Well gang

this is the last blog post for '08. Thanks for dropping by. It's off to watch hockey and then to meet my wife downtown for what little we can see of "First night." Hey hey, the train and ETS are free tonight.

Happy New Year

Anyway bloggers, that's all for now

e. Jim

1more sleep for '08

I went into work feeling alright reading Helix on the train. Weather wise it wasn’t bad. I bought my January bus pass at the “Readimart” before going up the escalator for my train. Coming through the doors of the office building where I work I met up with JT and he said how last night he wan the NFL playoff pool, so I owe him $20. This kind of through me for a loop but he said if I want I can pay him Friday. Yeesh all this money going out very little coming in.

I had a slow night in the beginning but it picked up. I ended up with $335 the first half and 2 CC’s. I called Anne at break and had a chat. TD bank had called her as she was out and I left her a hand written note. I ended up doing $735 and a CC sale the 2nd half and no “good job” for top total or anything like that. I walked out of there not feeling that good about my effort. Plus my teeth were acting up. A burning pain developing on my upper right side. The pain eased off there a bit.

I was glad to get out of the office. I had a brief wait for my train reading Helix on the way home. Two cars but plenty of seating because the University kids were on Christmas break.

I got home to watch. Raw. Good show last night. I‘d give it an 8/10. Anne made me a great cheeseburger and fries. My mouth felt a little better before I tucked into my dinner. I was done by about midnight. We watched a bit of ET and I checked over my finances there a bit and I can pay JT off what I owe him tomorrow. Anne said she can only cover me for my website or Lodge dues now but I’ll use the funds for my website and cover my Lodge dues in February. Their ok for it.

I’ve got tonight to work with and then I’m off for 2 more days. I’ll get my paycheque Friday. This cheque will have only 12 hours on it but the rent will be covered and I’ve got my January bus pass. Next week I’m putting 32 hours in for my Lodge dues.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim

Yesterday was a reading day

Sunday was mostly a reading day although I did do some more assassination research. I’m looking into the General Walker shooting.

The Nashville at Edmonton game was a darn good one. The Oiler’s don’t have to win every time for a game to be good but last nights game Oiler’s 5 Preds 2 was fun to watch. The fans needed a win at Rexall. I did that from 6-9

Also last night and Anne went out to Walmart and mentioned there was something under the tree. It was in a Christmas wrapping bag. OMG the Xbox 360! What she said she did basically was buy it out of our January rent money but she’s going to make an appointment to the bank and get the balance later this week for rent and my website/lodge dues. Wu-who now I can play Elder scrolls on our 42” LCD wide screen. We haven’t opened it yet because we want to get the funds out of our RRSP for 2009, in case there are some complications so we can get our money back from Walmart. Now I can play Elder scrolls. At least its in a box under the tree:

Finally, I completed reading “Fast Forward #1” Here is a “brief review:”

Brief synopsis: This is an annual anthology from a master anthologist. Lou Anders knows his stuff and brings to the table some good offerings.
Pros: 19 stories and 2 poems. 5 stories were Very good, 7 stories were good, 4 stories not bad.

Cons: 3 stories were poor. Plus 2 poems I had to add a wtf?

I liked most of the stories in this anthology except but there were a few that I found boring as hell. I’ll be reading FF#2 later on this winter On a scale from 1-10 I’d give this a good 6 e. Jim’s out of 10.

Now it’s onto Eric Brown’s “Helix.”

This week is going to be interesting. Firstly I go into work tonight and then I’ll be watching Monday night Raw. Tuesday same thing just into work but that’s my last shift of 2008. There’s a shift Wednesday but that’s in the morning only. Since I don’t work mornings that doesn’t apply to me. Hence: Day off. Also, Anne’s at work and there’s an Oiler game Wednesday December 31st here at Rexall with Ottawa Senators. Right after the game or just before midnight I’ll be scrambling for a train downtown to meet my wife. She gets off work at midnight. We’re going to try get to see some of the fireworks but chances are we might not. Thursday January first the Oiler’s are in Calgary giving the Flames some New years “cheer.” I’ll be watching that one. Anne’s at the bank January 2nd hopefully with good news and I’ll have my lodge dues and my website funds.

