Disappoinmet at Fiddler's Courtyard

The Chef suggested to try a new bar in the town a few days ago and said that he didn't like Cowboys Tap House anymore(!) but like most of the things he says, he doesn't mean it! It's just something that comes to his mouth, without going through his mind (or goes and comes out without being processed because his brain is ruined as a result of years of drinking alcohol!) and come out! 

I agreed and we decided to give Fiddler's Courtyard on Edmonton Trail, a try.

We went there at about 17:00 hours of something and there were only two or three tables occupied. A brunet cute girl came to us after we sat and asked us if we wanted to look at the menu. I told her that we first wanted a beer. The Chef wanted a jar but when the girl said it was $26, he backed off and ordered a draught glass only. I ordered a Kokanee. 

There was a couple of old guys watching The Raptors game and one of them were screaming like a female donkey when you shove a big stick up her ass! Both I and The Chef didn't like it but no one seemed to be bothered by him. He was probably one of the regulars. The Chef gave him a number of dirty looks but he was too drunk to mind that. Fortunately the game was finished after a few minutes, in favour of The Raptor and the fucking animal got quiet. We then had a look at the menu and we decided to go with an order of Wings only. We waited but there was no sign of the waitress. I then went to see where she was. She was sitting with a waiter and wrapping forks and knives! I asked her if there was anyone who took order and she said she would! 

The order, the Wings me out shortly. I guess it was as many as 8, perhaps, pieces of Wings, two cuts of Celery, two cuts of Carrot and a small cup of dip. The damn Wings were so spicy, or perhaps I should say drown in pepper, that I could barely eat them but for The Chef it was nothing. He finished the vegetables and the damn dip although it was bad for him. After the Wings and the second round of Beer we saw no reason to stay. There was practically no one there! No girls, not even old women and she was the only waitress in the bar! The visit cost The Chef a little more than $40 and we got nothing but disappointment out of it. I don't think we will go there again.

(Photo: Three TV sets were running at the same time all at one side of the bar! The other side was just framed pictures or paintings! I thought perhaps they wanted to separate the viewer's side and non-viewers side which is not a bad idea but I wouldn't put all the three screens plus the 2 games all at one corner!)

Gate of India and Amato Gelato in a Day

I've become lazy lately and cannot focus on my studies. I have to finish the review and then write the damn examination. This is what I wanted to do today after my lunch with The Lazy Ass but it didn't happen! He took me to this East Indian buffet at the end of the city Called Gate of India. It's not as fancy as some of the East Indian restaurants that you might see here. It's not as bad as some of the dumps that I've been too and hated them and will never step a foot in. To name stay away from the filthy and nasty following places:

1- Faisal Kabab Hut = A cheater place and a noisy, disgusting filthy hole. 

2- Hot Plate = A stinking shit-hole where animals graze in

3- Five Rivers (recently changed to Tasty[!]) = Their food is old and they change the damn price every week. Besides if you buy something from the shelf (a little grocery shelf they have) consider the items very old. Once I bought a small tray of Dates and I hardly could get the trays off the Styrofoam tray! It was stuck because it sat there for far too long passed the expiry date!

We were there at about 11:40 and considering their service starts from 11:30, we had to wait a couple of minutes for everything to be ready. Food is good but I must have made myself ready for the journey and I think I had not! I had 2 cups of coffee in the morning but no activity but a few minutes of walking. The Lazy Ass surprisingly didn't eat as mush as I expected him to eat. He's a big fella who does bodybuilding. The place got good number of customer by the time we finished. I tried 4 trips to the foods but we didn't try any dessert. The cost is $16 per person and I paid for him. The place surprisingly asked for tips. I didn't know that buffets do that too but I only added only $1. 

The Lazy Ass then suggested to have Ice Cream for dessert and I thought he knew somewhere nearby but he drove us all the way to Kensington Road in NW part of the city to this nice and clean café called Amato Gelato.

The Lazy Ass is holding his cone. That's a good size portion

There were only two customers in the shop when we went there and that's what I don't like although two small groups later joined. They serve Ice Cream, Cakes, different types of Coffee and generally Italian merchandise. It's a nice place to take your GF, fiancé or generally your loved one. I ordered a cup with two scoops and The Lazy Ass the same thing on a cone. It's a little more than $8 which for some might be difficult to finish. He paid for that. We sat there for probably half and hour or so and then he started insisting to go for a work out in his local gym. I was able to get away from that after a long discussion with him. I understand that he feels lonely and has a problem with the girl that he's dating but what the hell can I do. Deal with it man! Generally both of the places are OK to enjoy. I just would not recommend them both in one day because they are at least 25 KM apart!

(Photo, top: Gate of India's main lobby. We were the first customer so the tables are empty. Unlike the disgusting Faisal Kabab Hut, the restaurant is decorated with nice East Indian paintings. Unfortunately the lights were being reflected in the frames so I couldn't get a close up of the paintings. My plate can be seen in the picture)

Chinese Eat Everything!

If you go to one of these Chinese grocery stores in the city, you'll see things that you barely think they're edible(!) but the Chinese eat them, mostly on daily basis. Why? Because they're cheap and that's how they used to eat in their country where with over 1.1 Billion population, food could be scarce. Although with what Capitalism has done to Communist China, now the middle class comprises a big part of China's population and they can eat better but they still keep their eating habits.

This list here familiarizes you with some of the cheapest food you can get in a market and satisfy your hunger, if you're Chinese or trying to save money like a Chinese:

1- Lo Bok. A sort of radish which comes in different sizes and colours.

2- Bok Choy. It's a sort of Chinse cabbage, I would call it and that's the only one I've tried and liked but must be cooked as far as I know.

3- Su Choy

4- Yu Choy Mue

5- Gai Lan

6- Sing Qua

7- Mo Qua

8- Long Bean. It's a snake-like(!) vegetable which resembles green bean. I've tried that and didn't see anything special in terms of taste. It's eaten most likely because it's cheap!

9- Lotus Root
10- Kamquat. A citrus-like fruit. Has the same shape as Orange but much smaller, even smaller than mandarin but has nothing special in terms of taste and I didn't like it.

I have to mention that the shop owners are quite cruel even to their own people. After all it's a business and countryman or stranger are treated the same!
(Photo: A bowl of Kamquats. I have tried them serval times and honestly when they were offered to me freely. It's not bad but I wouldn't spend a Dime on something like that. I'd rather spend a few more dollars and eat something delicious. The fruit is eaten as whole. No peeling and some even eat seeds which is fine by the way and good for your health. It's just no taste to it)

Our Christmas Gala

The company announced that there would be a Christmas Gala this week and lunch would be served. Why not? As long as food is not as awful as what we ate at the Christmas dinner, I'll participate. 

