Alcohol-related Dementia

I and The Chef used to hang out a lot. Not anymore. I remember he used to disappear and then reappear after a while! It indicated that something had happened to him, something usually big. it was mostly getting beaten after being drunk or intoxicated by drugs! He ended up in a hospital and spent about a week or two there, I think, the last time! He couldn't recall what had happened and despite the fact that I was going to help him to file a report with CPS, by going, hopefully through the local security cameras, we eventually didn't realize how he got beaten so badly which required him to spend that much time under care and go under surgery! There's, however, no doubt, that alcohol was the cause of the incident.
What's surprising is the dementia, if it's the right medical term to use, that he has been suffering from. It's so bad that he cannot remember parts of his life! I used to go to his place in 15th Ave., SW, and then he moved to a place in Bridgeland and then eventually northeastern quadrant of the city where mostly is inhabited by the (Eastern) Indian and Africans but he can't remember the Bridgeland part and he doesn't either remember we used to hand out at the 15th Ave. place! 

It's hard to leave someone whom you have spent so much time with, unless you replace them. That is why when I stopped calling him back in Dec., it was not easy and still is not but I'm going to hold myself back.

(Picture: A beautiful[!] multi-vehicle collision. I took this, according to the available data, in June of 2023, on my way back home. The Chef was once involved in a single-vehicle[!] collision which resulted in losing his vehicle and basically the driving privilege, mainly because the cost of insurance went up so high that he could simply not afford. Over $7000 annually for an old 90's vehicle!)

The NO MEAT Contest

I went to a local supermarket for some food a couple of days ago and I was really shocked by the prices. It's nothing new but seems there's no end to this continuous increase. The funny thing is unlike the majority of the people I don't buy any type of meat. First of all, a good piece of meat, regardless of the type, is expensive and secondly I have to stay away from meat as much as I can because I have gout. I normally buy a few pieces of fruits, a little amount of different vegetables, plain Yogurt, Eggs, legumes and from time to time, a little snack which is limited to nuts or a good Chocolate bar. The latter have been reduced due to the soaring price of Cocoa in the world! 

Here is my receipt from today's shopping: 

1) Three Astro Balkan Yogurts = 3 x $3.29= $9.87 (Discounted item! Down from $5.69!)

2) Three Avocados (fair size) = 3 x $2 = $6 (Discounted item! Down from $2.79)

3) Two medium size Bartlett Pears = $3.21! 

4) One head (or perhaps should say Iceberg Lettuce) (big) = $4.99 (This is really insane!) 

Total = $24.07!

I tried to convince myself to get a reasonably priced fish but it was too expensive, particularly in Save on Foods! It's really ironic! There's no saving really no saving, most of the time, when you go to this specific supermarket or any other one for that matter but the only thing would worth getting from Wal Mart, at times, is Yogurt. Almost everything else, particularly fruits and vegetables, would usually be low quality and at times inedible, rotten and old. 

I have been able to stick to the NO MEAT Contest until today. I bought meat once and that was a mortal mistake! I purchased Rotisserie Chicken from Wal Mart, out of desperation, and it was awful! Then last night I purchased a Trout from Superstore and tried it for lunch. It was $14. I was hoping that I could make the $14 whole fish to two dishes but when I finished a few pieces with my home made bread, I then finished the rest by itself! I was hungry! There was no side! I scraped the scales, washed it, seasoned it, wrapped it in a foil and then first baked it for 20 min. and then broiled it for 5 min. It was good, fast and easy. I know what to do the next time to make it tastier and more appealing.  

(Picture: A bag of 150 g. seasoned Pistachio in a store in Japan goes for ¥1253, equal to CAN$10.75, now, a little cheaper when I was there in the fourth quarter of 2024. Fried fruits and nuts are considered very luxurious items. So they do here but the close proximity to the US makes it a little bit less expensive. You can buy nearly 400 g of the product here with that money, in Canada)

Why is Iran in this Rabbit Hole for such a long time?

