What Really Happened...

What really happened... on my birthday trip. n_n

Well, Laurie, me, Craig, and Stephanie all crammed into Craigs car late on the night before my birthday, at around 11pmish. Mum had had only 3 hours of sleep after a 12 hour cab driving day, so she was a little tired. However, she insisted on being 'the one' to drive us back and forth.
It was dark, and it took forever to reach Saskatchewan. The dark and rain was pretty neat. Though I tried to look outside at the scenery, there was little I was able to see. Too dark.
Laurie kept pissing me off, at first just by swerving into the other lane. I kept asking her if she was okay, and she'd hastily assure us that she was. Then while it was raining, she'd try to ride a big trucks ass end all the way, until our complaints made her begrudgingly slow down a little. When it's pitch black out, raining, and you're two feet away from a big truck on a slippery highway, far from help, I'd be scared.
Mum was also feeling very warm, mainly due to her menopause. I wanted a few times to punch the back of her headrest, hard, to smarten her up. She'd have her window down all the way, cold air on the vent system blowing, and I'd feel my nuts crawl up in the back of my throat. 'Just try to sleep back there' she'd say, as she swerves into the other lane, following a big ass truck in a rain storm scant inches from his bumper. Grr... >_>

Regardless, it was fun. The girls all sang, Craig was his non-stop jokester self, and I rode more or less quietly along.
We arrived at Rolleu?... Rollo-something Saskatchewan, A.K.A. Dog River, a small town that Corner Gas is filmed at.
It was early morning, and we were all pretty excited to be there. There is a full-time security gaurd who is living at the gas station site, where she lives in a camperized trailer. She came out to greet us, and we got permission to walk around the area to take pictures.
Well, I went camera crazy and took lots of footage of the place. The security gaurd was so nice that she actually let me inside the store, ap lace normally offlimits to people, just to take a few pictures. It had that old, musty paint smell to the place that I love, full of neglect and old timey ways.
The security guard I guess was actually the same security person who, at the end of certain episodes of the show, explains about the towns history and stuff. I got her to pose with us for the camera.
After a zillion pictures, we left to take pictures of the towns many hand-painted fire hydrants, which usually have people painted on them. One had an Oscar the Grouch on it.

We stopped for breakfast at a diner, where we all behaved more or less indecently. We drove southeast, back into Alberta, this time able to see the scenery of Saskatchewan on our way.
Pincher Creek eventually grew into our sights, and we found my Grandmas' new place down there. Gladys and Alan are both living at a new place. It's like a series of bungalows, all made into a townhouse type of thing. Instead of a back yard, they have an apartment style shared indoor hallway, that joins every house and leads them to indoor rec centers, facilities, etc..
They did a wonderful job of settling in. It doesn't feel like a mausoleum. It has their personality in it, and they made it feel comfortable to be in. They're also quite happy, so, so am I.
We stayed the night there. Grandma rented a Guest Suite down the indoor hallway, where all four of us travelers all slept together for one night. Two cots and a bed.
I heard a noise at night, that sounded like a jar of water with dentures being shook around in it. I started to giggle. For two hours after that, all four of us laughed, snickered, snotted, giggled, and roared. It was great. Being tired can be fun.
The day after I walked/ran grandmas' dog, then we went north, more or less.
We visited Frank Slide, a place where a mountain fell and crushed a town. We drove west of it just to find a Tim Hortons, then came back east again to see Frank Slide one last time as we returned to the northerly highway.

Eventually we made it up to Red Deer, and went into Blackfalds to visit Maryanne and Mike. After a brief visit, and getting my fine birthday present from dad (thanks dad!), we went north, back home. It was swell.

More to type about, but not tonight. Some issues are on my mind, but they can wait. Laterz!

Crap! O_o

Sorry, sorry, sorry pops! Happy birthday today! Damn... >_>
It's now after 12am, and I completely forgot to call you.
Sheesh. My heads all fuzzy. I get tomorrow off, so when I can think straight, I'll try giving you a call and I'll update this blog with my birthday adventures.
Sorry once again!