Here’s another photo of the stack of books I read this year. Icewind Dale the 2 Peter F. Hamilton books were all over 1,000 pages each. It’s my goal to read at least one book/month.

And at last what wouldn’t the season be without another cat photo? This one is of Silky. I’ve had him for well over 10 years now. He’s also my dinner guest sitting beside me hoping for a taste of my supper, which I always oblige. Silky is extremely shy. Except with me and Anne.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim

Not a bad day today at that

Lets see, I was up about 6:00am to post a blog entry on my website. Also writing for myself basically.

I went out there to catch my 9am bus. Weather wise, it wasn't that bad out there. There was a definite change in the air since having those -20C+'s/wind chills whilst waiting for my Saturday morning #11 to Clairview and then to Cororna. It felt lonely walking to through the parkade. inside the office I met u with Supie and we talked about the holidays stocks etc.

By 10am when Moe came in to run the floor we had 12 people for the whole floor. I moved to the back and had K sit with me. JT was there along with Bud. The lowest turn out of the shift. Rob's going to let the shit fly on Monday. I won a $5 Nevada and won a $1 on a bet Moe and I made.

I even did well on the job. Moe complimented me on Anne's haircut job. I got my cheque plus my $25 bonus. So I got anything over $200. So I took out $40 for me including the $25 I brought with me. I walked up to the City Center Mall looked through Coles book store. There are some nice Trade David Eddington editions and some Starcraft novels I want to get into. I got a $10 pre-paid pay-as-you go Telus receipt for my cell phone. TD bank is open on a Saturdays now? That's pretty convenient. I've been wanting to try one of those KFC chicken bowls. I got one to take home and after a 10 minute wait at Clairview in the -4C weather. You read that right. -4C!!! That's darn near--balmy. Right now it's -6C but there is a -11C wind chill, which still isn't all that bad. Sunday is supposed to be a bit colder -12C. Even that isn;t too bad. We're to get 2 days next week, Tuesday and Thursday, which are supposed to be around -21C--25C . Weekend weather looks warm.

I got home about 3:45pm watched a bit of TV, did some Internet stuff and then went for a 2 hour power snooze. I badly needed that.

Anne called me at 6pm for ten minutes and I started my KFC meal. These things aren't bad. on a scale from 1-10. I'd rate them an 8/10. I'll get them again. I hope to complete reading FF #2 this weekend. After this, I'm going to read Eric Brown's "Helix." looks interesting.

Anyway Bloggers, that's all for now.

e. Jim

Happy holidays one and all

I went into work for my Tuesday night. Anne suggested I take the whole day off yesterday. So I went into Audrey’s and got my FF#2 book. Apparently over the year I had accumulated enough out of my book club membership and it was free. Feeling good about that and having 3 days off I called Anne before the shift started about my good news. She was doing laundry upstairs and needed my apartment key for the laundry room.

Also Tuesday night Anne used her Pizza 73 coupon and went and got us a pizza meal including wedgies which she wanted to try. It was really good. I had some chicken pieces and 4 slices left over for my lunch yesterday.

Today was a relaxing kind of a day. I got up about 1:45pm and I’m still feeling a bit exhausted. I was doing some JFK assassination research stuff. Odd how 26 trained professionals at Parkland hospital that were direct witnesses handling the Presidents body in and out of the trauma room all said Kennedy had a large wound of exit in the occipital region of (back) of the head.

I also listened to a lot of stuff on YouTube and answering email. Also Anne made me a rum and Coke and I got a bit of a buzz off of that. Today Anne’s having Christmas turkey and I’m going to be enjoying so baby back ribs a baked potato and fixings.

