wont be on that bus tonight but she took down my false name and my phone number and will put the complaint forward. Around mid December before I got off at my usual stop, I yelled out: "Thanks for distracting the driver bitch." I told that story to the complaint line operator. If the bus driver had not missed my stop obviously I would have never any reason to make a complaint. 

We have management coming in for a annual inspection of the premisses in the morning (we hope) If not by 1pm if they are not here, one of us should remain behind to go to Southgate Apple store to get our replacement iPad. Most likely that'll be me, because Anne needs to work this afternoon. "I have a day off." If I'm successful with the iPod I might just go to Bo Didlies across the street for a cold one. Although I'm having this craving for a shot of Sambucca. We'll see. Anyway, that's all for now.

Our nice over 2 week mild weather January break

is about to end this weekend. We're supposed to get temperatures of about -15, -13 for a few days and by this time next weekend, we're back in the "heat wave" again       as we're supposed to be around "0." That was this year. A far contrast from last years -25's and -30's. 

Back in the early hours of the New Millennium I was heavily involved in a online chat room called A God(s) fight. Or AGF. It got pretty lively talking, arguing and debating about religion and politics. I nicknamed myself Sebek (Egyptian crocodile god). In those days I was slowly losing interest in metaphysics. About 2001 the chat room dissolved into a message board. I go in and post a couple times/year but keep it light and say hi and promote my blog etc. AGF is now a shadow of its former self. Not much activity these days at AGF.

A drone company from Calgary, Skymatics has launched a DJI S1000 drone, to take aerial film of the Waterdale bridge and the downtown arena Wednesday's flights mark the first time a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) has been issued to a drone company by Transport Canada to conduct operations in Edmonton. The drone has to fly at least 400 feet away from a target.

I'm in the office from 5-9 tonight. We're picking up our iPad replacement Friday. Anne's buying lunch. Then I'll ride the train with her to Bay Station and I'm going to Clareview and a Northgate bus to Londonderry Mall, and into Buds for a beer and home to watch Smackdown. I'm up early Saturday morning. Anyway, that's all for now.

Apparently this was supposed to be a

4-6 hour back up to iCloud. When we got to the Apple store the guy took a look at our device and said something like" "Ok lets see how long the back up will take," Five hours? Anne was all pissed off. I thought the back up was going on Monday night. She said something about how we'll do the back up at home and they'll save our replacement iPad until Saturday. So Anne walked out on me. I lost her in the crowd so I figured I'd go to the office and check the screen to see on the screen if the new project is ready and of course use the bathroom. The supervisor said, "Good thing you showed up, here's your T4 we were going to put in the mail." That and the new project will apparently begin next week.

I caught the train home and there was Anne on the couch wondering where I went. She said what had happened with the back up was sometime last night, she took the device in her purse across the street (naturally it broke the internet connection. So she did the back up last night according to the tech's instructions. That whole thing was on her not on me or on tech support.

We also got our invoice for the iCloud upgrade on the iPad. It's $1 for 20Gb. That's a decent deal. I'm going to get another 20Gb on my iPod as well. Today I have a 4 hour shift in and out. Anyway, that's all for now.

Lots of snow coming down

right now along some parts of the East coast. So much so that Monday night Raw cancelled its live show. They're going to get about 3 feet of snow in places like New York City, Boston etc. In contrast, because of the nice mild weather we're getting here now. We might have an inch of snow and most of it has melted. It feels like spring around here but it's going to get "colder" to about -7. Yeah right. This could be the warmest February in a long time.

So, apparently our lack of sound on our iPad is because Anne dropped the iPad and cracked the glass. This was some months ago. This compromised our battery, so Apple backed everything up for us and all we need to do now is go back today and they're giving us a new iPad (same model) but we don't have to repair the cracked glass, which would otherwise cost us about $250. We also had to buy some extra cloud space as they backed our iPad up there. The cloud space is $1/month, which is pretty good and we get the new new OS8 operating system and they're going to show us how to access the cloud etc. So its a good deal.

