More to come

I have been getting some grief from a few of my loyal fans for a lack of ANYTHING on here. So I am going to post a quick one, and try to get back on later with some of my pics. On Tuesday I took my driving test for my new job as a letter carrier at Canada Post. Yay!!!! Finally after a long long long haul, I am almost there. On Monday I start getting paid!!! I am not sure why the driving test, but I got a pass rather than a fail although my reversing could certainly use some work.
Tomorrow morning back there for some other certification, and I am starting the paid training on Monday.
So a long stretch of 5 months to the day, I will be back on some one's payroll. I tell you, it can't come soon enough.
I took this ten-foot-tall truck out to make a couple of fake deliveries and rolled through the downtown in the truck and had a pretty good visit with the guy. I don't envy his job, but he was totally relaxed.
I will tell you all later how the return to the work world is treating me, but right now my laundry is finished.
I will try to go through the pictures of my recent trip to the Pembina Folk Music Festival where my friend Jeff Stuart played a stellar set for a bunch of his friends, and Fred Eaglesmith did next-to-nothing to woo his fans over. I enjoyed it thouroughly and especially dipping in the river as the temps soared to the mid-30's. That's hot for us here in Canada.

1408

Last night I went to see 1408, the movie based on a Stephen King book if my info is correct. It was great. One of those thriller movies I guess. I wouldn't call it a horror flick, mainly because it wasn't gruesome at all. Just full of tricks to make you trip yourself out.
The music would get really loud, and you would get tense and expect something to jump out and scare the hell out of you, but instead nothing happens. Or music will start playing with a sweet lady's voice singing something like, "It's only just the beginning".
I hope you know what I mean.
I think the most annoying part was the way it was filmed. The camera seemed to be spinning around, taking some shots from above, and some of the views were upside-down. Made you kind of dizzy at time.
But the movie had the digital clock coming on while unplugged, or the numbers changing on their own.... all the really frightening stuff from things I would watch as a kid.
I will always think of the Unsolved Mysteries I watched as a kid where the aliens were changing the kids bedside alarm clock/radio. It had to be the same model I happened to have, and always frightened me.
Cool movie though, next will Live Free or Die hard. I wonder if people in New Hampshire like that movie more than anyone else? The motto on their licence plate says "Live Free or Die" - typically American if you ask me.

Almost a month

Damn, it's been almost one month since my last post, but I am glad to see Sarah's is about that long too. The time is just getting away from me. I have no idea where the month of June went.
The job front is moving along nicely. I don't know why things are so slow, but I was told to go down to Canada Post on Monday morning two weeks ago. Then on Thursday I was called to come in and do a General Abilities Test the following Monday. Good start. I think I am generally able.
Then the Tuesday I was invited for an interview, and on Wednesday they called my references. If my security check would hurry up and go through, I think I should be getting a call.
What a difference this would make, and I hope I don't jinx it or anything by updating before I actually get the call I am waiting for.
I am using this as some weird kind of superstition or something to try and will them to call me back tomorrow.
I can't imagine what I will feel like if this weight is lifted off my shoulders. One thing, I can tell you 4 months of being out of work isn't as much fun as one might think.
I'll post again as soon as I know more.

Folk Festival

Man, my wonderful mom went to pick up folk fest tickets for another year, and although the line-up is the same old shit, it's going to be great. Nothing really compares to Folk Fest weekend. All the friends we see only at this time of year. It's my 12th year running I think, and over those years there are lots of us who travel into Edmonton for the music and the beer. This year I won't be travelling in which is good, and we are already talking about taking a fishing trip around that time too.
The best news of the whole lot is that my sister and her boy toy will be in town from Zambia. I wonder if Alvin will be glad to hear "The African Guitar Summit" who are playing this year.
In addition, Blue Rodeo will be back again, Harry Manx will be back again, Eric Bibb will be back again.
Just thinking it might be time for Terry Wickham to start bringing in acts that might appeal to someone other than the 60 year-olds who have been coming every year since the festival started. Mom, you aren't 60 yet!
Thinking back to last year, like him or not, Hawksley Workman was there all weekend and his sessions were packed. The younger kids have to have someone to go see right?
I hope the organizers figure it out in the next couple years. I would die of shock of the long-rumoured Elvis Costello, Neil Young, or Van Morrisson gigs ever came to the EFMF. We can always dream, but Buffy St. Marie winding up the whole festival??? Seriously.

Nothing new!