It’s tradition around here to open Christmas gifts Christmas eve and I’m glad my wife and I are together. W didn’t have a lot of money for the holidays, mainly because my vacation pay fiasco as mentioned elsewhere. I got Anne some beauty products and she got me a pair of genes, a book (FF#2 which she wrapped up for me.) some new batteries for my camera and some socks. But we have our rent paid for January our bills paid. All we need is our bus passes. We’ve got our Christmas treats like chips, pastry’s, chocolates, chips and bits and bites, rum and beer. Plus we have Boots in for the night. Also, I have an Oiler game and Friday night Smackdown coming up. I go into work Saturday but that’s ok. The job is going well. With all that said, I’d like to wish all my readers to this blog, happy holidays.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim

Nice day Monday

Since it’s been a few days since I last posted a blog entry, I figure it’s better late then never. Anne wanted to get up a little early to make us our Sunday brunch for Monday. She got out pots and pans and went to work. So we had out nice Sunday breakfast about 2pm Monday afternoon. I got some Lodge mail and Anne got a $100 gift certificate from her sister for both of us. Very nice of her.

My wife had to leave for work early and I left at my usual time. I ended up catching my bus in the cold but because there was very little wind, it wasn’t that bad heading out Monday late afternoon.

I’m still reading FF #1 and I just read “A Smaller Government.” It wasn’t bad. Not great, but not bad. I’m on pace for completing this book by the end of the year and I’m picking up FF #2 Christmas eve,

Speaking of Christmas eve it is a work day but were only working until 1pm. Cheques are being sent the day before Christmas which is ok. It also means I’m up pulling in a rare early morning shift to get the cheque and to qualify for my stat pay. When your working part time here in Alberta you need to work the day before and the day after. Kind of silly really.

I had a pretty good night at work. Greg put the Oiler game on for us and the Oiler’s were winning 3-1 when I left out of there at 9pm. I got home and with 10 minutes left it was 3-2 Oiler’s with 10 minutes left in the game. Anne called with 2 minutes left and the Oiler’s scored on a power play. Good stuff. Nice Christmas present for us Oiler fans. Anne put out some canned ravioli for me and I watched Raw. It was an excellent show last night. On a scale from 1-10, I’d say it was a 10! Great stuff.

Anne’s not home yet as she’s out at Superstore across the street getting stuff for the holidays. Otherwise I had a nice couple of days since Saturday’s entry. I worked on my special writing project. For now I’ll just call it KOR. I’ve got the first 12 scenes done up a bunch of characters. That’s all I’m going to say about it now

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim

Big post Saturdays

I‘m having a real struggle obtaining my vacation pay. This fiasco began because I have my vacation pay accrued. I take out 2 draws/year. 1 in the Spring and another this time of year. Makes for a nice Christmas. I called last week to have the reception hold a form for me on Gregg’s desk. It was in a large white envelope: “This for James;” I left it on the boss’s desk in the envelope over the last weekend because he was in Vegas. Thursday night imagine my surprise when I found no vacation pay on my cheque. Wtf? The boss said he never saw a form from me and I should get another form from Greg, re-submit it for him and try again for Friday morning (yesterday). It‘s still not to late. However Greg was away from the office last night. Shit. I thought I’d have to make a special trip in etc. I later saw Greg out the corner of my eye when he came in an hour before the shift was ready to close (Thursday night) He produced the envelope. I received $80 in bonuses based upon CC’s et. The boss thinking it was for me gave it to the management station on the same floor. I’ll provide a photo of this area for later. This was my mistake for not opening up the envelope for the boss’s attention.

