Saturday after work

(my favorite time of the week) I rode the #5 bus to Corona station with a colleague having a friendly chat. He's about the same age as me. I wasn't about to hang around downtown too much as there's nothing to do anyway after 6pm. Now that baseball season is here in Edmonton I might check out a Prospects game at Telus field. The tickets are $20 for the bbq area. A burger and a adult beverage on a hot Saturday after work, sounds like a good idea.

In my email when I got home last night shortly after 7pm our lodge secretary sent a email notice about practice, tonight. I called our WM and he opened with "sounds like you have the same cold my wife has." So I said I'll be at lodge. Sorry about missing tonight's practice. 

Last night we got some badly needed rain. It was actually teaming rain about 3am. It felt good. With that and the sleeping pill I had a good 9.5 hours of sleep. I'm just working on my first coffee. Birds are chirping outside. Its a beautiful sunny day.

Tomorrow is very busy. I've got to run down to get a bank statement, meet with the caretaker to find out what's going on with us here and then I've got to head into work. I want to pop into Audrey's and pick up my book and into the job. Anyway, that's all for now.

Every movement

I made heading into work Friday was slow going but I felt better. I was able to find a bit of time to read but I wasn't into it as much as I wanted. 

For the first part of the shift, about 4 of us in the lunch room were folding letters. Then we did reminder calls. I worked until 8:30pm. I lost an hour because there was nothing for us me to do because I wasn't trained on the project currently under way. I didn't mind so much. After I filled my time sheet and checked my hours my bus came by shortly before 9pm. I did my banking and caught the train at Central and home.  

When I got home, I checked my email and Audrey's emailed me a copy of a invoice saying my Warhammer 40K Hours Heresy book was in. Book #30, so I'll be picking this up Monday on my way into work. As for today, its a full day of it. All I'm doing after work is going home to watch whats left of the Chicago/Ducks game #7 and pass out.

When I get a cold virus it

usually begins with a soar throat and then ramps up to a full scale cold. Now I've got phlegm and coughing attacks. I went through a whole package of Halls cough drops in one evening. All this and I have my X-ray to go to in about 5 hours. Plus I have a 5.5 hour shift. What bugs me is that this is the 2nd cold I've had within the last 2 months. I got this from a colleague that sits in the cubicle beside me. Lots of people have this. 

One of the scariest things going on now is swatting. This is where telephone hackers hack into someones phone and call 911. In this case in a Toronto neighborhood the hacker called Police saying a man inside has an assault rifle and shooting people. Authorities can probably track these crank calls through an isp. Its one of the latest and scariest things going on. There was a high profile case before this where a teen made numerous fake 911 calls all over North America. He was caught and is facing serious charges. You can read more about it here.

I decided to meet Anne at Bay station after work and I noticed this lrt train running with dimmer lights. It said "not in Service." So this is the Metro line official testing Connect 2 Edmonton has been talking about recently. I've been waiting to see these trains for a couple of days now. Its a positive step forward for a soft opening date. The Mayor hasn't said anything official yet. Most likely it will be a photo op with the new NDP premier at a press confernece and a chance to plug valley line and remind the Province of its previous commitments.  

Anyway, I'm going back to bed and try and sleep. Maybe if I turn the fan off, it might make a difference, I don' t know.  on a side note before bed, it began to rain on the way home last night. Even though it was a light rain, hopefully more to follow but not on my trip to the X-ray in a few hours. Anyway, that's all for now.

The month of May around these parts is

traditionally dry. We desperately need rain and yet in Houston Texas, they've been having massive amounts of flooding. Our rainy season usually is in June. We could certainly use some rain now.

In March when I was unemployed I  had time on my hands and I didn't know how much, or when. I made a appointment at my PCN for some sort of exercise strategy for my diabetes. As I got this current job I knew this was in the back of my mind. They called yesterday Anne said while I was a t work. Now I've got to call and cancel. 

I've got more info about the downtown library Makerspace. Yes the have a video camera. They have Mac and PC and even have some beat boxes. I've got a phone number to call as I'd like to have a look around and check it out. On the Mac's they are running Ableton Live 9. Adobe edition. I'm not to interested about making music with the computer as I am more electronic instruments. I can see hooking up a Volca (they might even have some there) I don't know if they have a mixer but that's why I'm calling them later. Anyway, that's all for now.

Before I leave out of here on my commute

I need to pop into the caretaker and let her know what's happening. I probably should have kept quiet about this this thing because for all they knew I was registered. 
 