I was also able to get 2 Warhammer 40K books out of a store gift card from last December. I got the recent Horus Heresy novel "Vengeful Spirit," and the "Bastion Wars" Omnibus. Plus we had a bite to eat at the food court. We're out of here about 2:30pm to pickup our "new" iPad and I'm home to watch some Wild/Oiler hockey tonight. Anyway, that's all for now.

Sunday would have been a good day to get out because of the weather

as temperatures climbed up to 9.2 Sunday afternoon. I was surprised to hear Anne say she ordered Royal Rumble for me. Great. I had a bag of chips lots of pop after our breakfast for the show and had a good time.

Next Saturday after work (after checking out times etc) I’m going to go to the new Clareview arena. Hopefully I can get a tour of the facilities and use the pool, hot tub and steam room. Maybe spend an hour or so. I think this would be great for Anne and I after she has her Sunday face time with her sister. I need to see my pharmacist anyway so I can get some more Insulin and maybe arrange for a free rec centre pass. I’d use it every weekend if It was free.

Earlier today I was fooling around with iMovie on my iPod Touch. It's an app that came with my iPod. It's not as good as Windows Movie Maker but for the iPod, it is what it is. I'm trying to find a way to have the iPod mic enabled so I can just have silence and over dub on top of it and add my own music etc. There are other iMovie apps that are similar to iMovie.

Later today Anne and I are heading out of here at 2pm to the Apple store at Southgate. We're having issues with our sound on our iPad and I need to find out why I can't access iTunes from my iPod. They have our Apple ID on file to set up the appointment and my email address in case we have to rebook. After that we're going to Coles Indigo to cash in on my gift card and get a bit to eat and home. Anyway, that's all for now. 

National news last night

showed something from Microsoft called HoloLens to bring augmented reality experiences to life. The technology essentially places an overlay on real environments, enabling wearers of the HoloLens to turn their living rooms into levels of the game Minecraft, for example, or let architects take clients through new constructions or scientists tour Mars. Its not quite a Star Trek Holodeck or anything and the headsets are not as cool looking as Google glass. Hololens is slated to come out around Christmas time. I haven't heard anything about pricing but my guess is probably about $500 street.

I decided against going out to Royal Rumble today only because Anne and I need to go out Monday to the Apple store at Southgate. We're having trouble with our iPad 2 sound and its a bit of a outing for us as well. I've been trying out various solutions on the web but that hasn't fixed the problem so we're going to the source.

I'm really enjoying this Facebook site "I grew up in Coquitlam." I'm in the Soupy's thread. Soupy's the name of a popular corner grocery store. Soupy's was just about the only store in Coquitlam for a large chunk of the City and pretty much was until it closed. I remember as a kid growing up in the 1960's this is where we got our Marvel comics, bubble gum cards, penny candy, just about everything. One of the contributors to this post says he is neighbors with the owners. The store in its then incarnation goes back to 1962 (possibly earlier) and even before that it was called something else. The store is empty and if you use Google maps its on the corner of Como Lake and Robinson.

Also about the group I learned that the school I used to go to Austin Height's was called Central before I went there in 1965. Austin was met with the wrecking ball in the early 1980's I believe. Before we head out Monday I'm calling my school district and ask if I can get my transcripts. That'd be really cool. Anyway, that's all for now.

Blogging is one of my

favorite things to do at the end of the day. Most likely Blogger will be up and running long after I'm dead and gone. This is my legacy. Its to let the world in the future know I'm here.

This year I didn't get too much into the NFL. I won maybe $40 with Proline and about the same with Fan Duel. I've been following this NFL "deflate gate." Its where the New England Patriot's used deflated footballs during the 1st half of the game to give them a advantage to get a Super bowl appearance. I'm wondering why hadn't the officials on the field notice the difference right away before kick-off? The Grey Cup game is next Sunday. My wife has to work that day. Go Seahawks Go!

Just saw this in Coast Zone that the Frisbee is 58 years old! The Frisbee was older then the Hula-hoop by a year. As far as I know the Frisbee never caught on as much when I first noticed the Hula hoop. It was my first day attending Mountain View in Coquitlam grade 1. I was amazed at all the kids making these strange gyrations with this plastic tube. I believe it was 1958 as I started grade 1 a year late because we were moving house that summer. I started school at 7 years old. 