Squee!!! n_n

It's muh Birfday tomorrow guyz!

I'm leaving TONIGHT for my Saskatchewan trip. Craig, mum, me, and Steph are going. The plan is to sleep in the car, and mum and Craig will hot-seat and drive east.
After buying at least thirty of those damn Corner Gas baseball caps, for the guys at work of course, we'll tour around and then head for southern Alberta, where we'll meet my grandparents in Pinscher Creek. Haven't seen them since this year, when they moved away after selling their house.

Guess what my birthday wish is?

I don't need a title... >_>

Well, I'm nearing the end of my night-shift spree. After a Friday night/Saturday morning shift, I'm off for a few days, to get ready for my Saskatchewan trip.

It's been a wild ride at work the past two weeks, working 12 hours plus night shifts with Jamie. There's been extreme ups and downs, and now, now that our shift is coming to an end, I'm feeling happy.

Let's talk about Jamie for a minute. For all this time that I've come back to Sherritt, she's been mis-handled by the bosses. We were originally meant to work together as a unit. It was practical, since we both came at the same time, were close to work, were both hard working and reliable... But then the boss decided to split us up, and began to put her on jobs completely demeaning and non-associated with OUR job. Basically she got sent to go work as a scaffolder in their materials yard, without recieving the pay that a professional scaffolder would recieve doing those same duties. It was grossly unfair.
Frankly, she's had enough of it. I've been talking to her, helping her plan positive changes for her own life.
Today, just now actually, I just took her so she could drop off her application to HSE, a safety organization, where two prominent people in the field has already put in a good word for her. I'd put my good name in there too, but... well, THAT reason why I'm NOT going to is a different story, best saved for later. Heh, we're eating McDonalds now. Just the two of us, and none for anyone else. >_<
Last night I actually had to convince Jamie to allow herself to go home sick, even though she already knew that she was sick and tired, and unable to stay the full night shift. I told her that nobody would get mad at her for leaving. If anything, her staying sick and exhausted would be worse, since she was in a supervisory role, manwatching workers in a dangerous area. If she went home, and got a lot of rest, she could come back the next day with her usual positive attitude and a smile on her face. I think I also gave her the first and only hug I ever gave her last night.
Today she's better, much to my relief. K, enough about her. My turn now.

My current job situation looks a little bad. We're down to 4 active workers, 3 of which work full time at Sherritt, myself included. We are severely understaffed as a company, and my boss may end up losing his contract with Sherritt if he doesn't get any new workers this winter. The trouble is, with a worker shortage, and short in RELIABLE people..., it's hard for a scuzzy contractor company to get help when big shots are hiring left and right.
I don't care. I'm just saving up my dollars and getting ready. Ready for a change.

I have a lot on my mind right now, and many topics I can't post about yet, but everythings gonna be okay. Just trying to sort things out, day by day, and so far things are sorting out just fine.

Two more nights of nightshift, then I'm off for a bit of a break. See ya guys, I'm outta here for the night.

I'm writing a song...

Yup. Still writing down lyrics for three songs that I've made up over the years. One tune is reminiscent of a Native American/Japanese hybrid, while the other two are either a whimsical fairy tale type song, with high, wailing ups and downs, and the other is an extremely hard and heavy metal riff of a dirgeful melody. Right now I'm working on the Native-esque one first, and finally, pieces are falling together. I know the tune well enough, I just need a meaning to fill it. Now that words are finding places, it's coming together quite nicely.

I posted a comment on the 'Better Days' artist page last night, before going to work. I managed to listen to Jay Naylors' interview on a Podcast last night. Even though his interview was only about 50 minutes long, I learned a lot about this artist who makes one of my favourite comics online. I felt the interview questions were just too tame and held-back though, although one or two pressing questions for Jay that I wanted to ask were actually answered in this interview.
The comment I posted was just an insight and a query for the artist himself to answer: I don't care about the other leeches that praise or diss him. I want to hear HIS answers.