We were working and it was announced that the lunch is available and everyone was invited. I joined everyone else in the break room and surprisingly the lunch was good! 

The pretty Chinese girl came up to me and said: This part of the table is for you because you don't eat meat!!! This girl is so pretty that you just want to see watch her talking but I don't know how she has gotten the idea that I don't eat meat! I looked and it was a giant Vegetable Warp and it really was good! There were Pizza as well and I realized that they have all been ordered from Senior's Pizza. The only problem with the Warp was too much dressing which if I go there ever, I will ask them to go easy on. The Pizza was not bad although they, I don't think, offer Whole Wheat Crust and I secretly grabbed 2 or 3 slices and ate them because I would later all the sugar during the day. 

One of the Vietnamese workers had brought a sort of desert which was really good. It was made from Taro Root and a few other ingredients and it was really good. I guess it could be called Taro Pudding in English. 

I was so full that when I got home, I only had an Apple! Some people had brought gifts and there was a draw! I felt good that I had not brought anything because what if I don't want my gift to go to an asshole whom I dislike! The pretty Chinse girl (I have to find a good nickname for her) asked why I had not bring any gift and I told her the reason why. She said: No problem. Next year! 

Anyways it was a good time with the coworkers and we shared good food and laughs. It's very important for me at work. 

(Photo: The Taro dessert or Taro Pudding which I don't know its original name. I don't know what those small globes[!] are. I do know that its tasty and fattening as well!)

The Annual Turkey Meal (2019)

The Chef called me after 2 weeks of silence(!) the other night. I was quite surprised because he was supposed to go under Open Heart Surgery on the 16th. He said for some allergy issues or something (which I'm sure he had not understood completely!) the surgery has been postponed to the coming Jan. He then told me that he has gotten the Turkey and he would like to have it cooked with me one of these days. His employer gives everyone in the company a full Turkey every year around Christmas time. We enjoyed that last year but I wasn't expect him to call me this year!

Then the day that we were supposed to meet, I was at work and when I finished, I checked my phone and noticed that he had called him. I called him three times to see what he wants and if there has been any changes to the plan. He eventually called me back after the third failed attempt and told me that he was in a restaurant in downtown! The fool sounded drunk! I asked him what the hell he was doing there and if he would be able to make it. He confirmed that he would! He, despite that, made it to the randevu(!) on time. There still was signs of drunkenness in him(!) but was not very bad. We went home and there I realized alcoholic beverages on the table. I certainly don't think that is a good idea to drink alcohol 2 weeks prior to your Open Heart Surgery but he doesn't fee that way, evidently! 

We started the cooking by chopping some vegetables and the Turkey itself. I had brought a couple of Jalapeno and one Habanaro pepper as well as a small Taro Root. I knew it would be very hot soup but that's how The Chef likes it and he was eventually the one who ate most of the soup! We made everything to three big pots and went upstairs where the landlord kitchen is and started cooking. While we were doing this the neighbour of The Chef a Jamaican asshole kept coming and going and checked on us. This piece of shit and I don't care if anyone calls me racists because I'm not, would come out of his hole and go out for a cigarette and then would pour himself a glass of alcohol and would go back to the hole watching TV very loudly and then would come out again, this time with a Marijuana cigarette(!), would light it up inside and would go out again! And this process would continue but the sequence would change! He expected us to share some Turkey with him and I invited while we were preparing the meal but when he came back for one of his routines(!) and asked how the Turkey was I said: It flew away! It  was certainly not my Turkey but I didn't want that piece of crap to sit with me at the table particularly because I knew that The Chef would have the rest with him later.

Certainly introduced to him by his Jamaican roommate, The Chef offered me this rum. He poured me a little and I squeezed half a lemon to and tasted. Too strong. I added some water and became a bit better but I was not in drinking mood. So that was it

The meal was ready in about 45 min. and that was the time the landlord showed up. The Lazy Ass would be the nickname that I'm going to use for this guy. He sat with us and took the best part of the meal and put it in his plate: The Turkey leg! I got a piece of the breast and The Chef made himself busy with the soup, the Heart and some other parts. It was not a bad meal but I had a number of wings and two slices of Pizza that The Chef had bought from Papa John's earlier(!) so I did not enjoy the meal as much as I was excited for. We then sat and talked up until 12:00 and that was one I left after The Chef game some pieces which I will enjoy during the week. That was our annual traditional Lilydale Turkey meal which was better than the last week in terms of companionship. I laughed so much at some of the stories that The Chef narrated and we had a good time with The Lazy Ass!

(Photo, top: It certainly looks weird to all that we cook our turkey in a pressure cook while everyone put it in their oven. This is how The Chef likes it as he eats the soup. Also we don't have to wait 6 hours. I have done the oven version and came out amazing)

I and the Elevator

One of the things that I always hated in my life was living in higrises or in general any residence that requires you to use elevator, a disgusting confined space that you have to share with any asshole! I stayed away such a disgusting building until the time that I and The Lady had to move to a Surrey building. We lived on 23rd floor. The Lady and even me liked the place despite all the wired guy who lived in the building because it was brand new and it had a good view. 

There were so many issues in that building but we stayed there until I first moved to Calgary and then The Lady did and she was not happy about it. There was once a murder and a detective came to our door and asked questions. 

In Calgary because The Lady was against living here, she screwed up everything on purpose! I found a place which looked nice but I think she said something to the landlord over the phone that he decided not to rent it to us! Then we got another place but after a few months one nigh when we were watching TV she said that she saw a mouse coming up the dining table! I didn't see it but I believed her. We ended up sleeping in the car for one night(!) and in one of her colleague's basement for another until we found this disgusting nasty dump in downtown that I've been living since! 

We lived in 12th floor and I always hated getting on the elevator. I times I would go up all the 12 floor from the stairs. I tried to convince her to leave the place and we even went to our bank for home loan in 2012 but she refused to move out. We had trouble with all neighbours around us. The one on the right was an Indian (or as they call them here East Indian) fucking disgusting family. The one across them was a fat fuck who slammed his door every time who went in or come out. The assholes on the left would change on regular basis until a bunch of motherfuckers who played music until 04:00 AM moved in! And the one across from these assholes was a White Trash who had parties off and on and made lots of noise! 

The Lady eventually moved out in early 2016 which led to our separation eventually. I moved to the 5th floor. With two big failures that I had, CFLRS and CBSA, I still am in this nasty disgusting dump waiting for the first opportunity to move the f*ck out. I still hate the elevator and if anyone goes up or I'm going down and the car stops and there's someone in it, I refuse to go. 