So, I've got 4 days off before I go back to work Wednesday and Thursday. Both those days are only 4 hour shifts. Then I get next Friday off and 6 hours Saturday. During this time I need to get in touch with my school district to see how I can get my grade school transcripts released. The information is on microfiche I believe. I've been trying to get this done for years but life always seemed to get in the way. I think the fee is something like $10. Anyway, that's all for now.

Underway at this moment is NAMM 2015

National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows. Every year its a different city. This year NAMM 2015 is in Anaheim, California. What I like so far from NAMM this year is Roland's JD-X1 synth. The price is something I can afford. Teenage Engineering has released these cool Pocket Operators. The size of a calculator these mini step sequencers fit in the pocket and have a big sound. They sync up to each other and can sync to a daw for about $60 bucks each. They have 3 units in their line up so far.

Saudi Arabia's King abdullah bin abdulaziz al saud passed away. The SA King was instrumental in having SA increase oil productivity last fall. How this will play out when Opec meets in June will be very interesting.

If I'm not working Sunday Anne wants me to go to the WEM Scotia bank theatre, and use our scene points so I can see Royal Rumble. That sounds like a great idea. I can get a bite to eat use my Chapters/Indigo $25 gift card to buy a Warhammer 40k book. Then go to the show. Sounds like fun. 

Finally we know what's going to happen to the old Greyhound bus depot location downtown: Cinneplex (after the site is demolished) is building an adults-only multiplex theatre where patrons can reserve seats and order food and beverage from them. There's going to be a bar in there etc. Tickets might cost more then the City Centre theatres at the CC mall. Its a good fit for the EAD as the new 50 story Delta hotel will be virtual across the street from the theatre district.

So if I don't get schedule for next week in my email later today, (I can take 3 days would be an exception) then Monday I'm making a few phone calls. I'm looking to get something to fill in for a couple of days instead. I know of a few disposable type jobs I can "sign up" for. If I can get them that is. Update: I got a schedule (of sorts) I've got 4 hours Wednesday, Thursday and 10-6 on Saturday. Anyway, that's all for now.

The Metro signaling

contractor Thales is saying the Metro LRT line handover will be March 23rd. Allow for 6 weeks for training evaluation and opening date could be April 30th. It's another delay but at least this delay has a solid foundation, apparently.

So Wayne Gretzky is a Grandfather now. I remember the day he touched down here in Edmonton. It was June 13th 1978. I was in New Westminster BC at the time and I heard a lot about this guy up until I arrived in Edmonton 2 months later. The Oiler's had yet to play an NHL game. I was fortunate enough to attend one of the first Oiler training camp games before they played their first NHL game. Those were amazing years and I feel old just thinking about it.

Pest control paid us a visit about 9:45am yesterday morning. He had this bright light set up and shone it in a few places. No bed bug detection. Thank God. That would have been a lot of work for us if we had to have our place sprayed. We got a clean bill of health as it were. We have 15 years of living here, probably more then anyone else in the building. Its hard to just organize, pack up move everything around.

Despite lay offs and low oil prices, there are still a lot of projects going on around here. There is still the downtown arena district, Fox Towers, Stantec tower, Valley line lrt coming in the build phase in a few years. There's also Ultima 2, Healy ford lands, Blatchford mixed use development will be underway soon, Royal Alberta Museum, and a few others I haven't mentioned. All  that and I have just a few years before I retire anyway. By that time the economy should be back to June 2014 levels before all of that's said and done. Anyway, that's all for now.

My shift was cancelled

yesterday and this morning pest control is supposed to come in and do a spot check. Hopefully evrything will work out ok and we pass this thing.

Over the next few days I'm going to get a direct bank deposit form and make a few set up phone calls to get a telemarketing job for a few days for next week if I don't get any hours. I'll be setting up a interview and if I get that far and get a job its only until I'm called back for the big project. That's going to be either next week or first week in Feb. Usually these telemarketing jobs you get some training and they put on the pressure and your out in a few days. I'll only take the job if its paid training and if I wont have a schedule in my email for next week. If I get a schedule even if its just for 3-4 shifts, I'll be a no show for the new job and on board for my regular job.

