The Beautiful Spring of Alberta

Snowing and extreme cold is not unusual in April and even May in Alberta but Global Warming has had a significant effect on that. There haven't been many cold days any more and by " a cold day " I mean a day when the temperature is bellow -15 ℃ (5 ℉) because any temperature above that it's not considered, or perhaps I should say, it was not considered, a cold day.
With that in mind when it snowed nearly 5 cm (nearly 2") the other day I was both happy and sad! I was happy that perhaps this would help to avoid drought and was happy that I didn't have to drive in that condition but I was sad that the temperature was nearly 0 ℃ (32 ℉) which means the snow will melt quickly and we will soon be deprived of the beautiful scenery! 

(Photo: The heavy night snowfall of the last week in a nearby neighbourhood. I stopped to take this picture)

A Phone Interview Courtesy of The M. G.

I was wasting my time(!) on the computer yesterday morning and the telephone rang. It was a lady who introduced herself as an HR person with the company that The Mumbling Guy works for. I thought she might call but didn't expect a call so early. Here's what happened:
I found a position a couple of weeks ago and was going to apply but the product of the company suggest that it was the same that The Mumbling Guy had told me that they were manufacturing. So I thought I should ask him before applying and I did. He said: Don't! I was a bit upset but I didn't because I know he would be the one who evaluates the candidates. His reasoning was someone from the floor had been selected and would start soon, someone who is a relative of one of the managers. 
Nearly a week passed and one they he called and said: Apply for the position in the company I work for! He is the type of the guy who NEVER calls unless there's something really important! So I wondered what had happened. He said that the selected fella would be going to another province for a high pay job. Good for me!
So I applied for the job through the web and also sent my resume to their HR as he had instructed me. The HR person called me just one day after sending the resume, very unexpectedly, as I wrote and sort of asked many questions, some that I had never head in any of the many interviews that I had attended. Here are some:

1) Did you get year-end bonus?(!)

2) How was your vacations or How many days off did you get?(!)

3) How do you deal with issues?(!)

4) Did you have insurance coverage?(!)

I think I've listed the main wired ones!
Then later I received an e-mail and was invited to an couple of interviews(!) at their office. I sent a thank you e-mail and confirmed. The Mumbling Guy though, argued why I had not asked for enough money?! I was going to say that I'm not sure whether I would be hired. Why would I be ruin an interview with a number which most likely not be given to me? He bullshitted for a little while and that was it. Now I have to prepare myself for the interview.

(Photo: I thought I shall use a picture of one of the products of the potential employer but privacy is very important. So I used the line of Natural Gas Pressure Regulator that one of the companies that I worked for as a trainee, many years ago in the old country, manufactured) 

The Second Application

You know how frustrating it is to wait for an interview for days and weeks and then when you're invited to one, you realize that's the same person who interviewed you a little more than 3 years ago! That's what happened to me last week! 

I remember this guy and I remember that I wore a suit and tie (it was probably a very big mistake for a low-level job like that!) and went to this little building while wearing a mask because it was still Corona time and was interviewed. The other details are in the above link, which many might not even bother going there and it's fine by me, but I don't know if the company has its name changed or what. When I first saw the position I didn't realize that I had applied for a job there and had been interviewed because I couldn't remember it. When I checked the address then, I learnt that I had been there!
The guy, this time, wanted to have a phone screening, first! One can imagine why! They call you to interview when it's a pandemic and they screen you over the phone when everything is normal!  

So he called and talked for a short while and I always have my stories set! When he asked me why I was looking for a new job, as I have indicated in my resume that I still work there(!), I told him that I need to be with my family. He also asked about my salary expectations and I know it would be as cheap as the last time, probably a little more, but because I hate staying at home, I'm going to take this job, if I can and then move on. He said that he would like to interview me and would send the address, which I already know(!) and everything. Again, fine by me.

On the day of the interview I'm there two minutes early and he keeps me waiting for about 5 minutes! The funny thing is that the guy recognizes me immediately when I'm shaking hands with him and I deny it, respectfully! I don't deny it actually. I play dumb! I apologize to him and I tell him I do not have a good memory but I also add that I'm more experienced now which indicates that I would be a good candidate for the position! He says that the company has been obtained by another company and that is why, probably, I didn't realize it was the same with a different name! 

