Worst Christmas Ever

It's been one week since Christmas and I'm still sick! We were off work at noon the previous Fri. (not yesterday) so everyone could spend enough at home to get ready for the big night. Not that there was not already enough time available! Did I care? No! Because for me it meant going all the freaking way back and add to the top of that being sick, it didn't help much! 
I was so sick that I have not been for years: Soar throat, body aching all over. Could barely move. Spent most of the time during Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, you name it, at home and in the damn bed. Could not eat much and still have an awful taste in my mouth. Eclair took me and one of the ladies to a lunch where I only ordered a bowl of soup and in this era you know what a restaurant bowl of soap means! The amount that I'd taste to see if I made it right, if I made it. There was no appetite and there still is no appetite. We went to a local Indian restaurant for lunch yesterday and same story. The food was good and I enjoyed it but not to the extent that I usually do! 

I don't know how I contracted it but that was not what you want to have at Christmas time. I eventually went to a local pharmacy and got a pack of Tylenol and a bottle of gargling medicine! Cost me a total of $30 or more for these two pieces of sh*t because an a**hole whom I do not know who they were, had been sick and came to work to make others sick. And I don't know how many time people have been told that they should stay in the pigsty that they usually stay at(!) when they're sick but they don't listen. 
Now I have about 3 days off, I need to study for a damn test, another one(!), in the 8th. BigHead has already failed it. Got only nearly 60% he said. Warning! 

(Photo, top: The bowl of soap that was served to me in a local restaurant in central Alberta. I will write about the restaurant later, if I visit again because I would not like to judge a restaurant based on one visit only. Photo, right: One of the top people in the company gave this to me as a Christmas gift after asking me if I drank wine and what sort it would be. I didn't want to disappoint him so I said I did and mentioned: anything but Red Wine as I have gout. It's a regular wine you probably can buy in any store for under $20, most likely. It says it's from California and contains Sulphites which is very alarming! I haven't touched it yet but a few options have already come to my mind: 1] Re-gifting it. 2] Giving it to The Chef which is basically the same with this difference that he probably knocks one off every night and he lost his job as a result of over drinking and being drunk at work. So it would not make a difference for him! 3] Using it as a paint thinner! This last one is from Seinfeld! It's just a joke. I'm not a painter!)

A Nightmare on Highway #2

 Travelling on a major highway on daily basis cannot be fun but there are people who chose that as their career because the pay is good. A majority of truck drivers here in Canada are Punjabi Sikh Indians but people of different ethnicities could be found doing this job. I have been driving on a major highway for nearly 2 months now and the only thing I am lucky about is the fact that it's not a road going trough the mountains or it would have been much worse. 

This winter has it been remarkably warm and it's all blamed on global warming. If it had not been this issue, I don't know what would have happened to me now! Highway #2 or Queen Elizabeth II Highway was really bad this past Thu. when I was heading south. There were big snowflakes, flying horizontally to my windshield! Luckily and with a little careful driving I reached home safely. It was worse the next morning, when I was heading north, Large patches of fog would not let me to see past 3 feet (Here I'm trying to accommodate Canadians and of course Americans despite learning all my course base on metric system!). I started early so I was not late at work. My manager was surprised! 

Heading back south was a different story! The road was dry but all the trucks I had seen earlier in the morning at the other side, southbound, now where ahead of me and had caused a major slow down! The speed was reduces to, first 5.5Km/h and then stop and go and this continued for nearly half and hour and I think in that half an hour I travelled only a kilometer or so! I called 511 three times, as my telephone is old and doesn't have a strong sound and I realized that the highway had major back ups at three spots leading to nearly 2 hours of extra time for any trip to south!

I, at this time, found the first exist and went to Olds because I was low on fuel. I then went to a local McDonald's to see if I can get map on my phone going and perhaps continue south on Highway #22. The stupid phone didn't work and then I used my old GPS. The stupid GPS directed me to some dirt road which was covered in ice with no light! Then I turned back and took Highway #22A and that was it.