 

I intend not to turn this weblog to a political forum of the old country because these are personal notes which barely anyone reads and I write them just for myself and my goal is to discuss the things that I experience at this side of the globe, not the other side. However, what happened in Los Angeles a few days ago, made me write the same thing that at times I tell Iranians when I bump into them: 

The problem in Iran is new. It's just been felt more recently! When I was there, nearly 25 years ago, when an opportunity existed, told them that voting for anyone who works and represents Islamic Republic was wrong because the very nature of Islamic Republic was and still is wrong. Not many people listened and the one who did gave me just a big smile. The reason is that the majority of people were doing fine, financially, at the time and that's all what matters to most people everywhere, especially in a country like Iran which consists of the most individualists of all, in the entire world.

Khatami in military uniform in the 70's. Millions voted for this guy to become the President of the Supreme Leader, nearly 25 years ago(!) not understanding that any vote in the system, is an approval of the system! The funny thing is this guy blamed the recent demonstrations on foreign countries' meddling! 

Everyone seemed to be doing okay. Youth was very DiCaprio T-shirts(!), there were a few newspapers which people could express themselves freely. That, however, was calm before the storm. The government had something for them in its sleeve. Newspapers were shut down, authors, writers and people who spoke freely and criticized the system were assassinated, prosecuted and jailed. Many fled the country but that didn't have any impact on the average Joe! The majority of people stay uninvolved or non-compliant as long as they have things to feed their belly and below it. Nobody made a move. I got the hell out of these and at the time I was so pissed that I got a one way ticket. The decline or perhaps I shall say the nose-dive started there. The national currency started losing its value gradually, month after month. I was away and busy starting my life at this side of the globe and I don't know much detail but I think there were two things which resulted in the above:

1) Meddling in the region's stability through proxy groups which grew every year.

2) Nuclear ambitions.

There was so much back and forth but the ultimate verdict was strong economic sanctions by the European Union and the United States, mostly. That was when people started to feel the pain. 

Being selfish and caring for nothing but their own and to be specific, their own food and biological needs, led to what we have here now in nearly 25 years. People have no respect for other people's opinion and the concept of disagreement without hostility is not known and appreciated. 

That brings us to this U-Haul incident in Los Angeles, earlier this week: Someone who was protesting against the theocratic government of Islamic Republic drove a truck by a number of demonstrators who were mainly supporting the former Crown Prince of the country. The guy had banners on the truck, denying both the Islamic Republic and the former Pahlavi Royal Family. It was simply a peaceful expression of ideas but the crowd didn't like it and thugs attacked the truck. They broke the mirrors, the windshield and tore the side banners. I think the driver was lucky that LAPD officers were there, or he would have been killed! 

People have no understanding that other people have different ideas. Respect them. What is the difference between the group who destroys a property which simply represent a different view and the government that jails, tortures and hangs its opposition?! 

(Photo: A mob of Iranians attack the peaceful demonstration of a different opinion than most of the people in the crowd)

Another Wave of Stupid and Senseless Separatism

This is something that I wanted to write a few months ago but I got the chance today: 

My brother and I went to a local library as he wanted to check a few things and saw two ladies at a table with a bunch of papers and stationary items. It appeared that they were collecting signatures for a petition which basically opposed to the Province of Alberta's independence from Canada! We didn't think twice before signing. 

As a foreigner, who loves the country of Canada and its many people (not all of 'em!), and has been living here for over 20 years, I hate to see the country being mutilated and butchered! These filthy, nasty, disgusting, mindless, animals don't understand that people are strong when they're together and resolve their differences rationally and peacefully. 

Countries such as Yugoslavia and Soviet Union went through separatism. The first one was started with a bloody civil war which according to one of my training officers during CFLRS days, were too gruesome and inhumane. All the issues and battles within the Soviet Union started after the separation. Canada is different. There's not any ethnic differences but seems that people would like to separate for political and financial reasons. They claim that the Federal Government takes too much from Alberta's economy. I say that's no reason to seek autonomy, although there's enough autonomy with the province's political system now! What else do you need? 