He sounds more mature now and this time he offers me a better compensation but I make up so much that at times I think he doesn't believe me because he's looking directly into my eyes without blinking! He never called me after the interview although I sent him a thank you note. I guess I missed this one as well.

(Photo: Phone screening gets rid of a portion of candidates)

Religulous

 This documentary is an amazing one that I don't think you can show it anywhere: It's called Religulous! The word Religulous is amalgamation of the words Religious and Ridiculous! This is a documentary by Bill Maher about different religions and how nonsense they all are! However he reviews the three main religions: Islam, Christianity and Judaism. The other thing is that the film was made in 2008 where the social media was not even introduced and there was not this much religious tension in the world. 

What can I say about it as I don't want to ruin it for you. You have to see it but if you're a Muslim or Jew and even a Christian, you'd most like not like it and some would even be offended. I'm an atheist and I like films like that but I have to conceal it at times because you can get hurt even in Canada!

I remember when I came back, failed from CFLRS, I was sent to this toilet company, a big warehouse and in there a House N - - (!) and I got in to a sort of discussion and he said something to me like God does this or says that and I told him that I didn't believe in God! He didn't like it and was about to preach but I don't remember what happened exactly because it was 2017 but what happened next and I'm not sure if this was the direct result of that or not but maybe it has some impact, I was asked not to go back to work! I said: F- - it! I got a better job just a few months after that. Anyway if you're not religious or have doubts make sure you watch this documentary. 

(Photo: Maher in Vatican where he questions Catholicism!)

Still Scary Downtown!

 I did two out of the three CWB examinations for my Level I certificate this week. This was, probably the third attempt! No! You can call me dumb or anything you want but I don't even want to discuss that here. I either have not had enough time to study or was too tired to do so. That's my excuse! I fail at least one of the three each time and then I either have to re-write it or my time is up and I have to write all the three! I will write about this attempt when the results show, next week, most likely but I paid Kevin M. a visit on my way back, in his Downtown workplace building. 
I barely remember when was the last time we had met but I think it was 2019, perhaps. He looked much older and had lost a great deal of hair. We are all aging but I think his aging has been fast. Whatever is left is gray now but we leave him alone in that department. The good thing, for him, is that he has been with the same company since, If I'm not mistaken, 2011 and he will, most likely retire there. I don't think he makes anything less than $130k or he'd be a sucker! Even if he doesn't, and even if he makes $100k, the important thing is he's all set, in comparison with me that I have to start over! I saw them to see if he could do anything about the application I had earlier sent. I highly doubt that. 
Nevertheless, I had to park somewhere and walk to the building and Downtown seemed scarier as always, perhaps even scarier! Despite a small population of some Caucasians and some foreigners who work in the businesses and buildings in Downtown, the majority of the people you face are foreign refugees and asylum seekers, fraudulent immigrants or poor addict and extremely low income and almost homeless people. Downtown Calgary is way better when you compare it to Vancouver but still gives you a very bad feeling, in most corners of it, particularly on a cloudy and cold day of March! 
Shopping carts with dirty clothing piled up in it, lots and lots of Punjabi Sikhs, male and females marching around (I spent an hour with my friend and when I came out, saw the same people wandering around then all went inside a building in Downtown west side, almost opposite Kerby Center, which I don't know what it is but we all know many Indian Sikhs come to Canada as student and work), construction and more construction, smokers and lost of smokers. You get depressed by walking in certain parts of Downtown! And then I saw one or two moving trucks and told myself: I will do anything it takes not to have to move to a rental building and generally anywhere in Downtown Calgary! My mental health has been affected enough, I certainly don't want to end up in a mental institution!

The interesting thing is you never see disgusting, scary and nasty scenes you see in Western cities in any Iranian cities and despite one or two individuals, I saw no one like these creatures in Tokyo with more than 14M inhabitants!  