I'm helping Jamie right now as she deals with some changes in her life. Like the 'good big brother' that I am. >_>
I gave her a lot of insight about herself, and a lot of support, over the past while. She's transitioning her life into something better, something that will make her happy. For starters, she's looking into a possible job change. So, after a quick shower this morning, and McDonalds breakfast (my treat), she's working on her resumes for something that WILL be better for her, something that gives her better opportunities, to not only make money, but also get opportunities to travel a little and meet a few new people in different job sites.

My birthday is coming up, if anyone cares. The 22nd of September, this month. I'm turning a whopping 27 years old. Yippee... >_>
I'm taking the 22nd and 23rd off, since I'll be touring Saskatchewan and southern Alberta for a few days. Hopefully I can find my 'werewolf queen' from a different tribe. Kidding. I'm visiting my grandparents and visiting a location for a comedy show I sometimes watch.

Going to bed soon. I think I understand why people like Facebook, but honestly, the set-up is pathetic. It could have been made a LOT better. It's just a jumbled mish-mash of YouTube, MySpace, and a VERY PATHETIC EXCUSE for a blogging page.
I think that if someone just created MySpace a little better, to allow instant messaging and more room to add extras easily into your 'page', there'd be no need for Facebook. All Facebook offers is a utility to search and find friends a little easier.

Night guys.

26 hours straight...

...and I'm exhausted. Me and Jamie finished a grueling 19, no, sorry... 'Legally' it's a 20 hour shift.
We worked most of the day as normal. Halfway through lunch, Dan Rake came in, and he was in charge of the evening activities. As usual... he didn't have a fucking clue on how to manage things.
'We need 2 manwatches tonight. Come back at 5.'
And so we did. And had to stay until 7am.
Tonight, and tomorrow night, we're going back. But just for a 12 hour shift. No meals special ordered for us, no thank yous, nothing. Bastards.
Meh. I didn't mind it too much. I was too tired to care.
I did manage to keep cheery enough to be kind and considerate. I offered an old woman on our crew, her name is Chris, one of my jackets, and I made Jamie wear my winter trench coat, since she was at a really windy spot all night.
The worst thing about yesterday was my knee acting up very badly, the lack of sleep, and my chest cold acting up as well, since my body is too tired to fend off anything.
One other thing that I must bitch about. My employer, Gary, trying again to call us on our cell phones. I told him very sternly not to. Use our fucking land lines Gary, I said. It costs us money to use our cell phones (well, not much, but he doesn't need to know.). We often turn our phones off. It's best to use a land line to get through to us at home. I told him. I told him again, three times now. Bastard. He's getting rich and fat off of us.
Night guys. Goin' to work soon.

On my way!