I reached home around 20:10, some 2 hours late! I'm thinking of moving somewhere close to 

(Photo: A jack-knifed semi. This looks like to be very common and these idiot drivers never learn. I can't tell how many I've seen since the start of the cold season and it hasn't been a cold season with lots of storm, snow or such!)

Hard and Difficult as always

I had my interview for a Federal Government once again a couple of days ago. While I have a job now and it's been going well, I always wanted to work for the Government of Canada. Not that easy! I'm going to make a list of the Government jobs that I've applied for and never got them to show how embarrassing it is! 

So here I'm sitting at my desk one hour before the interview starts and an administration lady sends me the questions! I'm not going to reveal them but what I can say is there are 7 questions, 5 of them very hard to answer! Nearly 7 minutes is passed now and I decide to opt out! I start writing an e-mail to the administrative lady! I'm almost finished and I think I should give the questions a try, although I know I don't have a good chance! So, I keep the e-mail in draft and go back to the damn questions! I finally put something together for each with the lowest self-steam that anyone could have and I turn my Team on to attend the interview. There're three people and each ask a question and I try my best but I know I have a very slim chance! 

The fact that this Government have been trying to fix some of the problems which existed 50 years ago and leave some of the problems which also have that length of existence, is amazing and they keep pushing on the first type! I don't know if it's persistence, stupidity or pretending. By the latter I mean if they only pretend to care! They asked about inclusion and equality! We all know that not everyone is equal but we include everyone as much as we can. The fact is many people do not want to be included but would like to be considered equal! What do we do with them?

The interview, I don't think, went well. I had the same issue back in early 2021 for another Government position and I didn't get it but my position was different back then. Now I have a job that I probably can rely on it for the next 10 years or so, unless something extraordinary happens, I'm not so excited about interviews and job applications. The reasons why I decided to go through that is first I applied for this job when I was doing that miserable outdoor job last year and then I thought if I got this position, I would be more secure and would have the chance to work in another province. It does not seem to materialize but we'll see how they response. 

At the end I'd like list the Government jobs that I've applied for and they all went south! Not in order of application, necessarily. 

1) Canadian Navy: I failed to finish the basic training. There was too much bullshit and too much pressure. I didn't handle it well. I have had posts under CFLRS notes. You can refer to them for the detail, if you're interested.  

2) CBSA. Not as bad as the first one. This time I failed about three days from graduation! There was a written test that I do not recall what it was about and I didn't get the passing mark. I got a boot in my a$$, after it!

3) A position with Measurements Canada. I recall this one had a written test in two parts with a break in between and it was held somewhere in Downtown Calgary. Failed miserably, as usual! This I did when I was laid off. 

4) A position which has something to do with agriculture and quantity or quality control. For that I had to go to British Columbia and write a test. The Lady, at the time, had left me and gone to B. C. as well but we still were in touch! When I told her that I had applied for a position there but it was only for a year, she was happy and said that it was good that I was going to join her for at least a year but I didn't get the point! I remember we were sitting for lunch in a nice patio, I think it was Boston Pizza, and it was a nice day. She bought the lunch and my telephone rang. I was told that I had failed the test! I don't remember much after that but I know what she said and the lunch we had together was the sign the she wanted us to be back together but I didn't get it because a few months passed and then I went to get the position 1, on the top, and while I was there she called and said she wanted to go back but I was there and I told her that I couldn't leave! That was the last time we spoke! I didn't get the job and she never came back! 

5) A position with purchasing or similar. This I don't remember, again, what department of the Government was offering it but it was the last one before the one that I attended a couple of days ago and as hard. The only difference is I was desperate to get out of the toilet I was in! 

The issue is there's a time that you know you don't have a good answer and try to come up with something convincing but you're bank! That is the part I hate the most. It gives a very bad feeling right away inn front of everyone! 