Last night I’m feeling pretty good heading into the office. Partially overcast etc. Cold. No sooner do I get off the elevator Greg hands me this notice: It’s an email reply to the boss from head office saying there was an overpayment (of some kind) almost equaling the 2nd half of what my vacation pay was for. WTF? I was livid, crushed. The Grinch that stole Christmas you hear about had stabbed me in the back. I brought this letter to the boss’s attention while he was still in his office and he asked me if I’m coming to the Christmas party. What, after this? He wrote down a phone number I should call Monday, yeah right because head office (Calgary) conveniently left for the weekend. All kinds of things wee running through my head and I had a slow start to the shift based on that and felt terrible. I knew this would cause me some grief at home with Anne later as well. I was expecting this money to buy the 120 Gb Zune media player as a Christmas present for myself and to take Anne out for a nice Christmas dinner. So much for that. In early January Anne’s going to take out of her RRSP for my Lodge dues and my website. My vacation pay accrued allows me to buy one big ticket item/year. Now if I don’t get this thing fixed up, I’ll have to rethink this vacation pay strategy and maybe have it on my weekly pay cheque like most people do.
I wasn’t in a good mood, obviously, heading home. Even though the Oiler game was on I still felt let down. I didn’t even go buy a book at Audrey’s as I wanted to buy the “Night’s Dawn” trilogy, book #2. I came in shortly after 9pm last night, listened to the Oiler’s/Ducks game in progress. 2-1 Ducks but the Oiler’s scored their first in the game in the 3rd just as I was coming in the door. They tied the game up but lost in the shoot out. Good news for us Oiler fans is that the Flames lost, on their home ice yet.
After the game I watched a bit of Smackdown and Anne came in and I showed her the form and she was level headed to work it out with me what might have happened. Then the fighting dinner, some of Smackdown, more fighting. I went to bed then got up to do some computer stuff in the office. Anne came in with some chocolates for me (peace offering) We’re all right for now.

I’ve had a tough week, what with hearing all of this economic gloom and doom going around I had some potentially explosive stuff that could have occurred with another employee at work (shades of Lucian but with somebody else) The Oiler’s lost a game earlier this week, my vacation pay, plus some problems with my teeth. There hasn’t been a lot to get excited about. Anne gave me back $15 from the other day so I still had my original $80. In which case I’m going to go get the book and a bottle of Christmas wine for us for next week.

We’ve got a lot to be grateful about considering the trouble in the world and the economic meltdown. We’re not in a recession quite yet here in Edmonton but unless things change we could be in one by the Spring. Then again the economy could change on a dime. We had a recession in 2004 that completely escaped my radar. I never even knew we were in one at the time! That recession came and went and some are suggesting (here at least) its going to be like 2004.

The good news; the US has given the green light for another bail out package. This time it’s for the big 3 in the auto industry. We’re essentially doing the same thing here in Canada announced yesterday a multi billion dollar stimulus package that includes our own auto industry most of which is back East. Thing is, you can toss around Billions of dollars if the banks aren’t going to lend credit to customers no matter how good the car is, nobody will be able to get one. In Europe I’ve heard they have had (or have?) this 2 for 1 deal. Buy one vehicle get a 2nd one free. Good idea. The other thing is our auto industry is just a spin off of the US auto industry. We produce the overflow. Also, the auto industry needs to produce vehicles that people want to buy, Hybrid vehicles could become a lot cheaper for one thing. It’s not good news for the Alberta oil industry but there is the larger picture here. More about the economy here, the Feds are talking about reforming the UIC (Unemployment Insurance Commission) program again by bringing it back to the level of the early 1990’s. The Coalition is really squeezing the Tory minority here, which is good. Especially if Harper wants to keep his job. The recent EI (Employment Insurance) is no better then Union strike pay.

I’m really blessed in some ways because in my line of work, I am recession proof. Also because I’ve diversified some years ago I can always work in Security as a security guard, also recession proof. Plus my wife is working and we could qualify for a rental subsidy program in the new year and there are all kinds of things the Feds can do to strengthen and improve our economy, things look optimistic. Plus, I’m going to “fight for my vacation pay.” We think it’s a clerical error on their part. Plus the Oiler’s play on Monday, we get our cheques on Christmas eve, I get 2 days off and the Oiler’s play again on Boxing day.