There's a way to get people to read what I am going to write...... nothing new. My grandma had her surgery yesterday to have her reversal done for something that she had done several months earlier. Not that anyone reading this would really be too excited to hear the details. It's gross stuff that my mom is much better at dealing with and explaining than I am.
I am now home three months, and I am still biding my time and waiting for that right job to come along. This is where everyone interjects and gives their suggestions. Don't worry, I am not waiting around for something to come to me. I have always been the luckiest guy in town, and I even told the dealer at the casino that once. But I know for this to fall into place is going to take more diligence and hard work from me. I have been at it all along.
The thing I am trying to get at is, that my folks have been behind me the entire time, and they haven't pushed at all. They somehow strike a perfect balance between encouraging and reminding. It's the people who don't really know what's going on that piss me off although they're just trying to help.
If I don't know you, and I don't talk to you about it, then leave me alone. Otherwise, there are friends who are looking for job postings, and keeping their eyes peeled. That's the support I need and look forward to getting from those around me. Otherwise, I am having a blast, and I am going to have good news any day now. I can feel it. Let's hope so anyway, the cupboards are getting a little bare.

Hockey Pools

Fascinating.... I am three points out now that Teemu Selanne finally shook out of his rut. The best part about the Oilers not being in the playoffs this year is that I was able to use my brain rather than my heart when picking my fantasy hockey team.
And I am starting to see some movement now that some of my players started to finally score. I am the reigning two-time champion of our regular season pool on sportsnet.ca, but I haven't been able to crack it in the playoffs.
Who would've thought I would be cheering for the Detroit Red Wings? Easy, seeing as I picked Datsyuk, Lidstrom, and Zetterberg. Shouldn't be a surprise though seeing as I hate Chris Pronger and wish he would've been suspended for 8 years.
I am keeping faithful to Canada on the Eastern front. I like the Sabres, enjoyed watching them all year, but I just like the way Ottawa has been playing.
So I am three points back, and there's lots of time to come back.

How much can things change in ten days?

The facebook phenomenon is dead I think. In my world anyway. I thought it was so handy, but I will stick to the old yahoo email address and blogging.
I just can't bear to rekindle relationships that took place 10 years ago, and I am not really a big fan of small talk anyway.
I am not trying to poo poo everything here, as I think there are advantages, and I admit I am a curious person, but with me there are things that are only cool for a short time and then I lose interest.
Kind of like the movie Bone Collector with Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Is she not the world's shittiest actor? I honestly couldn't bear the hokey lines, and the scenes where Denzel is conducting the police investigation from his hospital bed. It was RIDICULOUS! And perhaps the biggest waste of time yet.
I kept thinking of the dude on CSI who always has the cheesy lines and he's forever lifting his sunglasses up and down on his head.
And to think there are people who really like this BS. Oh well, I'd rather be outside myself.

I did see A History of Violence, which was pretty entertaining. And 16 Blocks with Mos Def and Bruce Willis I think. That was pretty good. Just a decent way to pass a couple of hours really. The new Bond was worth my time. Except for the scene at the end where the building is collapsing in Venice and no one really seems to be in any hurry to get out. The force of gravity must be weaker in Venice than it is in the rest of the world because it took an awfully long time for that building to fall.

I am interested in movies, and like to watch them, but I think I am one of those picky viewers who just doesn't like to watch something that is too silly. Like the movie with Tom Cruise - I think War of the Worlds when the son returns at the very end of the movie and answers the door. Are we really supposed to believe he survives that war scene? Absolute crap!
Next time I will think of something more interesting to talk about.

Ahhh what to say?!!!

I was playing around on the computer for about half an hour now, and I have come across several interesting things. My uncle's blog is great, I've linked to it on the side, so go check it out. Sounds like things are a little sketchy in New Orleans still.
I read an article by a Canadian guy in Maclean's one time just after Katrina and I don't think I will ever forget the pictures he had, and the stories he told. Trouble is I forgot his name. He was a professor at a university down there if I recall correctly. Anyway, it was fascinating, and it looks like there is lots to see and do there.

I am also going to admit to spending a little too much time on Facebook. I sit down and check it like my email, but I try to get off there asap - so nobody can cyber-snoop and check out what I'm doing. How could Tom be on the internet on Friday night? Or whatever. But this site is incredible. I've written about it before, but one buddy has pics of him flying a plane - I had forgotten he is a pilot - another has a little baby. Shit, that's the girl I dated in high school. I asked her not to hold my hand down the halls because all the teachers would ask seeing as my dad was the principal....... Years later I found out she was a sunshine girl, and now I see she's into hunting and having babies.