(Photo: McDougall School, which is known as McDougall Center now, was built in 1907 as a center for training teachers. It is located in the less scarier part of Downtown Calgary!)

Escape from Alcatraz

Prisoners, either they're POWs or inmates have been the subject of movies many times. Some are based on true stories and some have fictional characters. If I wanted to name a few I would say The Great Escape, The Bridge Over the River Kwai and probably a few more. These two movies were a big hit at their time but probably not today. They would most likely not impress the young audiences today. I saw the first one many years ago when I was a kid in the old country on VHS(!) and it was dubbed. It was a favorite movie by adults at the time because of McQueen's role. I did or perhaps I still do have the second movie on digital but couldn't watch past the first few minutes!

This movie that I've watched and is a bit better has a historical accuracy: Escape from Alcatraz is based on the attempt and actual escape of three inmates from the maximum security prison in the island of Alcatraz, nearly 1.25 miles off the shore of San Francisco in 1961.

It's obvious that many parts of the movie is based on the speculations that the writer and screenplay write have but it is still good considering many events could have been checked with the former inmates who were there at the time. 

Alcatraz Island and the main prison building. Photograph courtesy of FBI. The island is a tourist destination which I don't mind visiting. Perhaps sometimes soon when things go back to normal.

The movie has a few known actors. Eastwood is the main character. Fred Ward who has an amazing play in Southern Comfort comes in later and becomes one of the characters who plan and participate in the escape. There're a few more who are not known as much but they play well. The movie might sound a bit boring because it's not an action film. It's about planning for an escape but still worth watching, if you can get your hands in. I read that there're tours for the island and the facility, which was closed less than a year after the infamous escape but with all the opposition to travelling to the US, I wonder if it will be a favourite destination for many! 

(Photo, top,: From Left Frank Morris and brothers Clarence and John Anglin, escaped the maximum security prison in the north of San Francisco in 1962. The FBI does not believe the men could make it and handed the file over to the US Marshals office in 1979)

The things that Canadians are Proud of!

They say desperate times call for desperate measures. It's more than 7 weeks that I had nothing but a phone call and an interview which led to nothing and my E. I. hasn't even started. I decided to get some help from a local food bank and they were great, although the diet really is different from what I'm used to! They give you lots of sugary snacks, old meat and stuff like that. Don't get me wrong, I strongly believe in Don't look at the gift horse at the mouth, and I still use the stuff as I have no other choice but look at a few things I've found in the packaging of the stuff I've been give:

In the Turkey Breast package, it clearly says that only 20% of the content is meat! What the hell is the rest then?! Does anyone cares?! No! Not when everything was reasonably priced. People just eat whatever they can get their hands on and what's better than something which requires no preparation!

The back of a package or most packages in Canada proudly states it could not be recycled. When there are thousands and thousands of open water at each side of the country, why would anyone care about recycling?! Just throw them in the big ponds at each side of the country or send them to The Philippines! 

Then we get to the packaging itself. I need to clarify here that " garbage " and " trash " is one of the major exports of Canada! How much do they earn from that? I know they earn lots of dislike in The Philippines! That's one of the destinations where Canadian garbage ends up. You see that they proudly indicate in the back of the packaging that it could not be recycled! After all Filipinos have something to protest on the streets. You can't just stay in your slum and make babies, although the countries who depend on cheap labour might have problems! 

(Photo: The so-called Turkey Breast packaging. By the way it tasted awful, nothing like Turkey!)

The Inverter Story

The fact that lots of stupid, pinheads have well-paid permanent position in Canada in undeniable. This story is proof and I decided to say that because I have not much to do but study, eat(!) and job searching, and a few other occasional activities. 

Inverters used in Solar Plants transform the DC electricity in a solar plant to AC electricity so it can be transferred. There were as many as six inverters in the first solar plant project that I started to be part of, back in 2022. They were huge and very heavy, of course. A big mobile crane was used to install them on their platform, no doubt. Everything is good so far. Right? 