I'm looking forward to when I'm on full pension. It doesn't mean I'll be retiring. Not many can do that these days anymore. What it does mean is I might be able to work 5 days/week instead of 6 and instead 4-9:30, I can work 5-9 and have some pocket money. Most likely the landlord will take the balance of my pension. There are a lot of older people at my place of work, and one lady befriended me. We were talking in the lunchroom on my half hour break Saturday. She was saying her and her husband (he also works there) said she had been on Old Age Security (oas) for just a few months and their rent went up $300. I didn't put 2 and 2 together until hours later that she got a rent increase as soon as her landlord knew she was 65. She was also telling me that its Blue Cross that administers the seniors health benefits through the Alberta Government. because I'm an unregistered tenant (since 2000) management assumed my name was on the lease agreement. Soon management here will know I'm closing in on 65 and already on cpp. They'll see me as a cash cow.

The only thing I got going on this week is that X-ray Thursday. I'll be fasting over night. That's good its in the morning as I can pop into McDonald's for breakfast after and catch a bus to Belvedere station then downtown to Churchill and pop into the library. Other then that, not much going on. Anyway, that's all for now.

There wasn't much chance for me to go to the

library Markerplace yesterday because I got off work at 6pm and that's when they closed. Most likely I'll go after my X-ray next Thursday Morning before work. Just to check it out.

Since I got the note Thursday I've had this sickening feeling in my gut about all this that wont go away. The caretaker wants from me the damage deposit of $915 by June 4th. It's doable but just barely. I have my CPP and my cheque. I'm going to try and make arrangements half on the 29th and the rest on the 12th. We still need to eat and pay our rent. They also want 2 pay stubs and a bank statement showing 2 months. Then they want to do a credit check. All they want is the money because a lot of tfw's had to leave out of the country April 1st so they need to recover some of that lost money somehow. 

Its been a heck of a week for me last week and I have my only day off today. I'm going to watch a bit of hockey and  relax today and sleep in. Maybe do some reading. Anyway, that's all for now.

A few years ago

I got this notice and a rental application saying they needed me to fill out the application for unregistered tenants. It's so they can have a paper trail. I got another one yesterday morning and I got panicky. I went down to the rental office. They said everyone in the building received one, and they thought as I did, I already filled this out a few years ago. They checked Anne's file. I have to comply by June 4th. I need a 2 month bank statement and 2 pay stubs from my employer. I've got one but I'll have another one by the 29th. Then they have to do a credit check on me and I need a rent deposit equal to what we're paying. I might be able to pay half on the 29th and the other half June 12th. Failure to provide this could have me and Anne evicted.It's one crisis around here after another. If the vacancy rate wasn't so tight, I'd say lets move out of here. What's odd is I've been here for 15 yers. I've pleaded with Anne before to have my name on the lease but she kept brushing it off. Now shit has hit the fan. They also need too do a credit cheque on me. That could be problematic and the only snag in any of this. In the end it cold be a judgement call on their part. Anyway, that's all for now.

I'm excited about the

Markerplace at the downtown library and the sound booth they have. Most importantly the production equipment they have. I can't tweak my hours for Saturday but I hope we have a short shift so I can head over and cheque it out. 

Last night was David Letterman's last Late Night with David Letterman broadcast. I'm not big on TV much less talk show TV, but I liked watching the occasional Letterman when he had "Stupid pet tricks." Letterman had a lot of great guests over the years: David Byrne, Alice Cooper etc. If I needed a laugh, Letterman was always there. The only other talk show I like other then Letterman, if I was to endorse any of them would be Craig Ferguson. After the news Anne hogs the TV for all of her shows and I have other things to do anyway after midnight then watch TV. I'll miss Dave. 

I still haven't gotten around to booking for that x-ray, but I hope to do that this morning. Other then that, its a full day today. Despite Victoria day I'm still going to have 65 hours, on my pay next week, which isn't bad. Anyway, that's all for today.

I had 3 nights and two days off

so I can't complain about my "long weekend", except I wish the weather would have been warmer. Temperatures are supposed to get warmer into this week to about the +24* range. Nice.

The Edmonton Oiler's are to announce Todd McLellan as their new head coach about 2pm in a press conference today. I'll be following this before I head into work. McLellan took the San Jose Sharks too the playoffs every year since 2008. He also coached Team Canada to win the gold medal over the weekend in Prague. I'm not suggesting he'll coach the Oiler's to the playoffs next year but if he can bring us within a couple points of 8th, I'll be happy with that.  

Our lodge bbq is in Late June and finally our lodge has dates for Fort Edmonton Park. That's where 2 brothers/night pair up to answer questions the public may have about Freemasonry at the Masonic lodge. We have 4 dates. Other lodges have their own dates as well. Its a replica of the original lodge here in Alberta. I think its been in Fort Edmonton park for decades. I missed going last year but our current JW and I used to go all the time. I got June 20th. I'll have lodge this summer. 