How do you reject someone on there? Will they find out if I click reject? I have 10 pending friend requests now, and I don't want to offend someone I haven't seen in ten years???? What's the deal with that? I think it's all getting out of hand. I am going to take my camera out and take some pictures. They make for better blogging.

Facebook rules, New Orleans does too. Maybe I'll go one day.

Grieving Online

From the last post you'll see I went off on another direction, but the main thing I have been thinking about as a result of the campus killings in the US is the role these social networking sites play today.
Sites like Facebook, and Myspace among others (those are the only two to which I belong) are often viewed as a place for pedophiles to troll for little girls. I know there is a lot of that, and I know there are a lot of young girls talking about things they likely should not talk about on the internet where everyone can see, but there is a role for these sites. And the killings showed that first hand.
Every news story I read had clearly gone onto these sites to see moving tributes. One of the guys killed apparently had 1000 + friends on Facebook and while the whole situation was unfolding, people were posting thoughtful messages, and meeting on his site to talk about what was taking place.
Within a few hours, and even days, thousands of "groups" were formed for people to leave their thoughts. I think it helps people deal with this stuff. After all, if this is where everyone goes when they turn on their computer, why not meet there and "talk" it out?
From legitimate heart-wrenching notes, to ones that attacked all Asians, or all Koreans came up within hours of the shootings.
It really is a powerful tool, and one that people need to accept. These social networking sites aren't going away, so it's time people realize it's more than just a place to go look at really young people without many clothes on.

How strange

I have had all sorts of thoughts about the online world over the last couple of days. I wanted to write it all down in separate ideas, and I still may do that, but I have to give my sister a shot first. I went to her blog, and out of curiosity I tried to click the link on her page that would take me my own blog. Well it turns out that we have to go read about some dude named Luke whose blog is attached to both links. Oh well, I think he's a DJ or something, so he must be fun.
So fix it so people can read your fascinating blog, and if they get bored they can come over and see how life in St. Albert is. Although many of them (myself included) are likely more interested in eating fried caterpillars than looking at my terrible moustache.
Anyway, I have been thinking about Facebook, Myspace and the internet in general. I have a video camera on my cell phone so if I happened to be near a crazed gunman, or a big fire I could yank the phone out, and with a few clicks of a mouse I could have my video playing on the evening news.
All the major networks had as the Virginia Tech story was breaking, was this grainy footage from people who were filming with their cell phones. So that's what the CNN's and CBC's have to do to keep up with the internet. I may biased a little, but the fact of the matter is, radio is the only other medium that can deliver the goods immediately. And I am guessing most people ran straight to their computer. It is easier than running to your radio and trying to figure out how to switch it back to the AM function and find newstalk radio.
Frankly though, I don't need to feel like I am watching the Blair Witch Project when I am watching the news. None, I mean absolutely NONE of the cell phone video captured my attention or showed me anything particularily interesting.
Now, I must admit that I went straight to the 24 hour news staions like CNN and CBC Newsworld to find out. First I saw 2 killed, including gunman: AP Report - then I switched back and saw 31 dead etc. It was a time when the journalist in me woke up and I wanted to reach for a phone and dial until I had someone on the phone who could give me the deal.
There was one time in Saskatchewan when there was a dozen miners or so trapped in an Esterhazy, SK mine and it was a Sunday afternoon. I was one of the only ones working, and we were just getting the story in bits and pieces. One of the guys in the newsroom was from Esterhazy and he started calling, and I helped and we eventually got the Regina reporters on the way there and spent two days covering the story non-stop. It was fascinating stuff really.
Earlier this week was one of those exciting times to be working in the news biz. I know while I was at the gym running on the treadmilll watching the news, most of the Lulu Lemon wearing moms in the joint were tuned into those same news channels.

Facebook

I went on this site called Facebook after reading about it in Maclean's magazine. Someone invited me, I clicked a few buttons and all of a sudden dozens of emails started flooding into my email from all over the place. People from Sheridan during j-school, and people who've moved away and I haven't thought of in years. The name of my junior high school even popped up. Remarkable, but kind of creep at the same time.
I guess it's hard to get away and hide nowadays. I feel like an old man as I try to catch up with what the kids are doing these days. Ahhh, the things a person can do on here.
But the blog is my favourite by far. I might have to post the link to this blog on my facebook thing and see if anyone actually reads it. Then again, it would be better to read if it were more interesting.
And that means getting away from the computer. What a vicious circle. What am I ever going to do?