The crane comes, lifts the cubic-shape, giant piece and puts it on the concrete platform. Physics says that a big structure's weight helps it to be stable. Right? It is 4400 Lbs. structure. The weight forces the inverter  toward the ground, downward. If something, like a strong wind or side force pushes it, the structure does not fall or in fact even move due to its weight but what did the genius do? He ordered the legs to be welded to some metal plates on the columns of the platform! 

A fillet weld was deposited at each side of the structure's leg, each nearly 16". On the second thought, I think I don't think the weld was at each side because the inner side was not accessible and the weld had what role? To help to keep the structure intact on the occasion of side force!  

What makes this stupid is that the donkey who was in charge employed a company who was a CWB Division 2 company! This nasty, pretentious poser did not know that the division of a company has nothing to do with the quality of the one deposits! This nasty animal's position, in case you need to know was Project Manager! I shit in the mouth and eyes of the animal who hires animals like this in the first place. 

(Photo: Long chains on the hook. The crane is preparing to lift the inverter. One of the pillars, of the other platform, is seen on the left. It is, of course not seen here but each platform has a metal plate buried on it and its surface is exposed. That is where they deposited the weld! )

The Three Billboards

These days I don't have much to do rather than wasting my life, suffering from cold and hunger, job searching and occasional doing of other things, at times I watch a movie. Not a new movie in a theater! I wouldn't even go, if I was employed! I have been to movie theaters by myself in the past, when I was working but not very often. That is the situation where you feel the biggest loser in society! 
Everyone is there either with a gf/bf, a spouse, a friend or the family and you're the only one sitting by yourself. What would you feel rather than being, perhaps, the biggest loser in the entire universe?! But I usually go early, when there's 20 minutes or earlier before the start of the film and I go sit in the last row, on the top! In that case I don't have to walk by myself in front of couples and families to get to a seat(!), although you get the feeling when you're leaving! 
So the movies I watch are the ones I have either on my old PC or on DVDs. I watched Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, not that old movie, only 8 years! The movie is not bad and the acting is good but it didn't have the impact that I was expecting. For example not the same impact as  Mississippi Burning, The Killing Fields, or even Malcolm X (these are just examples) In this kind of movies, you would like to go back and watch, over and over because of their strong story, great acting and good screenplay. Three Billboard ... is good, but not as good and it's sad. You feel bad about the teen and her mother and you feel bad for mostly all of the movie characters or maybe it's because I watched it at this time! Give it a try. 

(Photo: Frances Mcdormand in a scene of the movie next to one of the billboards. The deer could have been added using computer-generated imagery technology or simply brought and released there!)

How Wrong Was I?!

I called The Mumbling Guy a few days ago and he didn't respond with the level of enthusiasts(!) that I was expecting and I got both sad and angry but we decided to meet after his work somewhere close to his office on his way home. He came and he spent nearly 2 hours with me helping with my job search and interview. I was really impressed and surprised! I wasn't expecting that from him and I thought perhaps I never gave him enough credit. He's the same guy as always: Bragging about every aspect of his life but what do I care about as long as he's nice and helpful! He's a cheap bastard too but listening to the stories of his life in India, I understand where he comes from! The funny thing is even if you call him from that country, he doesn't like it. The interesting thing is he goes to India regularly, though! 
He had a few good points for my resume which I'm certain working on, would help me. He also gave me hope and told me to work on my interview skills as well and go for the job. I left him with plenty of positive things while I wanted to call and cancel it due to the distance (almost 85 Km or 52 miles round trip! There I promised myself to not only take his family to lunch, or have them over, but also buy something for them, like a gift for their home. It's not going too far away. I realized how wrong I was cutting off every one simply because they had flaws, while I have many flaws myself! Now I've stopped that but it might be too late for some. I called a schoolmate who had not received any messages from me for over 5 years. He had a short conversation but when I asked to meet him he said he'd be busy and later didn't respond to my message. Yes. I was wrong. I was wrong many times but I think I still can recover to some extent. My father used to say:  One enemy is too many but one thousand friends are not! He was a very popular person and so have I been but he stuck to the first part and I haven't! I created more! 