(Photo: I went to Ottawa as part of a group when I was in CFLRS and we went to Canadian War Museum which was a good experience but have not been to the Parliament Hill which is considered to be the Government of Canada home. Must be nice to visit in a day like the one in this picture)

The Week-long Course

Just came back home after a miserable week in a hotel, near a training center. The course was not bad and learnt plenty but the living condition was awful, except for a ting bit. Stayed in the same hotel and despite the fact that it's generally quite and clean, the damn mattress was killing me! The first first four days had difficulty sleeping which certainly affected my learning abilities. Adding to that is the garbage food all around. Fortunately for a few times I managed to find a nearby Safeway and get fruits and better food. Breakfast was mostly eliminated, completely. We had a couple of day going to the lab and that was were I learnt a lot and for it, I appreciate the institute. The instructor this time was a young East Asian fella who was very nice, polite, patient and helpful. Although he was not as knowledgeable as it is expected but I believe he did his best. BigHead felt less stressful and showed more confidence and I pulled my revenge on him but he didn't seem to be bothered a lot! He said that he had used his car service which is as convenient as I would have picked him up! On the way back he did the same thing and I went for a bit of shopping after telling him I was going to Edmonton! 
This class also had much brighter students. The majority of them had long overseas experience and education in the subject and they were there just to be re-certified. My employer does not want us to be certified nationally. This course was just learning purposes and being able to be certified internally so we can do the tests. However I do not know who would sign the reports because we would technically be allowed to do that.

We also tried to food businesses in the nearby neighbourhoods for the first time and the experiences were not so great: Edo Japan, which has been the worst fast-food joint that I've ever set foot on, at the same level of McDonald's and Fat Burger which is not as bad but still full of trans fats, sugar and all other harmful substances for your body. The funny thing is the second fast-food joint asks you to tip the staff simply because they walk 7 steps to put a small plate of food on your table! You can refer to the full review of my experiences with these two joints in Google Maps, near the training center. 

Another good part of the trip, in addition to what I learnt and I would like to stress that it was a good learning experience, was the ability to shop near YEG. There're lots of nice stores and it was very convenient for me to by what I wanted on my way back home. It's recommended to see the place called Premium Outlet Collection when you're in the region. 

(Photo: A Fat Burger meal. It's a Mushroom hamburger, I think and Sweet Potato Fries with an awful dip! I think I added a shake, which did not taste anything but sugar and the total cost was nearly $27 and some change, approximately! Adding tip! And taxes, of course!)

The Old Gal

I had an interaction with an old woman for awhile. There was no intention from me and I don't know what hers was until one day, when I was on break from work, I saw a book laying next to my vehicle. I don't know who had put it there. I grabbed it, had a look and put it back. My door bell rang a few minutes after that. It was the old gal! She asked me if it was mine and my answer was negative. I told her that I should have prepared a meal and invite her over. She responded by not much! 

That didn't happen until the day she said she would come over for a coffee, in the morning. Fine. So she was here and I served her coffee when I realized that she was hungry too. It's good that I had some biscuits and Peanut Butter. This was all fine. What was strange was that she wanted to see my bedroom! I didn't have any issue but I don't think she was happy when she saw my single bed or everything else, for that matter.

I'm probably amongst a very few people who still use single beds, if they're single. For someone who had never been to my place it was strange to me, to ask to see the bedroom and then although she helped me with something at home, later and I messaged her once, she never came over. I didn't want to ask her out or anything but still don't understand what she wanted!

They say desperate times call for desperate measures! I wouldn't mind to have good times with but I'm not much of a beggar, particularly when it comes to an old woman(!) but admire a clean gap hole, if you know what I mean. My problem is I'm looking for a long-term and meaningful relationship, not someone that when they're bored and have nothing else to do, find me desirable for an hour. That was I made what I turned The Lady to it, although she didn't like it at the beginning: Two people spending all their free time together. I might still give her a try although the bigger the gaps grows, the smaller the chance, I believe. She showed her interest or perhaps I shall say that she suggested to be over for a drink, which I assume that is her favorite. I once mentioned that to her that a bottle is waiting here in the counter and her response was that the bottle could wait! 