The good thing about having the night off last night, is I got to watch the Oiler/Washington game and the Oiler's picking up the W in a shootout. That was nice to see. Especially as the NHL is about to have their all star break. They get a week off.

Pest control is coming at 9am to do the spot check. If I got no shift tomorrow I'm out of here to use the computer, fax machine phone etc to look for a telemarket job. I have a few places in mind. If I can set up an interview for Friday at least I'll have something to fall back on for next week. 

At least the weather is cooperating as we're going to be getting +4 and +5 all week. That's going to be nice to see. If this is global warming then bring it on. Anyway, that's all for now.

Heading into work Sunday

at 11am was nice and relaxing. The weather was very nice and mild holding about 0*. Very nice weather lately.

I got to Subway on the main floor of the building had a coffee and a cookie but after trying to buzz in there was no reply. So I waited for awhile inside Subway and 1 of my co workers arrived. Dave is a tech support young geek and a huge Oiler fan. We befriended each other shortly when he began working with us around September. He does tech support for a major computer company. So he began to show me this service from our mutual isp on "the go." I can have live tv streamed to my iPod touch from any hot spot. Its pretty cool. By this time next year, the city will have wifi in all lrt stations. I'd like to see wifi on all trains. It's a 10 minute commute but it would be handy to listen to Oiler games on my way home.

I thought I was going to get a full 7.5 hours, off at 8pm but I was off at 6pm. That was fine by me. I thought I did ok on the job as well. When I got home Anne had dismantled our Christmas tree and together we tackled the first half of the closet space where I had a bunch of junk stored in boxes dating back from before we got married. We had it all separated from what stays and what goes. Anne had a nice face time chat with her sister, and she had to go to Walmart for a few things and a cart to haul what we purged out to the dumpster for later.

This weekend the city opened up the new Clareview rec centre but there doesn't appear to be a Saturday evening adult swim. That's what we liked about the Eastglen when Anne had her car back in 2003. We didn't go often but it was nice to get out when we did.

When Anne returned she had a Papa John's pizza for us and that for our dinner. I answered some email and c2c (I'm envaneo) messages. We watched the evening news and that's been my Sunday. It was a decent day. 

The University of British Columbia (UBC) launched SPIDER. Its a telescope launched by a balloon some 36K for 20 days in Antarctica. SPIDER was the work of 5 different Universities. You can read more of SPIDER here.

I'm in tomorrow from 5-9, same with Tuesday. Wednesday is going to be our worst day because we're up early as pest control is going to do a spot check of our place. Hopefully we can get a bed bug clean bill of health. I've got work Thursday and I'm off Friday and Saturday. That's what it's looking like for the week. Anyway, that's about all for now.

Our land lady yesterday

morning suggested a form that lets pest control in to do a spot check. Anne and I had to sign this form on her way out. It basically says that if there is any bed bug bb traces or activity, we have to comply and let pest control do their thing. Anne keeps this place very clean. She vacuums daily, uses bb powder and monitors bb traps. Last time we did this and signed the form 2 years ago the guy from pest control gave us a clean bill of health. Hopefully that will happen again. 

Lately I've been looking at a lot of electronic music making gear and I really like Roland's AIRA music system. I don't know if they can import samples but if the can, wow. If I had the money I'd get those 4 pieces of gear and the FA 06. Some pretty cool stuff.

I'm home today but Anne want's me to go through my closet  to toss out a lot of junk over the years. I said as long as my diaries, and games stay. The rest I don't care.

Underway this morning on Coast they are talking about the art of Tattoo's. I never really thought about tattoo's and I think they look ugly on women. I get the fem thing and all but I think a tattoo on a woman makes her appear cheap. I'd never go with a woman with a tattoo.

Next week, I'm working the full day Sunday, Monday-Thursday 5-9. Work is thinning out a bit. I was told they might jump on some of Victoria's projects just to keep us here until the big 6 month project begins at the end of the month. I'll have these hours and cpp towards the rent for next month. We should be ok. Anyway, that's all for now.