Still going strong!

Man, the gym is so so so much fun. I think about it all the time.... when can I go next? What am I going to do today? How long will I be able to last?
I love it. There was badminton nets up yesterday so I kicked Dev's ass there. Twice. And tonight I am going to aquasize.
The only reason I want to do that is so that I can go into the steam room and hot tub afterwards. I was honestly quite sore after we went last week too. I laugh because, as a man, I am certainly in the minority and most of the ladies are 20 years older than me. I am sure they are cheating by putting their feet on the ground. Yup!
I have been pretty good only missing one day at the gym since I got the pass, and I don't see any reason to stop going. I take a couple hours out of my day and go burn off some energy. Beats the hell out of sitting in the pub.
I am going to resume the job hunt, just thought I should write something on here. Mainly because I have a minute, not because I have anything much to say.
Later.

Tom's going to the gym!

hahaha, Yeah I know.....
But it's true. There is this crazy new leisure centre in St. Albert and I went to have a look yesterday and it is amazing! There is a huge pool (mainly for kids I think) and two hockey rinks, a huge gym, and we also get access to the other pools and arenas in town.
For $40/month, I know I could do something else, but I signed up, and think it's not all that bad. Those of you reading this elsewhere, where things aren't the same (Sarah) might think it's dumb, but this place is lots of fun.
I could go outside and walk or run, and I could likely lift weights somewhere else, but this is what I did, and only have one day under my belt, but it was sure fun. I am going to bring swim trunks today and go into the steam room. Ahhhh that will be nice because it is snowing today!!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I woke up.
So I started out with one month, and I will give it a go and see how it works.
The two people I know are likely to see this blog, will hopefully see a change come folk fest in August so I can drink extra beer and not worry about the belly. But that is a long ways away. We'll wait and see. Either way I will be drinking beer with you guys.

The Middle East

Just watched a PBS documentary on a pilgrimage many Iranians make into Iraq despite all the dangers. Apparently these pilgrims are targets of suicide bombers, but they go anyway. The thing I don't understand is the whole concept of martyrdom. It doesn't make any sense to me. They leave their family behind, their kids, and everything else, and say they would be honoured to die there. It would lead them to paradise if they were to die there.
They cry and when they are out of tears they cry blood........ what could possibly make these people so devout?
I know the Middle East is a dynamic place, and very cultured, but the rifts between Shia's and Sunni's was equated to the difference between Protestants and Catholics. I would be a very rich dude, or at least very recognizable if I came up with the answers to these issues, but where would you even begin?
The people who support Iran's President feel that America and Britain are the oppressors and they tie it into their ancient religious tales of Imam Hussein. He will return one day in the battle between good and evil.
I can't even begin to explain all this, and think I should be blogging something else, but I wonder why religion drives people to this. I guess there are religions on all sides playing into the whole face of the world. The politics or the entire world are often based and driven to some extent by religion. Isn't it all something to believe? To discuss? But why die for this?
I don't know. But I am tired of thinking about it.

Back to life

Man,
I just went on a three week hiatus from everyone, and this morning I feel as though I am emerging from said absence. I moved back, and just took a couple weeks to myself without phoning a soul. And then the emails start trickling in asking if a missing persons report should be filed.
So I am taking this lovely morning - the morning or my dad's 60th birthday - to catch up with stuff. I went to a job fair yesterday downtown, and saw about ten people who said, "You can go to our website and apply for as many jobs as you like" What exactly is the point of going down to the convention to have them tell me that? I can go to the websites sitting in my underwear at any time.
Oh well, in the digital age, there isn't really a way to find anyone who can actually speak to you. So I rely on the one piece of paper to get me in the door. I hope something works out soon, but I am not in panic mode yet.
I went to a construction site for the last two weeks, and made some cash to tie me over, but that certainly isn't the job for me. It's funny to see the hierarchy of tradespeople though. And those dude's are making a lot of cash. In fact, everyone on that site was making good coin. Just not something I want to do for too long. As one of the grizzled old dude's told me, "You can get a lot further with a sharp mind than with a sore back" - How profound.
One good part is that I am getting a lot of reading done. Something I had been slacking on. One book was called, Water For Elephants, by Sara Gruen which was INCREDIBLE. Read it!
I shall keep this more regular, and then you will all be the first to know when I find a wonderful job that pays me loads of money.
That's all for now.

It's been more than a month!!!!