(Photo: This is what has happened to most of the resumes that I've sent! Not that I'm not able to do the job. I presented myself badly)

Why Does it Feel More Difficult this Time?

One month has passed since I have been asked to leave my position and go home with only one interview which led to nothing! But why is this feeling harder this time?! That is the question I ask myself. Here are the positive side of the scenario:

1) I have gained more experience and learned a whole lot more.

2) I have a new good position in my resume.

3) I have added a few new training and education certificates to my resume.

4) I'm still fresh and positive.

5) I have more savings in my accounts. 

6) I have a better understanding of my weaknesses. 

Here are the negative sides:

1) The Market might not, I repeat might not, as many professionals as it used to. I applied for a good number of positions which I was sure I would be very good at, if I was given the job. None even bothered inviting me for the damn interview.

2) More people are in the city and generally the province. It makes the competition harder. 

3) I might need to use my network, although it's a very weak one. 

4) My patience and calmness level has been reduced significantly!

So what do I have to do? Just keep looking for work. I also did something else: I have been told that I do not have much time to finish my certificate program with the CWB. The last time I did the three-examination program, I failed two(!) although the previous time I had one left! So I booked for the exam again and I started studying with the hope that I can pass them both or I will have to re-start my certification which will cost a lot! 

(Photo: The CWB Level I Inspector is the key to everything but has become a big obstacle for me. If you want to do the ABSA Weld Examiner, the AWS Welding Inspector and similar programs, as well as stepping into the part of the manufacturing business, you need this damn certificate! The job itself is very easy but the certificate examinations are not!)

Until the Cows Come Home

This post is in no way a complaint or criticism toward the Government for its hiring system, because I understand how it works. I wanted to clarify that before posting. I might criticize the government at time but not for the way they recruit, if I can use this term. With that said, I applied for a Government position in March of 2022, nearly three years ago. I received an e-mail, probably the third regarding that position, asking whether I still was interested or not. In previous cases, even when I received the e-mail while employed, I said I was interested although the salary is lower than what I used to get. Of course I said I was still interested, this time! 

The interesting thing, although I understand how the hiring system for this specific position works, is that the message said I might receive this message every three to four months! I've already written one big exam and attended one interview. Passed them both. I've waited for three years. I can wait longer. No problem. What other choice do I have?! I've already missed at least three Government jobs. Perhaps this one works for me. 

(Photo: I took this picture of a couple of cows, if you can see the second[!] in Bob Creek Wildland in southern Alberta in 2022, not sure before or after applying for this position, for no apparent reason! This was amongst the the sixth unsuccessful attempts to reach Thrift Peak! Maybe this year, if life goes back to normal, or next year, I finally can make it to the damn summit!)

The China Syndrome

 

It's usually very rare to see a good American movie without stupid sex scenes, violence and drug and mind altering substances usage scenes. I guess what Americans or in general Westerners mostly like to see! I never understood why there shall be a scene of a couple becoming intimate in, for example, a science fiction! What I do understand is the media has a big role in how society shapes!

With that in mind, and without spoiling the movie, I just have to say that it's a movie about a disaster and the people who try to expose it to the public before it becomes out of control. Jane Fonda and Jack Lemmon have the lead roles and Michael Douglas has a small character, the usual one(!) which you might have seen: The person with hysterical laughs and sudden eruption! 

I had not seen Fonda in any movies before but Lemmon has a role in JFK and of course his fame comes from the time that movies were still back & white! 

(Photo: Fonda, left, and Lemmon in the final minutes of the movie)

The First Interview of 2025

I had my first interview of the year today. I had applied for something way lower than my previous position simply because I'm a loser! What do I mean by saying that I'm a loser? There're different kinds! I explain to you: I live by myself. So if anything happens, I have no support. Neither emotionally, nor financially. So I have to get the first job available, as soon as possible. Staying home all day long, particularly in the cold winter of Alberta where the temperature could reach -25 ℃ (-13 ℉) and stays there for more than a week, even longer, it's not healthy. Add to that: Alone. So I applied for this job. I left home nearly one hour before the start of the interview while the GPS indicated I'd be there within 32 min. I reached there 10 minutes before! I guess I was lucky as the traffic was bad and it was not early morning! I had stress all the way to the place. Not because of the interview. Because I was afraid I might be late and there's nothing worse than reaching your interview late and I have done it once!