This morning morning I've got to call my Doctor's office to set up that X-ray and blood test for this week. After the Oiler press conference I'll be heading out to work for my 5.5 hour shift. Anyway that's all for now.  

At least I'm sleeping a little better

over the last couple of nights. Saturday/Sunday night because I had that sleeping pill and this morning because I had that beer. Also, I backed off on the Coversyl because I feel it might have a side effect, which could be why my circulation in my lower right leg has been bothering me over the last week. Before I got married when this blog was just a hard copy diary in my own hand writing, (1997) I had a security guard job. It was then my sciatic nerve really acted up on me causing pain along my right side. I don't know how I was able to cope in doing that job. That was when I was in Amway at the time and I recall a trip down to Calgary. I felt every bump in the road there and back. I haven't felt body pain like that in a long time and that was way before the diagnosis of my diabetes was confirmed in 2004. So I'm also thinking this could be sciatic because I can feel it all along my right side but its not as severe as it was back in 1997.

Switching gears, I'm really enjoying this Horus Heresy series. "Mechanicum" is the 9th book in the series and the only one that I haven't read is "Decent of Angels" book #6. I just couldn't get into it. I can always come back to it. The book kind of strayed from the story line. Up next is "Tales of Heresy." Its a collection of 6 short stories.I hope to begin that one at the end of this month. 

The Metro LRT line is in testing mode. Posters on the Connect 2 Edmonton forum have uploaded some photos of cars on the track. Not that I'd use Metro much but it would take ridership pressure off the Capital line and make my commute more comfortable. I'll be able to find a seat easier on the way home at night and often Anne and I go out to the Ramada at Kingsway for brunch. It'll make it more convenient to get out to Kingsway mall.

Its a short work week this week because of Victoria day. July 1st falls on a Wednesday so our next long weekend wont be until August 3rd. Not that this was a long weekend because I was working Saturday. Two days off for me is a long weekend. As of this August I'll have 1 more year until I can apply for pension and as long as we keep things together here and I have my health, a year after that I'll be on full pension. Most likely I'll work 3-4 days a week. Anyway, that's all for now.

Friday night Saturday morning I must have got about 2 hours of sleep due to circulation complications in my right

leg, which caused me grief all night. I got about 2 hours of sleep. I was exhausted heading into work Saturday morning. It was cold wind. 

I've got 2 days off including Saturday night. So its almost like a long weekend. I got 36 hours on the week and more of the same for next pay day, that's when I'm (hopefully) getting my studio monitors. 

Sunday I'm sleeping in and Anne and I are watching WWE "Payback" and ordering our Maximums Pizza. This weekend I'm opening a "Bandcamp" account. Anyway that's all for now.

Not that I'd ever go see

BB King in person if he was here. He passed away at the age of 89. He died in his sleep Thursday. I can relate to BB King only because he was diabetic. Still to live to 89 while being diabetic gives me hope. Yet Anne's sister Rose died from diabetes at the age of 68. I could go tomorrow or live to my 80's like BB King. As for his music, not a lot of people play the blues like he did. 

Talk about not seeing the forest before the trees kind of thing: Its all fine and well to have studio monitors and all but what about audio capture? I always thought my iPod touch would pick up the audio. Maybe that would be ok for audio voice dictation but not to pick up audio from my monitors. I'm going to try just my iPod but chances are I'll need a field recorder. I've been looking at a few like the Sony and Roland H2's. If my iPod can pick up the audio ok, I might just stick with that and or get the iRig mic. It could be a cheap solution to record my jams without the use of a computer. 

A little on the breezy side today. We haven't had any rain or very little. This month. Hopefully we'll get some rain overnight but not on my morning commute tomorrow. It seems though that Saturday's shift will be short because of the long weekend. In a way I hope so. It'll give me 2.5 days off. Anyway that's all for now.

Its beginning to warm up

out there. Even though we're not getting really warm days or breaking any records. We do need some rain just to freshen things up around here.

I was watching today's Reviews on the run. One of the topics was the Apple watch. Or iWatch. I could see a use for such a device but I don't have a iPhone, or even want one. I don't need a cell phone. I have iPod Touch and that works for me because in my work environment cell phones are forbidden. What uses would I have for a iWatch? I can check sports scores when I'm at work. I don't know how Periscope would work discretely on a iWatch. I heard that the iWatch is about $500 CND. Too rich for this blogger.