The Premier has given these people to chance to hold a referendum, if the number reaches the required one, meaning somewhere some people are doing things that we were part of, to slice the country! I guess in a democratically elected system things of such are inevitable but should the stupidity of people  play a role in the future of a country?! I will look forward for the referendum to say a big no.

(Photo: Yugoslavia was divided to 7 countries, countries[!], after the stupid, meaningless, ethnic war with some still not recognized fully internationally!)

The first Canned of 2026

This post could be under the new set of post by the name Mindless Retards at Work(!) but decided to have it separately because this was the person being kicked out of the company in the new year, not even before the first working week finishes. I know a little bit about this guy. That's what makes it interesting. 

I met the fella one of the very first weeks at work and he seemed to be a nice guy but the more time passed, the more dislike was built in me. I think our first conversation was during the time that Iran and Israel were exchanging missiles and he asked me how my family was and questions regarding that. I didn't tell him that my family lived here at the time because very coincidentally they had traveled to the old country shortly before the conflict started and got stuck there! 

He then started on his favorite religion, the religion of PEACE(!) until I told him I was atheist! He didn't like it much and he showed the signs of disbelief but since he did not have any erratic reaction, I kind of liked him and we kept a casual sort of relationship even were going to have a lunch in a restaurant of his origin. That plan got cancelled by me and I told him that I would not jeopardize my job for a freaking meal at a freaking restaurant which makes food of the country that is notoriously unhygienic and unhealthy! The last two words, of course, were not mentioned when I told him that we would not be going to the restaurants and obviously he didn't want to go during the weekend because of his family.

I approached him a few times to ask technical questions. He told me once to check ChapGPT! so when I was told that he had lied on his resume and was laid off (not fired, apparently, because he could have been) because of lack of proficiency, I was not surprised. Not that I felt good or anything like that. 

(Photo: If you're looking for a funny story about someone who got canned, look for Seinfeld Season 08, Episode 20 but avoid canned food as much as you can! )

What can you do in -23 ℃ (-9.4 ℉) Winter of Alberta?

Let's assume that you're a single man or a bunch of single fellas (let's exclude the ladies. I can't talk on their behalf) travelling to Alberta during the Dec.-Jan. period. What can you enjoy? 

First off, the temperature would be considerably low, something similar to what you see in the title. Secondly there're a plenty of actions that you can be entertained with. I don't think it will be Montreal, Toronto or even Vancouver but there're things that you can do:

1) Canada Olympic Park in Calgary offers winter sport activities such as snowboarding. I'm no one near that stuff but I know many enjoy that. This might not be very comfortable in the temperature written in the title but at the same time, might be! I don't know. I'm not much to winter sports but a little bit of snowshoeing which I know I would not be doing at that temperature! 

2) Many ski resorts are within one to one and a half hour drive from the major cities, at the most. They, of course, come with all sorts of amenities. The question, again here, is how comfortable would someone be to go skiing in such a low temperature. Also, are the ski resorts open at that time?

3) Bars and restaurants. Lots to try and enjoy.

4) Shopping malls. If you have money, you can get good merchandise.

5) Not many, so-called, gentlemen's clubs! The last time I was to one, I think it was about four or five years ago and I was there with The Chef, who, by the way, is technically considered an awkward fella! While it could have been a fun time, it turned into a night of mediocre experience! This was in Calgary and I think there're currently only three of them in the city. Don't know about Edmonton.

6) Relaxation places. Now bear in mind that there're, as everyone knows, legal and legitimate and illegal and fake places which both offer relaxation services. The municipality and consequently, the police, is aware of the second type and if I'm not mistaken, one of the mayors of Calgary, a few years back, wanted to clean up the city from the illegal ones and by illegal I mean the ones which under the name of Massage, would provide other services. The Criminal Code of Canada (also known as C-46), in 1363 pages, has sections about soliciting sex and related stuff. It's a very interesting read(!) but could be confusing and hard to understand by an average person! After all that is why an average person gets caught, charged and convicted! 

I hope the above helps the people who intend to travel to Alberta in winter.

(Photo: Seems like the very temperature has not kept these young people inside! They're preparing a local pond for hockey. Good for them. Have fun)