I was dialing the

same numbers as everyone else last night, but last night I got mostly voice mail on the other end, or no answers. I didn't even get on the board yet others were doing better then me. I sucked big time. I still left the office feeling good. One of my colleagues that I rode home with last night got one complete. So I didn't feel that bad. I hope I don't get called in for Friday. 

I'm kind of under the weather myself right now so I think I might call in, saying I won't be able to make lodge. I've been going steady showing up at most practices, visitations and attending lodge, filling in here and there every month. I need a break. I've got a some challenges going on in my immediate periphery, that need my attention.

No spoiler alerts but I'm about to wrap up "Words of Radiance" this week. I don't want to read another series, until the New Year. I might read a Robert J Sawyer book from Audrey's. He's always good for an entertaining read. In the meantime, I'm chillin and taking it easy. I've got a couple of nights off maybe a long weekend. I need to get to a stationary bike at the Clareview rec centre, get some circulation back into my legs. Most likely I'll use that Saturday night if I'm not doing anything around here. Anyway, got to go, answer some email and shit. Happy Halloween everyone. 

My back was turned when

I was trying to align myself to the oncoming bus behind me to Clareview, which is why I only heard the collision between a pick up and a car at the intersection just out here yesterday. This was on my commute to work. My #5 was behind schedule but I managed to get to work, barely. I'm so looking forward to having a few days off.

Also I'm just about ready to wrap up book 2 of the Stormlight Archives: "Words of Radiance."  Looking forward to book 3 "Oathbringer" when it comes out in paperback. In the mean time I'm hoping to get to reading the Malazan series. I'm a slow reader so most likely book 1 "Gardens of the Moon" will keep me going until January.

I'm going to miss the Oilers game being at work tonight but the Supervisor usually keeps me up to date on the score.  We're off tomorrow night for Halloween, Lodge Thursday, Friday at 10am is WWE's Crown Jewel pay per view. I've got nothing planned for Saturday. Sunday is daylight savings time. To my way of thinking that's the real end of summer. I'm worried for my friend's buddy. She's going through some serious life changing health issues. It's not compromising our friendship or anything. It's my friend's birthday next weekend and I'd rather save some of that time for her birthday. Anyway, that's about all for now.

Not a bad day out there for late

October. I like quiet days like this. The wife is out shopping, I'm just doing maintenance answering forum emails that sort of thing. Just getting ready for the Oilers/Chicago game on at 4pm. I'll be watching that while we have brunch.

      

The Cannabis supply here in Edmonton is competing with demand. Most pot stores are running out of supply. So what's the Alberta Government going to do, obtain weed from the black market? 👀 It takes time to grow Cannabis. This is of course just "about," but it takes a lot of electricity and water to grow a Cannabis plant. It can take anywhere from 2-4 months to grow a Cannabis plant indoors. One plant could produce about 38 grams of smokable weed. Or 2-3 joints/3 grams of weed. So about 40 joints from one plant. Conditions vary of course. Not that I smoke weed I don't, but its interesting to see how the Alberta Government is going to handle this. In a related story on the news last night farmers in the Delta region of the lower mainland in BC said they might be re allocating some land to grow Cannabis because its a more lucrative crop then vegetables. A move like that could set a dangerous precedent because of less food grown. Importing food from other countries only increases the cost of that food. I can see a Cannabis type skyscraper where plants are gown per floor. A producer could have say a 40 floor Cannabis tower. Each floor might produce maybe 100 plants but the cost in electricity and water alone would be huge. Solar power on the roof and sides of the building might help reduce costs. Its an interesting story. 

I've got a short shift tomorrow and possibly Tuesday. Tuesday would depend where we are in the project Monday. I'm hoping beyond Monday I have this week off and into next week. It's not good for hours on the cheque but we're resigned to a limited week anyway. If we get the green light to go ahead on this next project, I could have 2 good cheques to close out the end of the year as we usually break for middle of December for Christmas. Anyway, that's all for now. 

Most of us get under the weather

sometimes. It happens. But at the same time, nobody likes getting the brush off. In messenger its been my experience that when somebody says something like, "I can talk to you later?" Means "don't call me, I'll call you. But I'm not taking it personally. " So, this looks like I'm spending today by myself. Alone again, forgotten. At least I got one friend, my daily journal.