I tried several times to get a hold of my Doctor as he wants to se up a time with me for this X-ray. I'm going to call later this morning to see if I can set something up for Tuesday. Anyway, that's all for now.

I'm still not sure how best to use

Periscope. I just made another broadcast (my 2nd) about reading my book in the Horus Heresy series. I forgot to save the broadcast to my camera roll but my iPod was running low on battery. I'll be playing around with this more and more over the next couple of days.

The Montreal Canadians lost their series against Tampa Bay 4-2. There are no Canadian teams now in the playoffs. Essentially this means that's hockey for for 2014-15 is over. Bring on the Oiler's off season.

Anne took a call for me while I was out. My Doctor called and said he wants me to go in for a X-ray as I believe I have early dysphagia. Hopefully I can treat it and its not a prelude to throat cancer. I'll be calling him when I get up out of bed later.

I missed my CTV news as they were running a 2 hour "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." broadcast. I'm not really into this series as much as I think I should. I was really into the comic books in the 1960's. This TV series is nothing like the original Nick Fury agent of Shield. That's my S.H.I.E.L.D. This series looks good but I just can't get into it. Anne and I aren't even into Doctor Who since Mat Smith left. Anyway, that's all for now.

My father was born in

El Centro California 1922. I mentioned this to one of my colleagues that has dual American/Canadian citizenship on his Facebook page. He said if I was interested I might be able to hold dual citizenship and asked how old my father was when he came to Canada. I kind of knew I had this option decades ago. I don't know if I can do this now at my age and what would be my responsibilities and what value this would have for me If I had this option. The window might have closed a long time ago. It might be worth investigating though.

I like social media and I try to keep up with the latest and greatest. I was too late with Instagram and only heard of Periscope on the news last night. Some people are using it to film copywrite broadcasts, such as TV etc but its not the same thing as actually watching it live on a stable screen. I downloaded the app from the app store and took a short video from my iPod Touch as a test drive. Its added to my camera roll. Periscope probably has some uses as long as the phone/iPod is connected to the Internet. The video doesn't stick around for very long. I think 12 hours at the most. I'll play around with it for a bit. Periscope is a Twitter app. I can just imagine how periscope might be used to stream pornography and use the app for other malign purposes. 

I watched game #5 Calgary/Anaheim and Anaheim won in OT. I kind of knew they would. Anaheim was the better team. My father was a Chicago Blackhawks fan. It would be great if Montreal and Chicago would meet in the finale and Montreal won. 

Anne had this conversation with a Chinese colleague at her place of work Saturday night. Somehow the conversation got around to how we were having trouble sleeping. Anne's colleague mentioned we should try ginger in our sleep tea as a sleeping aid. I did a bit of research on ginger root and there could be a possible benefit for Type 2 diabetics like myself. So we'll give it a go this morning.

I've got a full week ahead of me this week. I'm still on probation so I don't think I'll get stat pay since I don't have any deductions up to this point taken off my cheque until after the 3rd month. This upcoming weekend is the Victoria day long weekend. I think I better work Saturday just the same. If I don't get paid for Victoria day I'm not going to have a seiser about it. Anyway, that's all for now.

Even though Mothers Day is not a

official stat holiday, it ought to be. One thing is certain everybody loves their mother (if they had one that is). Thanks to my brother Jeff's Facebook page, I was able to lift this photo of my mom. I love you mom:

Anne made us a nice brunch and we watched a bit ot wrestling and hockey.

This last week was the 70th anniversary of VE day. The Russians of course have to have a military parade. A show of force. Yeesh.

This evening I'm following the Flames/Anaheim NHL game. Once the last Canadian team has left the playoffs, is when I tune out. This week for once I don't have any Doctors appointments, no elections. Nothing. It's a full work week except Saturday as I want to go to Commercial lodge and hopefully go out to visit a sick lodge brother. Sunday I want to take Anne out to make up for not taking her out today and Monday is my first paid stat holiday in my new job. Anyway that's all for now.

Some 6 or 8 months ago

I've been having trouble swallowing food. Its technical word is dysphagia. I can eat pasta and some foods but I need to wash it down with a drink. I can swallow liquids ok. I'm going in for a "swallow test" soon although nothing has been set up yet. First thing I need is a blood test and I'm going in for one of those before my next Doctor's visit June 4th Lodge day night.

This weekend is mothers day weekend and Anne is going to try and get her flowers out on the balcony. Its a tradition around here every mothers day. We were considering going out but next weekend is the May long weekend.So that's probably our best chance for that.

Last night at lodge was really special. We had 4 of our members receive 50 year jewels and a 25 year pin. Our Senior Warden brought 5 guests along to the festive board. Drinks were free. I tried a "Alley cat" and took one home with me for Saturday night. I had a great time. I'm in the office today from 4-9:30pm and Saturday from (I hope) 10-6pm. Anyway, that's all for now.