As for me, today it’s into the office in about an hour. I’ll be out there in that -28C weather waiting for the #11 bus to creep over the Manning bridge. No Tim Horton’s for me this weekend and once I put my 4 hours in, it’s off to get my book and a bottle of wine and I’ll have a nap later. I feel pretty good about things around here after all.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim

working the week

It wasn’t to bad going in Wednesday afternoon. I read from a really long short story in FF #1. I didn’t like it at all nor could I find the plot or even what the story was about. The story was stupid meandering and a real waste of time. I’m hoping that within the last 8 stories or so left there will be at least one more very good and a few good stories before I’m done with FF #1,
I had a decent night on the job getting praise from management for top total and a couple of CC sales as well. I left with a headache and felt something coming on.

The air walking across the parkade to Corona didn’t help and my headache got worse reading on the way home. That story had to be the worst one of the bunch of the batch. Sorry Ian McDonald but that story blowed. I didn’t feel much better on the bus leaving out of Clairview. All I wanted to do was to catch whatever remained of the Oiler game. It was 2-0 in the 2nd for Vancouver. 3-0 at the end of the 2nd. Uggh. The Oiler’s finally got on board, 3-1. Which is a lot better then they did against us on Saturday night. The Oiler’s made it interesting scoring a 2nd goal late in the third.

During the game my headache had got worse. It wasn’t a headache but its something? Flue? Most likely. I laid down with the fan on feeling a little better. Anne came in and made me a lemon relief tea and I‘m starting to feel a bit better.

I’m hoping I’ll have my vacation pay on my cheque this afternoon. This way I can get myself a Christmas present and I most likely will get something nice.

What I don’t know yet. I do know I want to pick up book #2 of the Nights Dawn trilogy.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim

Here it is already

in the middle of the month and I would have thought by now I would have FF# 1 read. The last story “P dolce” was highly enjoyable. I’m enjoying “Jesus Christ reanimator.” Another good story. The 2nd half of FF #1 is turning out to be better then the fist half.

Not much going on today. It’s out at 4pm to brave the cold weather and into work. I’m going to put in another full week and maybe a few afternoons as well. I don’t want to miss a CC bonus because of 1 mistake on my part.

After work it’s home for Monday night Raw. The next Oiler game is here on Tuesday against Chicago. Then for the rematch at Vancouver Wednesday.

Hard to believe Christmas week is almost here. Next Wednesday is Christmas and then it’s time to renew my website for another year and my lodge dues are up soon as well. I normally on New Years day take a look back at the that was with a bit of a review and some predictions. I’m going to start a separate page called “predictions.” None of them turn out but it’s fun trying.

Coast has a decent show going on as I write this (Sunday/Monday) Horror suspense novelist Dean Koontz. He’s been on before. Wednesday/Thursday is on UFO’s. One of my favorite Coast topics.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim

Winter storm

We’re in the middle of an extreme winter storm right now folks. Temperature out there is -23C with a wind chill of -34C. We’ve had it good until as of last week. Even as of the other night Thursday was mild, almost spring like.

Yesterday when I left out of here at 4pm it was -8C. I can’t recall what the wind chill factor was but it was really windy. It was cold but not unbearably so. I got into the office a little after 4:30pm and got my dialer and had a coffee. It was slow going sales wise and I think we’re going off this CPA thing. Moe moved us to the other side where we originally were. I got one CC sale and a total of $465. After work I braved the cold and headed over to Audrey’s. I got book 1 of Peter F. Hamilton’s “Night’s dawn” trilogy and Book two is there. I’ve got 2 books behind the special order desk left, including FF #2 at American pricing. The book I bought was just under $20. When I get my vacation pay next week (if it all comes in) I’ll pick up Book 2. Book 3 isn’t out yet at Audrey’s.