If I'm on the main and I get into an empty car, I act like Ripley in the last minutes of Aliens! I jump in , get a glimpse of outside, the corridor and entrance, push the floor button, move inside the car to prevent anyone to see me and push the door button! I certainly don't want any asshole, drunkard, White Trash and dog walker (not similar to Skywalker!) be with me in the damn car. Once, though I felt really bad. A woman approached the elevator while I was waiting for it to come down. She asked me if I was getting in. I went: " Not with that thing! " and pointed at her big dog. The poor woman only said OK and walked away! I should've apologized to her and said that I was not comfortable around dogs but it was too late.
(Photo: A scene from 1986 movie Aline with Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley where she's going down on the elevator to rescue Newt from Aliens. I think I've seen this movie at least 30 times so far! One of the best in the history of cinema, without any doubt)

The Things Are Getting Worse

I was going for a little shopping, and damn, by the time I reached the mall, last night, it was closed! The business hours sign at the door says closed at 06:00 PM! Who the hell closes at 06:00 PM during Christmas time?! Idiots?! Then I was going to check desktops at a local Best Buy and drove by the Boston Pizza on 17th Ave., SW. I was shocked: Closed down!! No sign, no nothing! When Boston Pizza closes one of its main locations it's like rats leaving a sinking ship! A popular location of Starbucks, I noticed a couple of weeks ago, is also shut down! These are bad signs for a city. It was heard that the unemployment rate went up in Nov. in Calgary as well. 

I hear all these and I'm even afraid to go to Best Buy! I wanted to buy a computer but I gave a second thought: Should I not buy it?! I still am in my probation for the job that I started a little more than a month ago. I'm hopeful to keep the job but you never know what is in the mind of managers and supervisors. I have not given up. I still am trying to go back to my field but Dec.-Jan. is the worst time of year for being hired. So I'm only focusing on the current job.

A busy corner of Downtown Calgary, 8th St. and 12 Ave., SW is where Starbucks cafe was located as far back as 2002. Now it is closed! What can you say?!

In the meantime The Little Pika, surprisingly e-mailed me last night and asked me when I was going down there in San Antonio. It would be great to have a trip to Texas for the second time and I'm planning to do Guadeloupe Mountain this time with Alphonse but I will have to see if I can get a week off after my probation! I will have to make up a good story to be able to sell to them. Something better than the one I made up last summer and went to Arizona! The trip to Texas will not cost very much especially because I will stay 2 days at The Little Pika's. I think I can sum up the whole 7-day trip with nearly $800. The most important thing, before the trip, is convincing the supervisor. That's what I'm concerned about!
I eventually went to Best Buy this morning and purchased, or it'd be correct to say ordered a computer for less than $500! I couldn't resist a basic need!
(Photo, top: A Buick is passing from where a Boston Pizza were located on 17th Ave., SW for years. I had eaten there a few times and always enjoyed their food and the environment. The Lady liked that there too. We ate there I guess at least a couple of times. So bad that it's gone now. I actually had planned to go for a Pizza in a week or too! I guess I will have to select another location. The building is owned by Strategic as you can see their sign)

Good News about AHS

Alberta Health Services or for short AHS is probably one of the most ridiculous organizations anyone could find in the entire world! I remember when I first migrated to Canada I had to pay a monthly fee to use the services. It was the biggest pain in the ass because I always thought that if I take care of myself and am careful about what I eat or drink and consequently do not need AHS that much, why the hell should I pay them?! Is that because I want the drunkards, drug addicts, fat-f*ucks, smokers and other careless people benefit from that! I certainly would not like that! 

My bills, most of the time on those days, would sit on the counter for weeks and then they would get accumulated and perhaps, I don't recall, there was penalty for late payment.

Then I moved to British Columbia and the same s*it was there except the fact that Brit"SHIT" Columbia is 1000 times worse than Alberta in every and each aspect of life, unless you live outside the freaking Lower Mainland which is a bit better! I don't remember how I used to pay or how often I was late but I lived in the province from Mar. of 2007 to Jan. of 2011 and it was not very pleasant. When I came back to Alberta, the AHS fee had been removed and now they're in so much sh*t in terms of expenses that they have planned for massive lay offs. The new Provincial Government has announced thousands of positions to be removed within the next few years or so.

This is the result of years and years of careless spending! Wasting millions and millions of dollars on people who stuff themselves with garbage, drink too much alcohol, smoke weed and other shit, you name it. Paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to African refugees and Filipinos to walk around clinics and hospitals and collect a bag of 100 g(!) garbage or run a mop on the floor! 

I give you Sheldon Chumir as an example:

You go in there and there are security guards sitting in a booth(!) because in this society sex offenders, drug addicts, drug dealers, thieves, carjackers, pickpockets, drunkards and such are free to roam around! So you'd need security guards, probably as many as 4 in every shift, to protect the staff, the property and some of the patients! Then there are nurses who initially check on you and then you'd go to registers and then after, depending how busy the clinic is, hours(!), you'd go inside and then would wait there again for, at times, up to half an hour. There inside you'd see physicians, nurses, cleaners and other support staff. You'd see hundreds of thousands worth of different supplies which get's replaced, removed or thrown out quite frequently by the support staff who have easiest job possible with a good rate, mostly from African refugees or Filipino workload. I'm not against cleanness, organization and tidiness but you have to consider your options and costs. These all cost hundreds of thousands of dollars a day and when the money is scarce like now, the luxury might not be available anymore and then you's have to kick half of the staff out, some of them all the way back to Africa! Although that will never happen! Those people do whatever it takes to stay in Canada! It's the nurses and professionals who would suffer. 

The same story applies to other parts of Provincial and Municipal Governments. Overstaffed departments and over-paid staff everywhere. It was discussed on the radio a couple of days ago that the public sector employees have better pays and more secure jobs and of course, I would add, less stressful and easier things to do. When they were asked to give up a small portion of their salaries, they were not very happy. How would they spend excessively and enjoy the luxury life they have, if they did?! 

I remember the time I briefly worked for a small municipality in British Columbia as a contractor. Seeing the city employees and the way they worked and lived was a surprise for me at the beginning but then I got used to it and then hated them! slacking on the job, wasting money by just simply sitting around, idling city vehicles, doing a job of one by two are just examples of how municipal employees work. We'll see how this is going to shape in 2020.
(Photo: Jason Kenny, originally from Oakville, Ontario became the 18th Premier of Alberta this past summer. His government announced this wonderful[!] news about AHS just recently) 

Was my Cover Blown off?