Our freak Spring snowstorm

yesterday lasted until about 7pm. When I had left out of work at 9:25pm (well exceeding "my quota") My bus was on the other side of the 4 way cross walk. Looking both ways catching a break in the traffic, I was able to make that connection to Corona but barely.

I met Anne at Bay station and we rode home together on the train to Clareview. We walked parting ways as she needed to go to Superstore and I headed home. 

Ok so I almost bought into it. A story was released recently on a Internet forum that Eagleworks (Nasa) lab said they had what could appear to be an electromagnetic propulsion drive. Or em drive that uses microwaves in an enclosed space. The story made claims that a possible drive could send crew to the moon in 4 hours and interstellar space travel or warp drive was almost here. It said that they tested the drive in a hard vacuum and got some momentum out of it. Its junk science and you can read more about it here.

I'm "off today" but its busy as I'm out of here at 2pm to see my Doctor and then a bite to eat and home to change and then to Lodge. Looking forward to having a great night.What with lodge practice and the election the other day, Doctors appointment and lodge tonight, its been busy. Anyway, that's all for now.

That was a landslide

Alberta NDP victory. The NDP won 53/87 seats. Our Wild rose candidate came in last as Edmonton went total NDP. Interesting. The PC's won only 11 seats and Jim Prentice resigned. I only have 2.5 years until I get my pension during a 4 year NDP regime. I hope I can keep the status quo going relatively unscathed until pension.

What with it being so cold when we went out to vote about 6:30pm last night, the weather forecast is calling for snow over night. We can get a May snow storm and its been known to happen a lot more often over the last few years. It wouldn't surprise me to go into work today seeing a blanket of snow on the ground this afternoon.

I was flipping the channels watching election results and the Ducks/Flames game. The Flames won in OT. So I'm out of here at my usual time 2pm to get to my usual spot and read for half an hour. Anyway, that's all for now.

Election day is today and

we did PC reminder calls on the job last night. I screwed up a bit but it wasn't too bad of a screw up. I had a good day despite having a abscessed tooth going on for most of my shift. Then I get a call at the end of my shift (like I knew that wasn't going to happen) and again I missed my 9:40pm bus. I got home shortly before 11pm. Anne made me a nice baked pasta as I watched what was left of wrestling.

Earlier Monday before I left work, I ended up getting a hold of a ei agent and I have my claim on hold. So if there's any downtime this summer that will make up for any lack of work for a few months.

Today is election day as mentioned above. The NDP are way ahead in the polls and could form a majority Government by the looks of things. The good news is the Alberta NDP's are very supportive of LRT in the major cities. That could mean cap n' trade or a carbon tax to pay for it. The other good news is they will not introduce a provincial sales tax. Anne and I are voting Wild Rose. Hopefully either party will win a minority government. I'd favour a Wild Rose majority over a NDP one even though voting Wild Rose will split the conservative vote its better then nothing. We'll be going out after dinner since the office is closed today because of the election. Anyway, that's all for now. 

Yesterday was another back to back early

day. We did some political reminder calls for Tuesday's election. Then back to the study we've been doing for the past few days now. I got out at 5pm and got a bus to Corona and a coffee at Tim's. Then a brief wait for the lrt to Rexall. I got the #8 to Abbotsfield and on the return leg to lodge. I finally paid off my 2015 dues. It was a practice night and I got the PM case for my apron. I called Anne to let her know I was on my way home. Today was one of those feel good kind of days. I was in good spirits. Anne made us a late brunch and I watched what was left of the Flames/Anaheim game. All in all Yesterday was good. Anyway, that's all fo now.

I have an unexpected day off

today because we're working the election Sunday and because of Alberta labour Laws we can't work 7 days. Also the office is closed Tuesday because of the election. I'm also off Thursday for lodge. I'm not letting Anne know I have 3 days off. Two days she can take but not 3. I'll be lucky if I have 50 hours on my next cheque. Less if I don't get a full day Saturday. Lucky for us, we're in the middle of the month.

If work slows down at the end of May, I can activate my ei and still cover the basics even if I get as little as 2-3 shifts/week. I can live with that. I'll have my ei and what little I can work for June/July and August will be a struggle but it depends how work goes. For all I know things could keep going this summer but even if its just for the short term its ok. If I have a month or two until work picks up I can also work from home. 

Long term that could take me until this time next year and next August I'll be applying for my pension. Summer of 2016-17 might be rough until the end of August. Anyway, that's all for now.