This is old news by now

but Target is abandoning Canada. All 133 stores will be closed.  This has got nothing to do with oil. Target will lose $5.4 Billion dollars. Target's demise was not understanding the Canadian retail market and moving in to fast. They boasted low prices and a great selection but their sloppy management, and near empty shelves isn't just a Canadian thing. Canadian parent American stores are just the same there. Target's 17,600 Canadian employees will be getting a 16 week severance package. Liquidation of Target stock will be happening soon. I've been through a Target store a few times but I never shopped in one. Also, Sony is closing 19 Canadian stores but not as many jobs will be affected.

Today I'm going to go visit the caretaker and ask what our options are. I'm going to ask if we can do this at the end of the month because our hours are fixed for next week (which mine are) and we can figure out what our options are. Or and if we can have the empty suite across the hall or something else just to stay for ourselves and our cats. We're off all day Saturday and we can make some headway there. 

Also, I'm going to be re booking my Doctor's appointment today for next week, once we're done with this. Crisis. Then after that it's off for another 4 hours. I booked for a full availability for next week from Sunday to Saturday. Anyway, that's about all for now.

Yesterday we got this notice

under the door about bed bug inspection. Another crisis ahead. Pest control came in here in 2013, did what they had to do and gave us a clean bill of health. There is a lot of work to be done but we have the weekend to do it. 

I didn't get another lotto 6/49 free thicket. Not that I was expecting one. I knew I was pushing my luck. However because each draw is $5M that gets added on and carried over if nobody wins. I'm buying a ticket for Saturdays draw for $35M. If nobody wins Saturday that $35M gets increased to $40M and so on. If we ever won, we'd take our personal stuff, our pets to a motel, and this place can go you know what.

Yesterday the legendary Roxy theatre here in Edmonton, made National news because it burned down. I've never been in the Roxy theatre before. Lately it's used for live theatre. It was quite a landmark there since 1937. It even predates the Garneau theatre built in 1940 as one of Edmonton's oldest theatres. 

Most recently I managed to get my iPod Touch to work with Facebook. Now I'm trying to get it to work with Flikr. I need a connecting Google account to do this. Anyway, I'll be relieved when we're here in February and we can put this current crisis behind us. That's all for now.

Most kids usually attend

1 school for elementary and 1 for high school. If families don’t move that is. My 1st school was 60 Mountain view. It's still there today over 50 years ago. Then I went to Porter street, then Miller park, Austin Heights, Winslow, Sir Fredrick Banting, Centennial. As an adult I did some upgrading at Alberta Vocational College (AVC/Norquest.) and I took an English 30 course but I can't recall the name of the school. It was when dad passed away. 

I'm currently in a Facebook community called "I grew up in Coquitlam." I'm finding lots of closure as well from other adult children that went to the same schools I did. Some were different years then me, off by a year or more. Over the years I've been trying to get my school transcripts (history) but life got in the way. Now more then ever, I'm really curios because I don't have things like class photographs or yearbooks or how well I did in various subjects at school and I'd love to know these things. On this Facebook page other posters talk about various teachers and some of them might have even been my teachers. This is one of the reasons why I love Facebook.

On my way into work I got my free lottery ticket. We got some training for a new project. The boss had some left over untouched 2L diet bottles of pop left over from our staff Christmas party and offered me the last Pepsi Max, which was nice of him. I had a productive night on the job. Anne was out when I came in and only returned right when my wrestling started. What a show. Anyway, that's all for now.

I can attach a memory to every

location I've lived in during my first 10 years. We lived in South Surrey and I recall standing at the top of the stairs one night afraid of snakes. We stayed in a motel room in between houses in Surrey but the memory is to embarrassing to share. We lived in a small house in New Westminster about the area of Royal and 10th. I remember a swing on a tire. Then we moved to Howie Ave in Coquitlam that's when Dad bought me my first bike. I recall riding it to show my friend. After Howie Ave. we moved to Regan Ave between Como Lake Road and Smith, Hailey and Townley. We lived in the home that is still standing since we left it in 1971.