I was at work a few days ago, approaching the office. I realized, from distance, that a guy was starring at me. An Oriental guy. Considering there are many customers who drop by to get their stuff, I first didn't pay much attention. Getting closer, the guys goes: You don't work at that place anymore?! 

I focused on his look and I realized he is the delivery guy, a Vietnamese with terrible English(!) whom I had to deal with a few times in the previous job! I, however, denied that and Said: What place? You mixed me up with someone else! And walked away. I was, at the corner of my eye, that he was still looking at me even when I turned my back at him! I don't think he bought that because when he was leaving, he raised his arm as a sign of goodbye! I hope he doesn't tell the guy, although he won't be able to do a thing. I just don't want him to know where I work.

One Day Portion of Fruits

I like these tips and generally most of the things that is indicated in Canada Food Guide but some of them are unrealistic. Not to mention that I do not think many people follow them. Things such as " You need 4 to 7 serving of fruits and vegetables, depending on the age " is not achievable. It not only is unrealistic but it's also impossible. How can you eat that much fruits and vegetables on daily basis?! You neither have time to prepare that nor to eat them. Not to mention the cost.

With all that in mind I started having a meal of fruits or vegetables a day after my marriage. The Lady changed my life and for that I am grateful to her until the dayLettucce  I die. Her salads and other foods were fantastic. Now that I'm on my own, I try to keep up with the plan. Here are the two lunches that I've had recently:

A. 

a- 1 Pineapple (from Costa Rica)

b- 5 organic Bananas (I hope they have more benefit compared with the conventional ones)

c- 2 Naval Oranges (from California)

d- 1 Amborsia Apple (of course from British Columbia as they are cultivated there only)

B. 

a- A small bowl of Pomegranate (most likely from California)

b- 20 small Mandarins (from California)

This salad is not nearly even close to what The Lady used to make but still is good

Now you get the reason why California has water shortage, drought and soil problems! Not to mention overpopulation, pollution and other issues which are not the subject of this post but I will discuss that with Alphonse when I see him next year. I already have asked him why most of the industries, maybe not most, many major ones, are located in California and why the hell they don't go to other states and he didn't give me a good answer. His answer was incomplete and didn't make any sense.
Literally most many of the foods we receive in Canada and vegetables as well, come from California. Some from Mexico and some from South America but California has a big share. 

Back to fruit eating I have to admit that I cannot do this every day and most importantly the problem with vegetables is bigger. They need more time to be prepared. The cost of vegetables has gone significantly in 2019 that we are about to finish it now. Iceberg Lettuce, my favorite, could not be found less than $2.99 for a head while I used to get that for $1.99 a head. Broccoli is not less than $2.49 a pound and everything else has the same story but we need fruits and vegetables to keep our bodies working properly.
(Photo, top: Pomegranate seeds ready to eat. It's time consuming but worth it especially because this fruit's season is short and can't be kept in coolers for a long time) 

Eighteen Years Has Passed

It's been 18 years now since I migrated to Canada. I've made such bad mistake which caused not having a comfortable life even after all these years. To name:

1- I didn't buy a property when I had a chance and have spent thousands of dollars on renting mostly disgusting places where not comfortable and cozy. I might be able to do that in 2020 but I spent years in bad rental places. An RBC representative once called me in 2006 and offered me loan, a thing that I doubt they do it nowadays but I refused.

2- Moving to British Columbia was a mistake. I was thoughtless and clueless at the time and spent a little more than a year working for A. J. and then two shitty other job. Had I spent that time on something positive in Calgary I would have been in a better position now. One of the reasons I moved there was my landlord intended to increase the rent from $695 to $1200 by doing some renovations and I was on E. I. at the time I didn't think I could afford that. It was really difficult but I don't have much recollection form those days.

3- I went to Quebec and attended CFLRS. Another big mistake! I was receiving E. I. at the time as well but wasting most of the time because I thought I would pass the basic training and become a member of CAF. Wrong! A former colleague told me: Now you're receiving E. I. and don't have much to worry about sit, study and get your certificates while looking for work. I should've done that. I not only didn't get the CAF job but that was one of the main reasons that The Lady left me.

4- My last main(!) mistake and hopefully really the last one was going to Quebec again to, this time, join the CBSA. I believe I worked harder than what I had done in CFLRS but apparently it was not enough. Unlike the CFLRS, CBSA College throws you out if you're not successful and that was what happened to me just 2 weeks before graduation! I had difficulty studying some material and adjusting myself to the situation.

To summarize in order to be in the world of shit that I am now you must:

1- Stick to what you're good at. Take one path and keep going. 

2- If you're sensitive toward what you eat and where you sleep never try any dorm-like training.

3- Try not to move from city to city or province to province. That just wastes time and money. Besides going to Lower Mainland British Columbia in most cases will end you up in an apartment with either cockroaches or mice. Prairie provinces are better despite their cold. That's what I think. 

I was thinking what I should do to celebrate(!) these successful years in Canada and I ended up, again, in Cowboy Tap House with The Chef. This idiot has an Open Heart Surgery planned for him in December and sits with me and drinks Draft Beer and eats Samosa! What do I care! I told him several times when he still didn't have the heart attack. So difference would telling him make now?! I chatted with a pretty Caucasian waitress but they all are chatty and nice. It's hard to get them. They're nice as they want you do drink more and eat more and tip them more but the girl was really pretty. I'd call her Wing Gal as she had two big wings tattooed in her back.

After paying the bills I noticed two Black girls and approached them. I even sat at their table and started a chat. I ditched The Chef for that but the conversation didn't get me anywhere with the Caribbean girls although they were nice. I left the bar and found The Chef wondering around with a bag in his hands! I asked him what it was. He had purchased a sort of couple of pastries form a nearby store for $2 each!!!!!! The pastries, of course were made of White Flour, something which is extremely bad for someone who has problem with Excessive Blood Sugar and takes medicine for that but this donkey doesn't understand a thing! We went inside the Safeway to have them with a cup of tea but the cafe was closed. We quickly ate them there and got the hell out of there. I then said goodbye to him and went back inside the bar to take a piss and then went back to the girl's table with the hope that I can get one of them. They both nicely refused me and that was the end of the night! 

(Photo: An snowflake is hanging form the ceiling of the bar. I decided to use this picture in case someone wants to make a big deal about in it!)

2019 Christmas Party

This year the company that I have recently started working for held a Christmas party in one of the chain hotels (which I won't name) in November. I showed there around 17:15 and there was barely anyone. I was offered Wine (there were two types) but I refused because I'm not a wine guy but soon I realized that's would be all to get. The waiter said that the bar was at the other corner of the hotel, if I needed something else! Are you kidding me?! I'm not paying for booze in Christmas party!! It's once a year and if the employer invites the fellas, he's the one who should pay for the booze! So I grabbed a glass of White Wine and got busy with that!