(Photo: Andie MacDowell is amongst the ladies who have spoken about being old and still feeling sexy and she truly is. I haven't seen any of her movies but because she has been in the news I thought I shall use her image. The old gal, by the way, is not as pretty as she is but still okay)

The 2023 Christmas Party

This years Christmas party was held a bit early. When I say this year's it doesn't mean that there was a last year! The previous work did not hold a Christmas party or if they did, I was not invited. I didn't want to attend first and then I was told that it would not have a good impression on the top management. The party was held in a local bar which I would not name it here because despite the good atmosphere and the good service, the food was very bad. I don't want to ruin their reputation. When I got there, the majority of the people had already arrived. I said hi to a few and headed to the bar. I had to add that I had not eaten anything but a couple of cookies since the night before(!) to be able to enjoy the dinner as much as I was able to! Wrong! I had drank several glasses of water and the last couple, in the hotel, was lemon water. So felt so weak that I ate one of those cookies that I mentioned earlier, in the hotel. In the bar I ordered a double Vodka on Ice and that did the job on the empty stomach! I had my eyes on a very pretty but crazy girl: tall and slim, fair completion, pale, incredibly beautiful and lovely hair. She once waved at me at work and I got that as a sign! There was not any other signs(!) after that rather than a few ordinary hellos. I approach her and she was as beautiful as she had been and after saying hello and exchange of a few words I asked her something that I do not remember and added the question of whether her boyfriend knew. She said that there was not such a thing as a boyfriend. I considered that another sign and that in fact was contrary to what Éclair had told me. He has everyone's profile! I also remember that once a few weeks ago she had indicated that she was sick and her mom took take of her. With that in mind I indicated to her how lovely she looked but I didn't get a positive response. The food was served shortly after that and I have to stress that it really sucked! They had 

1) Mix steamed vegetables. It was completely bland!

2) Sliced Turkey. Dry and bland!

3) Salad. Did not look very appealing and I was starving! So I ignored them.

4) Brisket. Chewy and rubbery! The different dressings would not help. Besides I believe that a little seasoning shall be enough to make your meat enjoyable but when it is not cooked well, you may add as much sauce and the end result would be the same. 

The funny thing is they have Mashed Potato and something else called Stuffing! Mashed Potato had the same issue as the other food and what the hell is the Stuffing doing in a plate next to others? Shouldn't it be inside the Turkey?

The Brisket was so bad that I resorted to Seinfeld approach to rid of one big bite! Jerry is invited to a meal in an episode called The Wink and mutton is served. He either does not like it or like my brisket finds in so hard to chew! He would then spit them in these nice blue hand-made napkins and would stuff them in his jacket's pockets! In one case I did exactly that with this difference that I jumped off the table to run to the trash bin in the bar! 

Prize calling started after the miserable dinner and I didn't get anyone which was fine. My target was that girl but she did not respond well. the rest of the night was spent on drinking the same damn thing and talking to different people. The very interesting thing about this party was that I was introduced to too many people and too many people came to me and started talking, all either from the long-time working people of the company who knew my name, already and they were all very nice, asking me if I had a good time and other things. Once a guy came and started talking to me and said that he was the owner of the pub! He was talking like for 20 minute and I think he was half drunk but he was saying all the good things and so. I can't understand why the owner of the bar and also his wife shall attend a company party regardless of anything that they might have!

Another highlight of the party were two women whom I think they had been paid to be there but I don't know if they would eventually provide any other services to anyone. I realized that one of the top managers whom his wife was not there, spent a lot of time with them but it didn't go past hugging but they were all drunk and didn't know what exactly they were doing. I think they were both married and texting their husbands to come and get them from a nearby town. I think I was the first one that I chatted with them but then they went with the dancing gang and despite a few times that we interacted briefly, there was no other connection. I left shortly after the music ended but had difficulty sleeping most of the night. The bed was not comfortable and the room was too hot but my stomach and everything else in that area was not hurt.

(Photo: This blurry screen shot shows Jerry and Elaine at a table waiting for the host. Jerry is holding one of the famous napkins)