I got a call from the office, moments ago and I got a bit of a shift for Monday. Might not be a full one but that's ok. So if I have a few days off, that's good. Its not like I don't have anything to do, I've got options. If I'm off at 7pm, I can go get  my book on my way home. The wife is working Halloween night. I got a couple of Oilers games I can watch this weekend. And I might even upload a bit of a beat. Anyway that's all for now.   

I've got work this afternoon but I'm

off for the weekend. Maybe even next week. 🤞 Wednesday we're off for certain because of Halloween. I'm hoping we have the whole of next week off. I'm looking to take get the Go Pro 6 and add that to my existing account. Then pay the account off before the end of the year or at lest early next year. I really want to test the go pro camera's 4k capability filming an iPad screen. So far as I know there isn't any you tube video on this topic.           

The Oilers last night laid out a good ol' can of whop ass on the Stanley Cup champs at Rogers Place arena. Savor the win while we can Jimmy because we got us another road game down in Nashville tomorrow. And its a 1pm game. I'd rather be out with a friend then watch that train wreck. And if that's not enough, we got a back-to-back Sunday in Chicago. There's 4 points lost. Good news is the above mentioned teams are better on the road then at home. I'd be satisfied with a split this weekend. Good luck with that.

The Valley line lrt is just moving along nicely. Most likely it will come online late 2019. Calgary might be using a massive tunnel boring machine for its underground portion of their Green line. The set is like the Herrenknecht Tunnel Boring machine. TBM. This thing can "cut through" the soil in front of it, push the debris behind it on a conveyor built to awaiting pick up behind it and lay interlocking cement blocks as it moves along. No need for shotcrete. Plus the TBM has room for two tracks on top of each other. Wish we could employ something like that for the West LRT. I've included a You Tube link above. That's all for now. 



.   

Not that I want to get into any

details here but its been a rough couple of days. Not just on the job but away from work. Things haven't been going so well for me at home. The job has been challenging due to some drop box issues in the project I'm working on. Hopefully this project will come to an end soon. Also a very good friend of mine's childhood friend and life long companion is facing some serious medical related issues. I won't get into it because I feel so badly for them. Plus I'm having issues with my own wealth. I need some good news for a change. I want a paradigm shift of some sort. I need an opportunity to shake things up around here, even if its at a cost.

Apparently the Oilers game last night was a real barn burner at Rogers place arena. Leon Draisaitl and Alex Chiasson, each with 2 goals? I never heard of this Chiasson before. He played in Dallas 2012-13. Still to take the Penguins to OT is pretty good. Two "generational" hockey players on the same ice! Next up is Thursday, we got Washington here, uggh.

Because our limited sample size is getting smaller and we're at the half way portion of this project, some shifts are going to be cut. I got work tomorrow but beyond that, well, I'd be surprised if I got work. Its day-by-day. I've been to other rodeo's. I'm okay with having a 4 day weekend. We're also not working Halloween night. That's understandable. We got another project in the works for next month sometime. Its a big one. Anyway, that's all for now.  

Saturdays

I love them because I get some time to do what I want to do. Whether that's to run down to Audrey's to get a book, or a bite to eat with a friend or both. Or just to sit here at home in front of the computer all afternoon and watch a live stream and get involved in the community. Or play a game, or even go to lodge as there was one I could have go to this afternoon. Lots to do. Its been a long week just getting back as I'm just you tubing it all afternoon and drinking coffee. Oiler game on tonight. Life is good. 

I don't let a lot of people into my life. Most of the people in my life are related to work and that's where I prefer to leave them. The guys in my lodge, they either work all the time or like me need some down time with their own families. I have one friend that I see several times a month as we go out for lunch and text a lot. Its not that I'm anti social. I'll talk to anyone as long as they don't cuss and are interesting and I have time. Today is down time. Me time. 

So lets see, I've got a diy project here this weekend. I'm trying to get my mic stand set up as seen on the left. It clamps onto the brown shelf just under the calendar. I'd like to cut an opening at the back of the hutch right above the rim of the clock. This way my mic stand can drape over the keyboard and I can talk right into the mic head on. I'm considering attaching my web cam to the pop filter so it sees me head on over the rim of the pop filter. Not sure if I'm going to like that way though. Anyway, that's all for now.

What a beautiful day

out here at +7. I got a few hours by myself before and after work. Then the weekend. I'm having a day off, Saturday, not seeing anyone, or being with anyone. Now that the wife is working all day Saturday, I get that day by myself 😃 and I can watch the Oilers Saturday night. 