People shows after minutes and soon our table was full. We were people from 6 countries, originally at the table. I like that as long as no person is an asshole. We had issues in my Engineering job and there were a big number of asshole and nose-in-the-skies mainly from Eastern European countries and some fucking asshole Germans (because the company was originally German) and a few more here and there. Here, in a labour job, not that much. Still Caucasian office people stay away from floor people particularly if they're not Caucasian but the management team was very nice and polite. I shock hands with all of them and made jokes! I even asked them why there was no open bar! The CEO and branch manager referred me to the CFO! I don't remember his answer because I was drunk! 

Then the dinner started and honestly it was awful! Maybe for Orientals it was fine because it comprised of bland boiled(!) Vegetable pieces, damn Rice, I guess Duck in a thick, sweet, sauce(!), I guess shredded Meat of some sort(!) and that was it! What could I have done? I had not had any food since the previous night! In the morning they had some doughnuts and I ate one for the first time in probably 10 years and nothing for lunch! So I had to eat that shit! 

There was some dance after the so-called dinner and then group photography. I saw the Chinese pretty girl who smiled at me a few times at work but I didn't get any sign from her this time. She, however, didn't seem as attractive. Some girls ruin their natural beauty by putting too much make up on. I eventually decided to approach her to see her reaction. She introduced me to a guy with a big pair of glasses who was playing with a phone, her boyfriend! I was a little surprised because the guy looked like a goof but could have money or a good job. At least I know that I would probably won't make any move toward her again. There is another office girl. She's a blonde slim Caucasian with magnificent blue eyes. I had not seen a beautiful blue eye like that until a few days ago when I had to ask her something from a very close distance and she wasn't even looking at me! She looked very nice and sexy in the party and I pretended that I had not recognized her but I don't believe she was interested in me. She seemed by herself but there was a Caucasian guy who were walking around her, with the possible intention of banging her at the end of the party!
I then went to the supervisor to say hi and thank him. He didn't even offer his hand but said: " Don't forget Mon.! " I was goin' to say: What the hell are you talkin' about! But I knew he had confused me with another new employee! So I let it go. And there was another Chinese woman, a sort of team leader or something who had seen me earlier at work and told me about the party. I pretended that I didn't know and she realized that I was messing with her! I hope she wouldn't get that the wrong way, although I don't work under her supervision. She was probably one of a very few women who had not put any make up on and she really is not good looking but for me, or someone in my situation, I would bang anything that has a hole in it! Sorry for being rude! It's just a joke.

No other girl got my attention. The people, which consisted of mostly Orientals or to be specific Chinese and Filipino all had as big as a Basketball team children. There were a number of pretty Filipino girls, at time you can find really hot Filipinos, but they were all married with at least 2 or three kids. One Latino guy who seems harmless so far was there with his big family as well. He came in with a guitar and I thought he would be playing the entire time and his band, probably his family, who could barely fit in a sedan(!), would sing but he just sang a short song in Spanish alongside a girl and that was it! Such an idiot, bringing the freaking guitar all the way to the show and then playing it for 3 freaking minutes! 

There there was a time for random draw of prizes. There were different items that people won, mostly kitchen stuff which was not bad. To my surprise I was called as well but I was too drunk to get myself to there normally and when I got there and was handed the box I almost stumbled and was about to fall(!) and that was not only because I was drunk. The damn box was heavy! However I didn't open it until I got home and it was nice. It was something made in California which I liked. They gave a Samsung big television too but even if I had won it, I would not have opened it to use. I would have sold it immediately as I hate Korean products! That was basically it. Apart from the prize, the wine and good laughs we had, there was nothing else. No good food, no girls and the desert was not impressive either but I'm glad I got out and joined.

(Photo: Whatever was left from the red wines at the end of the party. Wine experts could comment!) 

A Pakistani Asshole in a Gas Station

I went to a Petro-Canada gas station the other night after work. I was really low. I realized there was a vehicle at every pump. So pulled up behind an SUV and went inside to see if they have gasoline! It's because this location, unlike anywhere else, writes Diesel on every pump, when you look from the street. There was a very polite and nice Punjabi Sikh guy in the store and he said that they had gasoline. I sighed! Then I went outside and there was still a car at the pump with no driver. I waited a little while and went back inside. A guy who was standing at the counter and said " What? " while I was walking to the clerk! I was really surprised because I hadn't said anything to him. He, by the way was behaving, I later on realized was the driver of the vehicle at the pump. I said: I didn't say anything! The Punjabi clerk was looking at him in shock as well! I don't know what his problem was but he said something like I had to wait. I said: " OK. Do you want me to buy you a candy?! " That brought an smile to the Punjabi guy's face and the driver, who I realize was a Pakistani, said: " That would be great ".

Here's the thing in Canada: You can tell who'e from where by the way they talk, they dress and most importantly behave! 

Here's this rube who's wearing a gold ring and a golden bangles(!) with greased black hair, short, aggressive and rude and a real asshole. They say you need to avoid stereotyping but that's usually a Pakistani! Even an educated one! We used to have a guy from Jammu in my previous guy and you couldn't barely talk to the guy or it'd lead to an argument in a few min. He eventually got fired from work and I think I've told his story of calling me and asking to find him a job after almost 3 years that I hadn't seen him! 

Anyways this very vane guy now starts a conversation with the clerk about the car-wash to make me wait more! I'm just standing there patiently, saying nothing because although I'm very tired but I'm in now rush. Besides I don't want to get into an argument or a fight with a miserable creature like that. Meanwhile a Caucasian lady is waiting behind me and the clerk is answering his question while giving me a look and smile in between. The guy eventually decides to leave and while walking to the door. I go: " It was very nice to meet you! " This bring another simile to the clerk's face and the Pakistani guy leaves without saying anything! The clerk quickly processes my purchase and now the woman steps up. She's curious what happened and the clerk tells her that he had asked the Pakistani guy to move his vehicle from the pump and he not only refused but also wanted to start to fight with me! I liked the Punjabi fella very much as he was polite and understating. Unfortunately here I had to used a sort of profanity and told them: " Some people're born assholes and will die assholes! " Then thanked the clerk and left! 

(Photo: A scene from movie JFK where the DA, played by Kevin Costner, takes two of his team member for a tour in Downtown New Orleans and talks to them about the intelligence community of the city. There he uses the expression " Once an ONI, always an ONI "which inspired me[!] to tell what I told the clerk and the woman customer, about the Pakistani fella, before stepping out of the store!)