Holy hell,
I am sure no one is going to be looking at this anymore. Oh well, can't blame you seeing as I last informed everyone of my resignation. Since then, I finished up work at Rawlco, moved back to Edmonton, had a week's holiday, and worked two weeks on a construction site.
And Friday is going to be my last day as a labourer. So there! You are up-to-date.
I think I took this job too quickly thinking something was going to land in my lap so I've decided to hang up the work boots and try a little harder for something really enjoyable to come along.
I leave my place at 6 AM and drive downtown. I start work at 7 and work until 4:30 pm - so it's a long day. Almost 6 PM by the time I am home. So I am not going to keep this up any longer. I have honestly enjoyed being outside thought, and I don't mind the grunt work - it's just not for me right now.
Sarah, if you read this, thanks for your diligence. I am not sure who else will look.
More from me soon, now that I will be "in-between job" again soon. hehe
That's about all for the minute, time to go to sleep.

Resignation

On a more serious note, now that the moustache contest is over, I will return to trying to write about some more serious issues here.
I don't know what however.
Things are going to change a whole lot in my world in the next few weeks. I handed in my letter of resignation from NewsTalk on Friday.
It was the first time I had to do that too, but it couldn't have gone any better. I ended up yapping with the boss about hockey cards for half an hour.
But he says good luck, and if he can help out in any way he'd be happy to. So I couldn't ask for much more from them.
I decided it was just not getting any better here, and I really want to be back in Sunny Alberta. I gave it a good shot here, and I got some of that ever-important experience in.
So I should be fine with this, and I Will shake things up a bit and send everything into chaos.
I can't wait, and I am ready to have a beer with my old friends.
Very exciting.

Finals in Moustache-O-Rama 2007

Well, alas, the moustache is gone.
I was starting to enjoy it actually, with nice thick handlebars. But when it came time to go down for the final judging on Superbowl Sunday, I decided it was a moustache contest and I should leave nothing but the hair on the upper lip.
Oh my, what a terrible look. But it was fun for an afternoon, and I was told by the judges my decision to rid myself of the hadles cost me the win.
So I didn't have the best or the worst. There were awards for that too.
But we had some fun doing it, and I hope they can pick it up again next year.
Here's what I looked like when I went to the final. I'll link to the pics on the rick site when it's up.

Super Sunday

We are only a few days away from the final judging, and if I were betting, I think I'd take the $40 prize and the trophy home for the moustache contest. If you care to see the contestants you can go to the photo gallery on the follwing site - www.rock102rocks.com and check 'em out.
And to be totally honest, it can't come soon enough. The moustache prickles my nose and I can catch it out of the corner of my eye when I am eating and it just is creepy.
But the competition isn't exactly looking stellar either.
There will be pics of us with the Bud Girl judges at the Super Bowl party, so I'll be sure to put them up here on Sunday. Until then, all there is left to do is keep growing.

On another note, the Oilers seem to be heating up. We are about an hour away from a big battle against Vancouver. A win would go a long way right now I'd say.
So if all goes well, those alien baby twins on the 'Nucks will both come down with the flu and the Oilers can walk all over the Canucks. I can't think of a team I like less that Vancouver either for some reason.
You'd think it would be the Battle of Alberta, but there's just something about Van I don't like.
But I know you have better things to do than read this so off I go.

Pickton

What an interesting story we've got in Vancouver. Robert Willie Pickton is on trial for killing 6 women. Right now, that is. There's going to be another trial for him and another 20 women he's accused of killing.
Now the things he apparently did to these women is very bad. Or sad, or horrible. Whatever term you'd like to use.
My question is how much is too much? How much does the public need to know? Do we need to hear that he bled them on meat hooks at his farm? Or is it enough to know that he was a pig farmer and took the women there and did horrific things to them? Use your imagination.
I am not sure what I think about this. Does the public need to know about this one scary guy who could go down as the worst serial killer in Canadian history?
I hear those who say we deserve to know just how bad this guy really was, and others who say it's just glorifies, in some way the things he did?
I know there are over three hundred accredited reporters there, many of whom will stay for the enitre year. Maybe looking for book deals when it's all done.
Another says he will end up being the shining example like Marc Lepin who somehow represented all the men in the world who supressed women in some way. Marc Lepin at Polytechnic in Montreal did that as one crazy dude with a gun, so how does he become the face for feminist groups to use in their fight?
It is just something I am thinking about right now and I thought I should blog, so sorry to anyone who is just reading this and didn't really want to get into some philosophical debate here.
I'll say goodbye for now.