So I got home and did my admin stuff and went online expecting my wife to give me a call but I didn’t hear the phone ring. I think she gets out at 11pm on a Friday night. I didn’t watch any Smackdown. I just couldn’t get into it.

I watched the news and Anne made me a soup and a sandwich and I watched ECW and went to bed.

I woke up about 3:30am and couldn’t get back to sleep after that. I wish I didn’t have to go into work this morning, not because of the cold but because of fatigue and I’m a bit wiped out from the week but I need the CC sales. Just 2 more for 20 to qualify and a few extra in case some decline for the bonus. That’s an extra $40 on my cheque.

Somethings got to give here. With our finances and all we’re barely cutting it. Fortunately we had a rental increase in October and since (by law) the next rental increase wont be 365 days from there so we have some breathing room. But they wont increase it by much yet every time they do Anne freaks out. The other thing is we have a chance to apply for rental subsidy, so that could help us out. Then I could always put more hours in on the job (last resort.) The DNC list is no doubt hurting us but its not unbearable. When someone other then the customer’s name on the screen says “put me on the DNC list” I don’t comply. The customer has to tell me that not the neighbor or the friend over for a beer or the secret lover hoping to get some. I might have to put more hours in after the new year pending the subsidy. Then the other thing is I could always get another job. I’m looking at security guard job (SGJ) work. Not all SGJ work is cushy though. A lot of it is on your feet and moving around. But I wouldn’t mind something like the WH job I had in 1994. That was a cushy job. Site was small a 10 minute patrol and most of the time it was sitting down reading. So, it’s not like we don’t have options.

Today I’m out of here at 9am to brave the cold waiting for my bus I’ll have my balaclava on and a 5 minute wait in the shelter. I‘ll be ok. I’ll get my Tim’s breakfast and the walk across the parkade by Corona station this morning is going to be the hardest part and the same route back after.

This next week is going to be a short work week what with Christmas and Boxing day in the middle of the week. It’s going to feel strange. This time next weekend Christmas will all be but over.

Speaking about this time of year, the Sun sets at 4:13pm. But the winter Equinox is December 21st after that the days get longer. Daylight savings time year 2 of the Canadian system to the American one is March 9th. What with December mostly over that leaves us with January and February for real winter. Daylight savings time is March 8th. I usually start thinking Spring Q3 of February.

After work I want to go to Future shop and have a look around and get some chips from the Dollarama store on the way back. I’ll have a bit of a nap. The Oiler’s are hosting Vancouver for tonight’s game. Once I get home, I’m hunkering down for the weekend. We’ve got Boots with us. Anne rescued him from the cold as soon as she got home.

Anyway, for the most part, that’s all from me for this weekend. I might post over there on Blogger Sunday.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim

I was able to

call the receptionist to get a form for my vacation pay. I’ll fill it out for Rob so he can put it on for Next weeks pay period. Anne left for her 8 hours and I locked everything up for my 4 hours.

Weather wise it was nice going in +3C. Weird clouds in the West, almost Spring like. I felt good going in. I got my dialer and I had a good crew to work with. I was getting a few CC’s as well and I had I think about $400 by break. Bud got the first $20 bonus. I moved up to JT’s dialer and Still getting CC’s I ended up with $735 and the 2nd half $20 bonus. That was a good night going in. That bonus if I get it will be on my vacation pay bonus.

I was feeling good leaving out of there making sure Moe got my bonus in. Good stuff. I had a chat with one of the guys I sat with (Peter) in the 2nd half waiting for my train home. I got a bit of reading in from FF. Just as I was pulling in so was my #183. I got that home and relaxed the evening. Anne called at 10pm and I had some ravioli she fixed up for me and fed Boots and she came in about 12:30. It gave me a break as well.