A Fool and his Money are Soon Parted

It's now 2 weeks that I started this new job and I screwed up a few times already! I was late half an hour because I had forgotten to set the alarm! I blamed it on the snow and road condition. On the 2nd day a Filipino girl asked me something and I said the idea was stupid. The bitch complained about me and said that I called her stupid! That's the problem when you have to work with ignorant fucks! The Loyal used to call them peasant! I don't look down on anyone but if someone is stupid enough not to understand I mean all I can do is just not to talk to them unless it's absolutely necessary.

Then there was, according to the trainer, a number of errors in the last order that we had picked up and I said " we " because it was me and King J., a nickname I gave to a fella worker, who worked on the order together. For that I was not the only one who was criticized. I hope I can work for these asshole as long as I want because the job market is really f*cked up and also I'm tired of going here and there.

With that being said I explain a bit about my new workplace, not that anyone cares and will go to the point of this post. The place's workforce comprises of office people, operations people and floor people. The office people are obviously Caucasians but ... there's a big but here ... there are a number of Orientals alongside them because the owners of the company are Orientals! The operations office is a little bit more diverse but the head is again an Oriental. On the floor, same story, the supervisors and team leads are Oriental and the crew is diverse but the Orientals from the country of the owners have all dominance over other Orientals! 

Tesla Model 3 interior. Everything is done through that screen

Here's where the story begins! There are a number of Filipinos on the floor and I'm not saying this to degrade them or anything. They are all nice and helpful people and I personally as someone who has recently started this job, benefited from their help a lot but there's this young guy who seems to be a little slow. He told me that he had purchased a brand new Toyota Camry in cash! He said that he had paid $47,000! I don't know the price of Camry but I don't think it's that expensive. I didn't mention it to him though. Then I asked him how much he was paying for the vehicle's insurance every one. He told me not to ask him but then said it was something over $450 per month! 

The poor guy comes from a poor country which basically has nothing! I think the main source of The Philippines revenue is the people who work outside the country. Many Filipinos work in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other oil rich countries of Persian Gulf. Many of them here in Canada and I'm not sure about the US. What I'm sure about is the guy had nothing in his life and now that he probably is making up to $2000 a month is so excited and want it all! He also told me that he was planning to buy a house but I guess he also mentioned that he already had purchased two houses(!) for his mother and sister but it sounded so ridiculous that I didn't ask more questions!

This, however, gave me a good idea that I had not considered that: Why don't I purchase my next car in cash?! I mean my current car is good and running. I'm thinking of either a Prius or Tesla. I'm looking for something that I can reduce my fuel car. So why don't I save enough and drive my current vehicle until I have enough to pay for the next car? In that case I wouldn't have to pay interest. I would only be worried about the insurance.

(Photo, top: The interior of a Toyota Prius or Prius Prime. These days most of the new cars you see on the road have a big screen on their dash. Compare it with the other photo which shows Tesla 3's)     

Switched to Another Job!

I finally get a chance to leave The Weird Guy and his(!) workplace to start another one. It was a mistake from beginning going there but I used the best of it in the 10 weeks period that I worked there or at least I think that way! Honestly there were so many issues with that job (some might have already been mentioned, not that anyone cares!):

1- One of the most disorganized companies that I've ever seen in my life, anywhere.

2- Certainly the filthiest and nastiest place I've seen, everywhere. No exaggeration at all. There was a thick layer of dust on almost everywhere except the spots which were accessed on daily basis! The damn bathroom had only one tap and was always dirty. In the meantime there was a nice and clean bathroom for the rest of the people who, I quote, worked in the office! So the policy in this company is that the office people deserve a clean and nice bathroom but the floor people don't! Shame on you. 

3- The so-called lunchroom was filled with garbage and old used items. Not to mention that the floor was covered in garbage. Anything from bottle cap, food, used napkin and old newspaper to cloths and shoes of the employees! I never ate there!

4- There were lots of returns everyday and by return I mean the returned items by the delivery drivers who, for whatever reason, did not deliver the picked products! One employee told me once that these assholes are lazy(!) and also because they're on salary, they tend to come back to the office so they don't stay more than their regular hours because they wouldn't be paid for overtime! 

5- There were a few assholes, of course like any other workplace, that I couldn't stand them, more specifically there were a Caucasian bitch who though she was such a hotshot, with love handles and belly sticking out of every each where! She was in her early 30's. And then a pile of shit driver of the same background, an animal that you wouldn't even want to look at his face: Always dirty, always unshaven, always wearing a disgusting hat to hide his dirty and not-combed and trimmed hair, although he never succeeded(!) and always aggressive, like wants to jump on you and rip you apart! 

6- I never had any contract while working there! I had never seen something like this before but I needed money. So worked there for as long as I needed despite all of the problems mentioned above.
I practically gave up 3 jobs and stuck to this one because I either thought this would get better in future or missed the other one, somehow. There was a Quality Technician position that I eventually got the chance to be interviewed after about 1.5 months! The thing was that their review was really disappointing and once their HR person was sick, the other time I postponed the interview and they accepted and once they said that their Quality Manager was not available and eventually when I had the chance to be interviewed, and I know this is stupid, I couldn't find the place and went back to work! The real reason is I was not so optimist about this company for several reasons:
1- Poor review of the company by former employees
2- The nationality of the employees. Honestly, and in most cases, if you see a company has mostly foreign nationals as its employees, and I'm not talking about a factory job, a supermarket cashier or a fast-food worker, you have to rethink before joining. The companies tend to save a few thousand dollars on the annual salary they pay, in professional work, should be avoided in the first place. In this damn company the HR person is Russian who by the way is educated, partially, in the US! The Quality Manager is an Arab(!), one might think where did that come from and the office person, who answers the phone and of course does other administrative stuff has a strong accent that I can't even say where she is from! I'm not a racist and I, too, am a foreigner here. This is based on experience and true.
3- The length of time they waited for me to be interviewed is unusual! From the time I sent my resume to the time that was set up for interview was nearly a month and a half! In this market that thousands and thousands of people are out of job, they either had found someone and he or she left shortly after employment or no one ever showed any interest in such a lousy company!
The other job was the one that I've already mentioned it in another post. I chose that because first of all it's a very significant and big company and secondly it's located outside Calgary and I was hoping I could move out of the city after being hired by them but what happened is explained in that post.
The other one was the encounter I had with an Ape! Yes! There was this f*cking asshole who even refused to interview me and I should probably tell his story here as well but I'm too tired now! 