At least its warming up out there siting at -13. We're supposed to go up to +3 Wednesday and enjoying a warming trend after that. With any luck we might be able to be above -10 for the balance of January. For now its Sunny  with a bit of cloud here and there.

Still down memory lane here but fast forward 2015, Vancouver is hard at work installing the Evergreen line. Its a 1.4 Billion dollar Northern LRT expansion from Lougheed Mall to Port Moody and Port Coquitlam, when it gets completed in January 2016. Photos are here.

I'm leaving out of here at 3pm. I'll cash in that free 6/49 ticket at Clareview station on my way in. I'm in 4-9 so I get 5 hours including half an hour break but only paid for 4.5 hours. All week its 5-9 and Saturday (I hope) 10-6pm. Apparently. Anyway, that's all for now.

Our favorite home delivery pizza

is Horseshoe. It's a little place just behind the KFC up here just West of the Manning Shopping Centre on 137th ave. Anne suggested we order instead of her cooking supper. For sit down pizza we like Royal over there on the South Side just near the Keg or Capital Pizza where we were before 2 weeks ago. I've still got half of it left in the fridge for later.

Nothing much going on today. I'm home, reading, some computer stuff that sort of thing. Just before dinner I put up a .38 second song on JimTube. It's an instrumental composed in stand alone Maschine. I'm working on another guitar, bass and drums song before my laptop over heated. 

I checked on the free Lotto 6/49 free ticket and nobody won the $20M so it carries over for Wednesday and now it's $25M. I got another free ticket! So that's 2 free tickets from the original ticket. I can't pick my own numbers from a free ticket. It's always a quick pick. 

At 5pm there's Florida Panthers/Oiler game at Rexall at 5pm. I'll probably get up around noon, let Anne sleep. She's going to go to the truck and order a few things, start our late brunch. The hockey game will take to about 7:30-8pm. I'm in the office Monday from 4-9pm and same throughout the week except Saturday, I'm scheduling myself in for the full day. Anyway, that's about all for now. 

On my way to Clareview station

I cashed in my 6/49 ticket for a free ticket and caught my train and a bit of a wait at Rexall under heated lamps on the train platform. I had another 5 minute wait at the 118th  street inside. My #8 bus came by and I got to lodge as one of the guys had just pulled in and he ad keys.

My Friday night didn't turn out the way wanted but at least I know why now. They were waiting for my certificate to arrive and present everything all at once. According to Neil that 's not done until October. It's an honest mistake. I'm getting my apron and jewel next meeting in February. They only learned this last night from a senior member, so it was news to them.

My work schedule came in just before I left and it's not looking great. I've got hours but they're only picket hours. Luckily for us I've got another check at the end of the month to work with and that's the one that's going to pay our rent.

I got a ride home after festive board and I met Anne outside coming in from Superstore. I didn't eat at the festive board but I had a beer instead and she made me a nice late lunch. Anyway, that's all for now. 

I had a great evening

although my wife came home with bad news. Apparently they are cutting back her hours and to 2 shifts next week. They are hiring at the same time. We don't know what's going on. For all we know her shifts might be restored next week or maybe next month.

I'm off tonight for lodge. Traditionally (as far as I know) every immediate past master (ipm) usually at the time of installation receives a jewel and a ipm apron. I've seen this happen since 2002. The apron looks similar to a MM apron but with a ipm symbol and the jewel looks like a military medal hung from the suit jacket. Both signify I am an installed master. I did the work by running the lodge for one full year. I didn't get either at the time of our installation before Christmas but apparently they were ordered for me according to the last lodge master as he pretty well said as much in June but I didn't get them last meeting. I'm also thinking maybe I its because they only present the apron/medal (aj) There's also a certificate that gets presented at the end of ones ipm year and a case. Mike said in June "they're in the back." He wasn't at the last meeting. So all kinds of things are going on through my mind now. Are they doing this to put pressure on me to ask for a demitt? So I'm hoping tonight lodge presents the aj to me in traditional format. If not then I'll have some decisions to make. Do I continue on pay my lodge dues as if nothing has happened and then ask for a demitt around November and a letter of good standing and join another lodge? It's not like I don't have any options. I don't want to ask for my aj. I shouldn't have to ask for them. No ipm should ever have to ask for their aj. This is why I think somethings up. I have a few allies in the lodge by by and large, I'm not well liked because I'm not a union guy or a professional or in the trades and my disability stains the lodge in a way. Or so this is my perception. There are guys that do like me there, Neil, Nathan, John, Dan and and the new guys, and I pick up on that. If I don't get my aj, I'll quietly leave this lodge and join another. I kind of like the Saturday lodge anyway. It's not a York right lodge. But I don't want to give anything away either.