Tonight however, I'm in from my 5-9. We're following the Eskimos do or die game this evening. Its Friday night football as the regular CFL season winds down. I'll be grinding out a difficult survey. There are some challenging menu diving parts, that I'm not comfortable with. Anyway, that's all for now.  

How about that

weather? That normally would be an ice breaker to a conversation. In this case our local weather yesterday could have easily shared the same front page as legal weed. We hit a record for October 17th peaking up to +25 👀 The long range forecast is supposed to be in the double digits until the end of the month. Perfect football weather🏈 Usually in early November, up to daylight savings, we're around -2-0. That's the "good part" to Global warming. 

So finally, the Oilers are playing 500 hockey. That's the good news for the good guys. And playing 500 hockey just means if this were the end of the season, the Oilers would have won about 50% of the 82 games. Not enough to make the playoffs but its a good place too start. 95 points gets the Oilers into the playoffs. Apparently from what I heard last night, the Oilers were the best team on Home ice. What bothers me is that Connor McDavid is about the only guy that can score goals on this team. We got too many $4-6 million dollar do nothing players and a week cap space. If PC plays it smart don't re sign players, by this time next year even with McDavid's $12 million/year contract, Oilers could have ~ $20 caps space for the 2019-20 season. But what got the Oilers into cap space trouble was (in my opinion) bad decision making by high echelon upper office people. And I'm not alone here. This article is a pre Nurse contract signing but worth a look. Bad news is that we play Boston tonight for our first game on home ice for the regular season. 

I have nothing against people smoking cannabis. I'm all in favour of medical marijuana as well. I have a friend that has arthritis and cannabis might help her with the pain. I'm going to suggest just to cover her basis that she get a doctors prescription. What has me concerned is 2nd hand pot smoke. I don't want the smell of it on my cloths, or THC in my system.  Mainly because if I ever need to take a company drug test, I don't want even trace amounts of THC in my system, and if I ever need to cross the boarder I don't want to fail a cannabis check. US boarder agents can pull people over just on suspicion Nor do I want to be anywhere around people that smoke it. The science isn't in but what would heavy intake or long term use of THC do to those that might have schizophrenia issues?   

As for me, I'm at work tonight 5-9. I didn't get a complete last night (I think the nice weather had something to do with it, and I was in the Chinatown area) for the first hour and a half best I could get was 7 but for the area I was calling, I was top shelf commodity for the source I was calling by the end of the night. then on top of that the Capital lrt line was under maintenance. The call boards we're down. So tonight, more of the same. I just need to be careful because most of the areas we're doing in the City are quota filled. We had a new guy last night training and he got up and just left. Not sure if he quit or what? Anyway that's all for now. 

I've had a nice couple of days getting back

to work. We had a few hic-ups yesterday and got sent home early. Yesterday was problem free at work and I got a full shift in. I suspect I've got work at least to the end of the month. There are projects coming up as well, that looks like I'll have work until the end of the year. we'll see how that goes. 

So today is the official legalization of Cannabis here in most parts this country. Its still not made legal in BC because their (as of this writing) clock has not reached after midnight. It was also announced that anyone that has been arrested for possession of having 30 grams of pot will have a complete pardon, over time. In other words its legal to smoke pot (some restrictions apply) depending on ones jurisdiction/municipality. I'm still not sure what to make of it. I'm ok with it as far as medical marijuana is concerned. More on this late. 

Some interesting items that occurred yesterday: You Tube was shut down for most of the day. I had some trouble getting to work because the trains were once again running on single tracks. Anyway, that's all for now.

Its great to have a nice

few days off but now that I'm more or less back to work, I'm itching to get back into the stream of things. I'm still nursing my summer savings, which I'm barely holding onto until the end of the month. As long as I don't go crazy, I should have enough summer savings to keep me going. Right now I need hours and I'll have more then enough hours on the clock before cut off. If I'm lucky I could have about 55 hours. 

The Eskimo's aren't as done for as I had first thought. They may be 5th in the West but there is a slim chance they could still make the playoffs, if they can beat the Lions Friday in Vancouver. Or the Esks might be able to get a cross over spot to represent the East against Calgary representing the West at Commonwealth for the Grey Cup. The place would sell out. And the Oilers won one yesterday, which brings their record to 2-1. Next up for the Oilers is in Winnipeg Tuesday and if they can continue that momentum they might be able to play 500 hockey by the time they reach home ice Thursday. All kinds of stuff could happen. Trouble with the Oilers is the top brass put too many eggs in one basket. If the Oilers had say $20 million in salary cap space by the end of the season, they could make a play for some big name A.M. type players. 