The first day at the new job was good though. Everything slid(!) smoothly. I saw the Chinese girl again, once in the morning, of course, when I started, as I had to do paperwork and give her documents for my employment. Then at lunch time, by accident, I realized that we are having our break at the same time. She talked a few words to me and was curious as what I had for lunch! I had nothing! and I was quite surprised as why an office beautiful, petite girl should talk to newly-hired floor guy! She looked amazing again. She had a sort of dress which was mini-skirt in front and midi in the back and she had black nylon socks on. She looked so sexy. When she sat at a table, I realized that she was looking at me! I, again, was thinking why a pretty, petite, Chinese young girl should even be interested in a guy like me. So I didn't have any reaction to that. Besides there was someone sitting in front of her. So what would be the point to bug a girl in the first day of work?! It's not that I never wanted to talk to her. Who wouldn't want to just sit at the same table as a girl that I just explained her features here? I just don't want to be rejected at the workplace that I just started my new job! Nevertheless I will take a shot at her when the opportunity presents itself although I know I wouldn't have a good chance! 

(Photo: These reasons are listed as why someone would change his/her job. This, I believe, applies to professional jobs but could, somehow, be used in other job evaluations as well. For me Items 1 to 4 and 10 definitely were reasons. Items 5 to 9, no that much but still were considered factors)

What Should be the Punishment for a Spy?

The US Government just increased the reward for any information regarding the former FBI and CIA agent, Robert Levinson who got disappeared in Kish Island, in Persian Gulf back in 2007. His case is probably one of the most complex disappearance cases in the history, at least to my knowledge. 

This guy first traveled to Kish Island  because the island, part of Iran, is considered a visa free zone. He went there as a private investigator. I'm not saying that he would not have been able to get into Iran just simply because he's American. It would have just taken longer, perhaps, to get there. So he goes there as a former FBI agent and, as I said, and a private investigator and later it's known that he met the convicted criminal Dawud Salahuddin! Salahuddin is an African American junkie like many others in the US who somehow got in touch with anti-Shah Iranians in late 70's. His birth name is Davis Theodore Belfield. He changed his name after either being brain-washed by the Islamic fanatics or just for the benefits! They got him under their wings and eventually asked him to do a few hits for them! He killed an embassy attache named Ali Akbar Tabatabai and ran away from the US the same night in 1980. He then flee to Iran and has been living there ever since! I guess there were words that he wanted to get out of the country several times but Iranian authorities did not let him. So why the hell Levinson should meet this disgusting killer in Kish Island? No one knows rather than themselves and probably Levinson's boss. Was Salahuddin supposed to get assistance from Americans to flee Iran in exchange for information?! Dis Americans promise him to turn their eyes to his conviction in exchange for some information?! 

Levinson with his daugther

Levinson's contact with his family got disconnected after that but it was revealed shortly after disappearance that he had been sent to Persian Gulf by CIA! The US Government also paid $2.5 million to his family to prevent them from suing them(!) but the person who was found responsible for his departure to Iran, a woman named Anna Jablonski, lost her job, or maybe in the eyes of the public and media(!) ans still works there(!) because who can tell? The issue was that Levinston's expertise, again according to the available information was in Russian organized crime and he was sent to Iran! Then his family, or to be specific, his wife and son, started their investigation and even traveled to Iran but the Iranian Government denied any involvement. Levinson then appeared in videos and begged for help and story has been going on now for its 12 freaking years now.

Rudof Abel, an originally British citizen, whose real name was William G. Fisher is seen in this photo with KGB staff. He told his lawyer to ask the judge to be easy on him! He said: You probably have somebody in the USSR who is doing the same thing that was doing here! The public wanted him dead! The story is well said in Bridge of Spies

Here's the question now: What should be the punishment for a spy? It's now clear that he was working for CIA and no matter what his mission was, I wonder why the Iranian Government never announced that and put him on trail?! There are words that he might be in the hands of Taliban or other similar groups in Afghanistan but I wonder why the US with all its intelligence hasn't been able to find him yet? I mean they found Saddam Hussein, Bin Laden and recently Abu-Bakr Al-Baghdadi! They should have been able to find Levinson by now!! That set aside, I believe the sentence for a spy should at least be a long-term jail such as 20 years. It reminds me of the scene of that great movie of Spielberg, Bridge of Spies. The movie is based on true evens and I already had known most of it but the short version which is that a Rudolf Abel is captured in the State of New York and is charged with espionage for the Soviets. The public wants him to be sent to electrical chair but he eventually is sentenced to 30 years in prison and that is with the help of his lawyer (played by T. Hanks).

Robert Levinson's disapperance poster. Note that it doesn't say Missing! The term Kidnapped is used. The US as well as Iranian Government have both used terms in their announcements which appeared not true later! Photo courtesy of Associated Press

The lawyer believes that he might be useful in future, in case an American is held by the Soviets and that's what exactly happens! Francis Gary Powers is shot down over USSR while navigating a U-2 plane and after negotiations is exchanged with Abel. Iran has done similar exchanges with the US and other Western countries such as France and the UK. Why this was not the case for Levinson, is again a question. That is why I think Iran does not have any hand in his disappearance or if they had, it was at the beginning and they exchanged it with something valuable which was held by Taliban or other rivals! This is the thing that his family must understand as well. The other thing that they must understand is he was a spy and this job has its advantages and disadvantages! They might have enjoyed years of prosperity and now it comes the hard part! You might leave home and you might never come back! Deal with it, Levinson's family! He got what he deserved. 

(Photo, top: A scene from the beautiful Kish Island in Persian Gulf where Levinson landed in 2007 and never seen after that)

The Shining

Two months has passed since I've started this shit job but I must stick to it until I find something else. The supervisor, The Weird Guy today, again, invited me for lunch! This time it was Lamb, Turkey and Potato in a sort of stew but with no juice. It was delicious but there was so much freaking fat that hours after eating I still could feel the damn fat in my stomach as it's difficult to digest that thing! It was not a celebration of two months or anything like that though! Just a coincidence.

Here the people I have to work with on daily basis rather than the supervisor are:

1- An old woman who at time could go crazy but I don't have much problem with her. She had given me food from her section several times and every time she needed help I immediately provided that. She complains and nags a lot but that's part of her age, being close to retirement. Today though she had a nice argument with the supervisor and both were upset. Unfortunately I was too far away to be able to hear them. I just saw the woman bolted off angrily!

2- A fat woman who says that she used to be 500 Lbs. and now she's probably 200 Lbs. or more, I'm guessing! The thing is if you're that fat and your belly is hanging in front of you why the hell do you have to eat Potato Chips, Chocolate Bar, Coke and all other stuff which has nothing but Sugar and damn carbohydrate?! She's been nice to me though and always helpful. My help to her could be giving eating advises which she would not follow. So what's the freaking point?!