Alright, I made it back in one piece.
Today, I skipped a day of work, to drive down to Red Deer to pick up Shawn and Jamie.
The morning started rough. I woke up early, as normal, then went back to bed, like normal. Then I got up at the right time, and called my boss, telling him I wouldn't be in today. I stayed up all morning, then went to go check my oil and stuff in my car. I need an oil change soon, but no big deal. I topped up the rad coolant in the overflow, then went to turn on my car.
The battery was dead.
Gahhh!!! Once again, I would look like I was unreliable, all once again due to my stupid lack of electrical understanding!!!
No sweat, no panic. I called in a favor to Dale, and got him to come by and boost me up. Phew.
After topping up my car, I drove down to Red Deer. Lots and lots and lots of road construction going on today. O_o
I made it there, then had to hunt these guys down at their friends house. Even though I have a 2009 road map of the city, it didn't include all of the changes or areas of the new sub-division these guys were staying at. Grrr, house hunting...
After driving through Red Deer TWICE,I made it to their place. I had been holding in my pee for at least an hour now... >_>
I got there, went in, and HAD TO WAIT for the washroom! Noes!...
They were all hanging out: Shawn, Jamie and Brennan. Once I came in, I met his mum. She's almost TOO good: like one of those robot wives from that movie... Shepford Wives is it?... but very sweet, kind, and pretty. I liked her a lot.
I had met Brennan before, but not often enough to really remember him that well. Well, after re-meeting him again, I remembered why I got along with him so well: he is a good kid after all.
His mum cooked us lunch at 3pm, then after eating friend chicken, garlicky brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and corn, we hanged out for a brief bit of time mroe, then it was time to head back.
Well, I guess Shawn decided not to come back quite yet. I dunno, but I get the impression he might be staying there for a while again, and maybe do some more job hunting or something. Jamie jumped in the back seat (no front passenger seat in my car), and we took off.
I got spun around a bit, exiting the city, following roads that are now blocked off and not in use anymore, but still on my maps. Once I got on the highway, we went to Blackfalds, to say hi to my pops.
I could only stay 5 minutes (to look at his porch and go pee actually), then I ran off, back home again.
I took a wrong turn at Leduc, and followed another junction road 5km south of the 625 turn-off. I made it to Highway 21, then followed it home without incident back to good old Fort Saskatchewan.
I miss 'Muffin', the adorable black cat that lives at Brennans, and is Shawns 'adopt-a-cat' over there. He looks just like 'Blackie' from Maryannes' place. Exactly like him.
Jamie is sick, so although she promised me an icecream, I told her to hold off on it until she felt better.
We made it home just in time for 'pasketties'!!! >_<
So, I is tired now, and some details are lost in time, but, meh, who cares? Night everyone!

Well...

$2000 in charges have been dropped. Thank you Mr. Nice Guy calling from Golden. The warning will be remembered for a long, long time. I'm glad that nobody is being charged or punished for my mistake this summer. I'm also glad that I won't be hurt with a record, meaning I can travel freely and without incident. That's good. I have to go to Red Deer tomorrow.

Shawn and Jamie's ride, well, caught on fire yesterday/today?... So, rideless, they're stuck. Once I get an address, I can go down and pick them up tomorrow.

Hmm...

I haz a plan?... ^_^

Grr, I is sick... >_>

That British guy who recently quit from work passed on his foreign bird flu or something on us. I'm exhibiting first stage signs of that dehabilitating sickness I had last winter, back when I entered my huge depression era.
I'm, uh... on some heavy meds right now. ^_^ Thank you Advil Extreme.
Oh god, I'm starting to cough now... ~_~ How long will THIS last I wonder?

Mum wants me to take the Monday and day after on my birthday off. She's taking me, along with her friend Craig, to 'Corner Gas', a real life location in Saskatchewan where the popular comedy show is set. I told her I will take it off.

I'll be piercing myself more on my b-day, or close to it. I'm gonna get another ring in my other nipple, one hoop in my left ear, AND a rod-style piercing in my man-hood. Why you ask? Because I'm a crazy son-of-a-bitch, and I enjoyed the experience the last time I went. I get payed in a few days, and once I make a small payment on my credit card, I'll be happy.

Once Jamie gets her pay, she can pay me back the last 200 bucks she owes me, back from when I ordered all that cos-play stuff for her and Steph. I told her I'm only putting that money in an envelope. On and off we kinda planned to maybe take that gun course together with her dad. While I have my doubts about her intent to follow through with it or not, I'll still put the money away.

Tony doesn't work with me anymore. He goes back to school tomorrow. Jamie won't be going back for another week. All the younger ones, Tony, Steph, and Sam, are going back to school tomorrow. Well, okay. Maybe not Sam, since home schooling doesn't count(or did they say that she IS going back this year?...).
I went with mum and Steph today for some school clothing shopping, where I found a few more copies of Diablo 2 for my brother and friend Harding to play. I would like online friends to play with me from time to time.

So far nothing is wrong with my life. So far so good. I won't be able to sleep tonight, even WITH powerful sleeping aids like my Ultra Strength Advil Night-time Knock-ya-out pills. Meh. I can sleep at work tomorrow. >_<

Later.