This week the Federal Government will make cannabis legal.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. I watched a report on the news last night that for anyone growing pot plants in their house that it not only cost's a lot in water but also electricity. Our building is an older building and we had to get rid of our dishwasher because it was water usage intensive. 

I don't have a problem with medical marijuana. That's going to be a boon to a lot of people. Most people I talked with about using recreational pot are going to be responsible saying its not going to interfere with their work. They wont smoke pot during the week. Legalized cannabis could pump potentially tens of billions of dollars into Federal and Provincial coffers. Demand could out pace supply within the first week of cannabis being legalized here in Alberta. Could one years worth of pot profits reduce the Provinces deficit? 

So this week, I'm working Monday-Thursday, 5 hour shifts. Monday is Wrestling. Speaking of which there is a rumor going around over WWE's upcoming pay per view "Crown Jewel" and something to do with the Khashoggi assassination crisis. Interesting stuff. Then I'm following the Oilers/Jets game Tuesday. Wednesday I'm trying to make contact with a friend, and too set up when I can go for compression stockings for the end of the month. Thursday I'm following the Bruins/Edmonton game. First game on home ice for this season. Friday I'm at home watching the Eskimo's/Lions game on the tube, Saturday I'm hoping I can go out to lodge for the afternoon. Lots of stuff going on this week. Anyway, that's all for now. 

I've had a nice 6

weeks off but I'm glad to be going in for this afternoon. I think its going to be from 5-9 and tbh I like those hours. I can do ok with that Monday through Thursday. I'm a bit of a light weight but at my age, the longer hours have been kind of rough on me. These hours not only give me Friday-Sunday off but also, I get to leave a bit latter. But the drought is over, I think.

This year Edmonton hosts the CFL Grey cup. Granted its a lot of pressure for the host city team to make the post season. From about mid season this year, the Eskimos have been on a losing streak right out of the playoffs. Its pretty embarrassing that the host city's own team for the Grey cup can't even get into the playoffs to at least show up. Its too early to say who is to blame here. the coach, the qb? Its a pretty lousy situation. Anyway, that's all for now.

I'll be heading out of here

to Canada place to do some pension stuff and pick up a book downtown. Other then that, not a lot going on for today. It feels like the dog days of summer. I suspect this week work wise, will be the same as last week. Nothing. This time last year we had work, so much work I was pulling in 7.5 hour shifts.

Its overcast and there's about 2 inches of snow on the ground, nothing like Calgary got a few weeks ago. We're way below seasonal average but later this week we could be reaching those +12's, +14's again 😎 This feels more like mid March weather then anything else. I feel bad for the folks suffering from the affects of Tsunamis and earthquakes. We get a first snow and it makes "front page" local news.  

I'm checking in the office for upcoming work this week. If we're still in that grey area, then I'll ask if H/O can release my roe. No longer do we need to wait 6-8 weeks to get that first cheque.  I'm still employed, its just a shortage of work and I can open a new ei claim until work resumes. When work resumes, I'll just pause my ei reporting. So far I haven't been able to enjoy a $15/hour pay cheque. I suspect shortage of work has something to do with that. Anyway, that's all for now.

I think when I go to my

3-4 days a work week, I'm going to have Friday, Saturday, Sunday off. I need at least 2 days off by myself. maybe I want to go across the street for a beer, play a few slots or maybe just stay home and watch the Oilers loose. I think I'd rather watch paint dry then watching the Oilers lose again like they did this afternoon. Sure its just one game and early in the season. It's just I need to make better use of my time then watching that train wreck or WWE's "Super show Down." To the good people in Melbourne watching that crap: "Do you ever feel that you just got cheated?" I did, watching that 4 hour waste of time. I gave up on the Oilers after the Devils 3rd goal. And the Oilers have 3 more back-to back games on the road that most likely will have a similar outcome. Knowing the Eskom's 🏈 since they lost their last 4/5 games, that's another train wreck that's about to happen Better get OHS to be on the scene when that happens