3- A retard! He really is a retard and the best thing you could do facing him is just to avoid him although at time he would approach you and tells you some stupid story out of blue! 

4- And last but not least The Shining Guy! This is a young Caucasian fella in his early to mid. 20's who works like a horse. He always is the first one in the facility and he always is busy with something though at times he sneaks to some food and snacks himself. I guess I would have had a very hard time, if he had not worked there with me because he does lots of physical work and rapidly.

Why do I call him The Shining Guy is because he barely talks to me or anyone for that matter and since we started there we communicate, most of the time, through The Shining! This is clear for the fellas who have seen The Shining by Stanley Kubrick based on Stephen King's of a novel of the same name. We maneuver around and work things out without even opening our mouths!

" ... without opening our mouths "  is what Dick Hollarann (played by Scatman Crothers) told Danny (played by Danny Lloyd) in a conversation when he offered Danny some Ice Cream. Basically what he was saying is that there are people who are able to communicate without speaking to each other. He also says that these people also have the ability of seeing things which have happened in the past or will happen in future. I won't tell the whole story to spoil it for the ones who hasn't seen it. Get the 1980 masterpiece of Kubrick and enjoy it. It is one of the best movies that I've ever seen. Its sequel has just been released, named Dr. Sleep. I'm planning to catch it as the first movie of 2019! 

(Photo: the scene in the kitchen. Dick Hollarann and Danny Torrance, characters of the movie, of course are engaged in a conversation about The Shining)

A Fully Oriental Interview

I received a call from an Oriental girl in regards to a position that I had applied, last week. I could barely understand her but she kept going! I had to interrupt her a few times and ask her to repeat herself. With lots of difficulty she wanted to let me know that they were interested in me and wanted to interview me for the position. The interview was set for yesterday, a cold, snowy and bad day for driving! Add to that being Mon. which is the day that the majority of people in North America hate it and then you 'd have to drive on a busy highway in the dark chilly morning while the wind blows snow all around and everywhere. I, however, and despite all of that reached there on time and before the Oriental girl, whom, later on, know to be from the HR and one of my interviewers! I was wowed by the building, the office and generally everything. Very clean, organized and almost everything new compared with the place that I've been working in, for the past 2 months now. I was directed to a room and then the girl showed and after a few minutes of delay the supervisor joined us, who appeared to be Oriental as well! I had heard them talking in their native language outside the room. 

The girl started the interview and they asked questions in turn. The guy was easier to understand but what caught my eyes was the girl's beauty! Shiny, silky long hair, small milky hands with beautiful fingers and nails, her lips, eyes, everything looked very delicious but I was focused! The supervisor had an eyes on the resume and at the same time was listening to my answers and seemed that he liked to hire me. He, unlike what I thought at the time, was fair. The employment condition they explained was much better what I have at the moment although it's far away and the hours suck. 

I left the premises at about 08:55 and by the time I reached worked it was 10:30! I had to go and change too. Now if this job is obtained, I can do a few things by making more money especially because I would be scheduled for more than 40 hours a week. 

(Photo: This is not taken on the interview day by the whether was quite similar. Just thought there should be a picture for this post like any others)

Horse Meat

I was at work today and the supervisor, The Weird Guy called me to his office. It's been nearly two months that I have been at this work and despite the low wage, there hasn't been any major issue except for the time that he said that one of the orders had been picked incorrectly by me. I didn't argue but showed my displeasure of wrong accusation without any evidence and enough investigation but let it go. 

When he called me to the office, the first thing went through my mind was lay offs and simply not having the job any more. However he asked me to wash up and join him for a little meal! I know this is something very strange in Canada but for Canadians only! For us, foreigners, many of us, inviting colleagues and friends for a supper or lunch is normal. For Canadians, you could be working with them, be neighbours or buddies, they want to call it, for years and not going even for a coffee. It's like the asshole that I've told his story already. The food was really good and we talked about life, old countries and in general it was nice 15 minutes with him, whom I plan to befriend. He offered me a small piece of meat that he said it was horse! I had never tried it so I did! It was chewy but a complete different taste from any other meat that I had before. We talked a little bit about where this type of meat is eaten, where it can be purchased in Alberta and stuff like that. He said that when the horse is old and ridden a lot, it's meat then become old and chewy! I was going to say: Like this. But didn't! I knew Hungarian eat a lot of horse and he said that there was plant in southern Alberta that even exports to Asia. Good for them. Anyways I could not say no to him when he called me and I would have never done that, even if I was full! 

(Photo: I've been to beef and chicken processing plants, I mean I've worked in both and I know how the system works. It's interesting here in Canada. This is apparently horse slaughtering system. Different from both, of course)

Flashback (34): The Jail Guard

I once had an opportunity to become a cell guard, if I can call it, for an RCMP detachment in British Columbia, years ago. I don't recall exactly how I was notified of that position but our office, as Bylaw Officers was next to the RCMP. So I must have been let know somehow! The interview, if I remember correctly, was held by a lady and a gentleman both in civilian. We used to go to the detachment for some administrative things every single day and perhaps I have seen the lady in there. She took me in to the cell and show it to me. A small concrete room with a toilet! The lady told me that I needed to watch the detained persons all the time as once, recently, she added, a boy had tried to hang himself with shoelaces!! I don't know how someone could do that but they apparently do! 

I also remember once I asked her why the officers never smile and she said and I quote here, because police associates with death! I do not agree. We also talked about the supervisor and his involvement in the hiring process, possibly as a reference and she said and I quote again, forget about him. They apparently even had called my previous job's reference but I never got the offer and I guess it was probably because the application took long enough to coincide with me being asked to leave and of course the RCMP would not hire someone who has recently been asked to leave his job! I found a job shortly after that and moved on and then an offer from Calgary where I'm ever since! 

This reminds me also of a number of other jail guard positions that I've had so far, namely Correctional Officer position. I guess there were about 4 or 5 and either with Federal or Provincial but the last one was suggested by A. F. and I turned it down and didn't even apply. I know after going through the training for two Federal positions, this would not be something that I could do. I have to do something in civilian world.

(Photo: This jail guard in Aylesbury, England was sentenced to 8 months in prison for sending inappropriate messages and photographs to an inmate back in 2015! There's no doubt that only a loser would do such a thing but what I'm not sure about is the type of mental sickness that a woman like her might suffer from! This story once also was heard in a Canadian prison! Pathetic, sick, losers!)