I'm really looking at ELektron's Octatrack. It's a multi sample, glitch effects machine, that can do some amazing things. its a little on the pricy side but a piece of gear I've got my eye on. Anyway that's all for now. 

Patrick Henry once said

these words or something similar: "Give me Liberty or give me death." In light of the Paris massacre yesterday like Mr. Henry I proclaim this manifesto: "Give me Liberty or give me death," to the Islamic terrorists that hate the ideals of virtue, freedom and liberty. Napoleon Bonaparte said something like, "here are only two powers in the world, saber and mind; at the end, saber is always defeated by mind." You may have dampened our spirits but you will never crush our resolve. We are not afraid. There will be a retribution. 

On a lighter note: So now the "anti Cosby' movement has revved up a notch. They are protesting Cosby's Canadian tour. What is it now 9 women have made allegations that Cosby rapped them? I lost count. Now they are blocking the doors to where Cosby is performing standing in the way of patrons to see him. These women making these allegations are as phony as a $3 bill. They say "Were, not in it for the money." Of course not but a tell all book deal wouldn't hurt much like the woman who made the allegation against Prince Andrew. Even before any law suite she's already announcing a book deal. I wonder how many of these women (gold diggers) would pass a polygraph (lie detector) or stress-strain analysis test? Probably none. These allegations remind me of the celebrate baby scandals that occurred awhile back. Its a farce.  

I removed my Jim Tube video because it was already pushing a year old now. I'm going to put a Je suis Charlie" slogan in its place. Anyway, that's all for now. 

Still on my Monday night

with a day off today. I like days like this. I wore my Britt World Wide (Amway) t shirt I picked up when I was in Minneapolis in 1997. Anne made me a great little lunch. I had a easy commute and did my job and easy commute home. Simple. 

I got home to watch Monday night Raw. That's where I've been over the last 3 hours, drinking cola with Skippy. 

Since I have nowhere to go this afternoon, I'm putting a NHL line up together for tonight's Detroit/Oiler's game. 

In other words, not a lot going on this week. We should ve out of this cold snap Friday night and into the weekend. Other then that, anyway, that's all for now.

As cold as it was

at 11am yesterday morning heading into work, it wasn't that bad. The ice that was plentiful is more or less gone in most places I need to go. The only real hazard was from Corona to the parking lot adjacent to the Matrix hotel. For the most part I didn't need to wear my cleats. 

My work day was steady. I had my first 10 minute break about 1pm and my half about 4:30 and I called Anne for a chat That reduced my shift to 3 hours. My next 10 was about 6:15. After all that and some bathroom breaks I still was able to keep my flow rate steady. 

The only regret Sunday was I couldn't make it for out lodge practice. I didn't have anything to do or say anyway. I wasn't really needed. I needed the hours.

 When I left I was exhausted and I had a headache. I shot this less then a minute clip from my iPod Touch last night about 8:30pm waiting for a Northgate bus. Anyway, I'm in from 5-9 this afternoon. It's a short and easy shift. Anyway, that's all for now.

Fifteen years is a long time to be living at

1 residence. For an apartment, especially more so. Its disturbing enough that the people below us are complaining about us being loud. Often we'd hear them fighting and the woman acting crazy high on pot or something. I tried to tell Anne I think she's religious and might have been speaking in speaking in tongues. She had no idea what that meant. These are the people that were complaining to us? Nut cases.

At the moment it's -28 but according to meteorologists it feels like -40 out there. When I head out of here, it's going to be -30 but it will feel like -42! 