During the Spring I had a hack of a time trying to find my manual (which has the serial of my Signature edition of Fl. Studio 10 2011) I knew Fl. Studio 20 had been out. I went for Reason 10 instead, which is a $600 package. I don't regret buying it. Its about 60% paid off. I went to "My image line" account and low and behold there was the license/serial number. I copied that down and since I still had the Fl. Studio CD, I installed Fl. into my recent pc. I had forgotten and or heard wrong but apparently to upgrade to Fl. Studio 20 is free, with anyone that has free lifetime updates. These free Fl. Studio upgrades/updates mean the same thing. They were introduced in Fl. Studio 10. After a bit of digging I went and upgraded. 👍 Lots of new enhancements and features. I had bought Reason 10 before this but knowing that I might not have bought Reason 10 but Omnisphere instead. I'm happy I bought Reason 10. I can still get Omnisphere and add it to my account when I get back to work and pay it off before the end of the year 🤞. In the New Year, I'm about to upgrade my Native Instruments Komplete 8-12 to Ultimate 12. Long range I've got my eye on Arturia's Minibrute 2. Its a semi modular 25 key keyboard that can be expanded to include a 2 tier Eurorack case. Yes folks I'm going modular 🎹plus I'm looking at the Behringer Xenyx 12 mixer, and the Tascam sd recorder. 

The good news about not going out earlier this afternoon, is I saved some money. I went and ordered a couple of Robin Hobb trilogies a few weeks ago. I thought I had ordered the Omnibus format ones or at least one book in Omnibus. Maybe they were out of stock. I'll be out at Canada Place Tuesday, and I'll take the lrt to Audrey's and pick up at least one book, home to round out the rest of the night. I hope I get a call to go into work next week as well. I'm not broke nor feeling the pinch either. Anyway, that's all for now.

A friend of mine is in hospital

facing cancer they are being looked after by family. No visitors. Not much I can do. My job? Not sure what's going on there, and today my wife is in job training as in another facet of her work is changing. She's still in the office but that could be changing as well. As for tonight, I've got lodge, and tomorrow, I'm at Service Canada and I've got to pick up a book downtown and my summer savings are catching up with me. I've more then enough to cover my Reason 10 payment and the book and lunch Saturday etc. I've got a busy next couple of days. Anyway, that's all for now.

Lots of stuff going on

not affecting me specifically. The huge LNG project that was signed by a lot of investors in Kitamat BC. I've never been to Kitamat, and Google maps hasn't been in that community yet. This LNG project is a $40B project. Its not going to make a lot of Greens happy. Also, NAFTA is dead welcome to the USMCA! I don't have enough info on this to make any comment.

The Alberta Government is now squeezing out private auto testing. It means that anyone wanting to take a drivers test will be taking it from an Alberta Government employee. According to the Transportation Minister they get about half a dozen complaints a day from people that "failed" a road test. A basic road test to go from a class 7 (learners) to a class 5 GDL is $89.25. When I took my learners license in the mid 1980's I think the fee was about $25. I got pretty good at parallel parking. I wanted a car so I wouldn't need to rely on other people for rides but I was on minimum wage in those days (still am) and I quickly came to the realization that a car would cost money for gas, maintenance, insurance etc. It quickly became apparent that I couldn't afford a car, never mind a truck (which arguably would make me more handsome 👀) I completed the learners license and let that idea languish. A monthly bus pass was way more affordable and where I was living 9710 156th street, I was one bus ride and a block from my downtown job. I was within walking distance from the IGA (now a Dolarama behind the "Orange hub) I could afford my monthly bus pass which at that time was about $25/month. So this might be a good move by the Alberta Government. Its supposed to take place in March.

I wanted to leave out of here at 2pm today to see someone at Service Canada for my GIS but I might just do this on Friday instead. I have all the paperwork. Anne's working tonight, I'd like to just have a nice lunch and enjoy my evening off. We've been driving each other nuts being home since Sunday and me not working. I'll be checking in the office this time next week. Its not that I don't have a shortage of things to do around here. Anyway, that's all for now.

Today is the day

that the Alberta Government raises the minimum wage from $13.60 to $15.00/hour. Some sources are saying that businesses will be scaling back hours/shifts, prices will rise, job losses. I'm hoping that the status quoe remains the same for where I work. This minimum wage increase will do one of several things: First, it will discourage companies to invest here, and 2, it will force companies to close. Or maybe both or nothing. The other thing here is that it will slow the economy down, we'll see.

I'm not doing anything today, except make a few phone calls and watch wrestling. Tuesday I have some pension business to take care of Wednesday I have a night off to myself, Thursday Lodge, Saturday out with a friend for lunch and watch the Oilers game. Anyway, that's all for now.