My wife made a platter for us of sausage, crackers, cheeses, olives type thing to go along with out wine. I’ll take my insulin, we’ll listen to a bit of Coast and we’ll pass out.

I’m really struggling with one of the stories in FF by Larry Niven and Brenda Cooper. “The terror bard.” This is I think one of the first stories I’ve read that is co authored. I’ve never read any Larry Niven but I have one of his books co authored with Brenda Cooper. This story was really hard to follow. And I almost felt like skipping it for the next story. So far out of 10 stories in this anthology this was one of 2 that I didn’t like. I am totally board with it. I‘m hoping the novel will be better. So far I’ve enjoyed only 2 of the stories. This anthology is turning out to be mediocre at best, almost a waste of time. I’m not going to give up on it. I’m about half way through it but this story “The terror bard,” uggh.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim

We're in

winter now folks.

Saturday night I watched a great Oiler's/SJ game on the road.

I didn't get a lot of reading in this weekend because of a soar tooth. I did manage to read 1 short story from the FF anthology. At first the story was slow going but it moved a little faster near the end. I hope to have FF #1 read by the end of the year.

My wife gave me a sleeping pill just now, even though it's a little early and I seldom ever take a sleeping pill on a Sunday night. I'll most likely sleep until 1pm this afternoon because of this thing.

Also I got into a bit of writing on a special project I'm working on. I've got half of the scenes more or less figured out for half of the beginning part of the project. If all goes well I should be in full writing mode May first of '09. I hope.

Today nothing special. I want to go into work and do my Monday nighter and then home to watch Raw.

For hours Sunday night I've been browsing YouTube for various video media players. I'm looking for something that has an external speaker, plays games, and external flash memory. The Zune looked pretty good except for no external speaker. The Zen looked good but it couldn't play games. I finally came across the Newman Manman A4. Its a big 4" screen but has 2 external speakers. I think it's sold for about $140 bucks. Looks really good. I don't like the screen size though.

last night I stumbled a pretty low quality 1992 video on the Gnostic Mass done in 8 parts no less. The video quality was fair. On a scale from 1-10 I'd say 4. But easy to see what was going on. I rather enjoyed it. Last time I was at a mass was I think 1996, just as Nepthyse was closing down. I really miss it. I think ByThor is still holding them with Ashtoroth, I'm not sure.

Anyway Bloggers, that's all for now.

e. Jim

My friend

Neil lodge organist couldn’t make it. He suffered another stroke the other day. He said the stroke took out his sense of smell. I felt bad for him. I couldn’t get Nathan. So it looked like I’d have to leave on my own. I managed to get a hold of Nathan but he said he had to pick someone up from the other side of town. I was on my own after all. I had about a 10 minute wait for my bus but it was really warm out there. It had been snowing off and on all Thursday afternoon. A 15 min wait latter at Clairview LRT and still no train. Finally a train pulled in and the operator had said the whole LRT line was being delayed by 15 minutes. Finally, at Rexall and waiting for a bus on 118th by the overpass I get one. The driver thought I met 60th st and the snowfall kind of disorientated me. I got off to early. At 7:20pm I’d be late for sure and after a bit of a wait I got another bus heading the direction I need to go and I was across the street from the lodge at 7:30pm. I buzzed and tried the door. Open. I got inside even before things got underway. Just in time.

The whole evening went well. I was a little rough around the edges for my part. The festive board was free. All officers got together for a group photo. I had a good time. I called Anne a few times. I’d be late getting home.

George drove me home and I got in about 11:30pm. Not bad.
Today it’s off to work and get my cheque and then get the bus up to the bank and home.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim

It was sure a

lot colder going in yesterday afternoon, but not bitterly so. I read a bit out of FF on the way in and decided to go straight into the office to grab my dialer because of all the “new tap shooters.” New because all the East Indian kids that were Robs darlings a year ago are now out because Immigration/Service Canada says it’s illegal for them to work at my place of employment. Rob is elevating staff for “promotion.” Yet DC said for me to go to the back to the business section. Meaning more of the CFK campaign, because I got a $1,100 total Tuesday. I sat in-between JT and R. Both were not using their 3 levels of support. This tells me that “management” singled me out because with the high total Monday night, I stood out. So I was listening for the “Do t Rob’s way,” approach and JT or R were not. That boarders on harassment.