My shift yesterday was long but I had a great day and by 5:45pm I was exhausted. I was glad to get home and my cleats served me well. I got home shortly before 7pm and just went on YouTube etc. Anyway, that's all for now.

It was a simple 4 hour shift

last night from 5-9. Heading into the office was ok. I found my schedule post and its (for this pay period) Yesterday (4 hours) and today 10-6pm for a full 8 hour day for just 11.5 hours. Next week I have tomorrow (Sunday) from 12-8 for a full day and Monday for 4 hours, I'm off Tuesday (I can catch the Oiler game) Wednesday I'm in for 4, Thursday same, off Friday for lodge, but in next Saturday for a full day. That's 27 hours for the 1st week in the pay period. I'm pretty sure I'm back full time after that.

Yesterday Oilers traded LW David Perron. He scored 28 goals last year but like all the othre forwards on this team, their goal production is languishing. Perron is going to a better team and into the playoffs. Oilers get 2015 first-round draft pick and centre Rob Klinkhammer. Many Oiler fans were saying the team appeared down in last nights game in Denver due to the trade. I liked Perron. I hope he gets 30 goals this season.

I've been doing lots of research into a company called Elektron. They make synths, like their Analogue Keys (AK) etc. Speaking of, which I'd love to get ak. It comes with over 500 presets and can do some amazing things. It has a on board step sequencer. If I had about $3k I'd get that and their machine drum. Cool stuff.

Speaking of music the singer Bono from U2 might have to give up playing guitar. He's got plates in his elbow and his hand has playing hand been broken. He's not known as a guitar player anyway. I'm not a fan or anything of the group but they've kept the same lineup since they started in 1976. They have 13 studio albums and 7 #1 US hits.

The street out here last night was very icy and treacherous. Time to break open the cleats once more. It's mostly for on the way home. Anne came home with some disturbing news when she went to pay on the rent yesterday. We got a warning. Apparently the people below us were complaining that we're very loud. Anne and I have been fighting a bit and she's been raising her voice at all hours. What with me being home a lot could have edged her on as well. I have a full day today, and I'm going to get some Tim's breakfast before I start. I get my half hour break and a couple of tens in there as well today so it should go fast. I have a cold beer in the fridge for tonight. Anyway, that's all for now.

Its been snowing out there since about 8pm last night

as we're at -11. That in itself isn't bad but this is like blowing snow, meaning we have a wind chill to go along with this. We could end up with 5-10 inches of snow before its all over with. At about 3pm yesterday we were at +3 as a high.

So far (unless things change) I'm in the office today 5-9. I always like to check my email before I head out. My shift has been canceled on the fly before. If by 3:45pm no email, then I'm good to go.

I'm checking out some good cpu's for under $80 and mATX motherboards for about the same. I can get a decent combo for about $150. I can get away with 16Gb Ram. I already have a graphics card that's more or less ok, and all I need is a good Tb hard drive and Windows in my current case and I'm good to go. 

I had a quiet day for New Years day. I did some email, YouTube, stuff. I read a bit and worked on my ambient type track before my laptop over heated, had a frozen thing heated up in the mic for supper. Unless things change I'm out of here shortly before 4pm. Anyway, that's about all for now.

Its a new year and I don't mind saying

I'm glad that's over with. Last was a struggle and most likely this year will be more of the same, but slower.

My objective this year is to pay my lodge dues, upgrade my computer and read more books. Most importantly keep my marriage together. I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, and make more music.

Something new for this year, my top 10 predictions for 2015:

1.) Cern will discover a new particle that will shack the world.

2.) There will be a breakthrough in the JFK case that will reopen the investigation.

3.) A nuclear bomb will be exploded by terrorists.

4.) Canada will be the first country to go cashless.

5.) Google will release the Google car.

6.) A Canadian NHL team will win the Stanley Cup.

7.) Someone from either the Rolling stones or the Beatles will die.

8.) A major disease will wipe out billions of people.

9.) A major tech application will be introduced in the same scope and impact like the Internet.

10.) Two major countries will unit.  

The above are my predictions for 2015. Some appear to be far fetched like maybe 10 and 9, but you never know. Anyway, that's all for now.