I had a slow start last night pulling in $230 something and 1 CC sale before the break. I rallied with $440 and another CC sale for 2 on the night. The best part about the evening was the Oiler’s were leading 3-1 when I left and I got a $5.00 bonus. I should be getting $35 in bonuses next week. Yeah right. I rode in on the train with one of the recent kids I was taking upon myself to train. I prefer riding in alone.

Ok, speaking about hockey everyone is all up in arms over Sean Avery’s comment in Calgary the other day. The league ought to chill out. And here’s everyone like Don Cherry jumping on the band wagon. Personally I “love the guy,” Sean Avery. He’s a great hockey player. He’s young and abrasive and I like that. The Oiler’s should get rid of Penner and the other goal tender talk to Dallas and make a trade for Avery. He might be a great fit for the Oiler’s.

I’ve got Lodge this evening and I’m looking forward to that. Its our installation night where everyone steps up for real. My first chair.

Everyone’s talking about Harper suspending Parliament because of this coalition thing. Reality check time. When Harper was opposition he tried doing the same thing with NDP and the Block to get rid of the Liberals. This whole thing is a bunch of crap.

One movie that looks really good (another remake) “The day the Earth stood still.” The 1951 sci-fi classic. There’s 4 movies I want to see, the above. And also the new James Bond, and the new Star Trek movie. There’s also another Transporter movie coming out. Hollywood has a good crop of sci-fi movies coming out this year. Or what’s left of it.

Other then that not a lot going on. I’m still waiting for that simulation from Ms. I might have t call them tonight around 4pm.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim

Work began

on a sour note but I turned it around. I was called into the office. All of management was there listening to my calls. They just don't want me to reload taps. They're right. I turned it around and ended up with one of the best nights I've ever had, and another $15 bonus.I took this photo outside about 4:10pm on the way in. It's looking South at the Manning bridge over the LRT tracks. To the left of me is the ETS bus platform. It wasn't that bad out there although this camea akes photo's about 10% darker then usual.

Anyway Blogger's that's all for now

e. Jim

Yeesh we're

back at it again. Seems next Monday the Harper PC Government, here in Canada needs to bring out a budget. That in itself isn’t bad but what is bad news for us here in Canada is that the Liberals and the NDP have joined forces to bring down the Tory Government in a non confidence vote. Keep in mind that Harper has a minority Government. He’s at the mercy of the other official party leaders. If they don’t like a major bill like a budget they can call for a non confidence vote. In other words we’re most likely going to the polls again. With all the political instability here in this crazy country is there any wonder investment and consumer confidence is down. A 3 party system is the way to go but this ganging up on one leader because he has a minority is simply wrong. We’ll know next week sometime if and when there will be a major election-again.

Not much going on at the moment. I’m enjoying my first coffee for the day. We’ve got our rent ready (more or less) for today. My wife gets paid on Friday. Christmas looks good. This week I’ve got lodge night. It’s my turn to be Tyler. Should be fun. Hopefully in the new year, I’ll have a new job and I can have every Thursday night off without having to explain to management where I am every other Thursday night.

Its grey out there and windy but holding at +6C. Our snow is supposed to get here this week sometime. Most likely as I’m going to lodge. Oh well its about time. I also noticed that the book cover images on my Blogger Blog are broken but the same images are intact on my website. Most strange. I think it might have something to do with a passwaord change where I upload my images to get a URL. I'll try and fix it up after Monday night Raw tonight.

Anyway Bloggers, that’s all for now

e. Jim