My first impression was that I'm going to have a much more serious interview in comparison with the last one. The fact that the position is for a shift that many would not want to work, I'm sure, had helped me to get the interview but I don't care about the odd shifts. In fact I love to start late to avoid traffic. Besides, that gives me the opportunity to use all sorts of pranks that I'd love to pull! 

I can't say the interview went well or not but I can say that there was only one thing that I said I didn't know how to do and that was an honest answer. They never asked the usual questions such as:

1) Why did you leave your last position? 

2) How much is your expecting salary?

3) What do you know about our company?

The first one was answered automatically during the interview and the second and third ones were not even mentioned! I guess they were mostly looking for someone who is willing and ready to help them in the second shift and in a harsh environment. 

With all that said, I'd like to add that if you have a good supporting and loving family, relatives and friends, don't do what I have to do. Don't degrade yourself because all you have built would be ruined and you need to start over. You also might get into issues with your new colleagues, being new and having to take instructions! I was a person who provided instruction to two persons directly and many more indirectly. They had to do what I would tell them. Now I'm going to be in a new environment and taking instructions for people, who some might be less educated, trained and experienced than me but I have no other alternatives. 

(Photo: No! I'm not a healthcare professional and no! my shift would not be until 03:00 AM but that's the closest picture I could find!)

Waiting for a Call

The most important thing that happens to you, when you're out of work is the mental affect, no doubt, especially if you're a gigantic loser like me who lives alone! If you have a family, I'll be different. I remember this Pakistani guy who worked for the same company that I worked, nearly 10 years ago. He somehow got my phone number and called for a meeting. We met in a McDonald's (to be exact, the one at Barlow Tr. and 32nd Ave., NE) and in there he practically was begging me to get him a job! 

I was working for a distribution center as a warehouse worker at the time and I told him I could not do anything but I knew that he was receiving EI, his wife was working a job and the government was paying Child Support for his three kids! You then should just slow it down and wait for a right job to come to you not like me who grabs the first opportunity that he gets simply because staying at home would drive him crazy! 

I don't know what he does now as the story goes back 6 years ago. We talked only once or twice after that and I have changed my number at least three time since that time! 

When you're unemployed all you do is going through the job websites and apply. Then wait for the phone to ring. There's nothing else that you can do unless you have a business mind and start something. One of my buddies from Gujarat opened a Hamburger joint, I think in two or three locations and he's doing fine. he's done that with a couple of his friends. This decision is mainly because that's what these people do: Generate money more than you spend! Way more! Another reason for that was because he once had been laid off and despite having all his family here, it was very hard on him, particularly because they told him he was overqualified (he has a Masters)! The same assholes hired him later, perhaps, this time because it did not matter that he was overqualified! Now he's in a better shape: Earning money from a successful business while employed. 

With all that said, this is what I've been doing lately: looking for jobs, sending the damn resumes and waiting for calls. That's why when I received a call this morning, I was curious to see who it was. Am I going to be invited for an interview? 

Unfortunately not! It was from Service Canada! They asked a few questions in regards to my claim! Yes! The Employment Insurance system has changed a lot since the last time I had to file for that but looks like that I'm eligible! It was kind of disappointing but at least I will get some money. The thing is it won't be earlier than the next week, which means three weeks after the last day I worked. That's what it looks like but I will see. 

(Photo: Waiting for a long time, especially for someone to call you to be interviewed, could be devastating to mental health!)

Great Acting, horrible Movie: Licorice Pizza

I had a chance to watch Licorice Pizza a couple of days ago and it was a struggle! I switched between the movie and YouTube frequently! It was a great performance by the main characters but the story is so boring and stupid that you would leave the theatre if you had gone to see it in a cinema! 
This is a movie from 2021 and most might have seen it but if you haven't, don't! I'm not going to spoilt it here but just to mention a few thing is that it's a series of completely isolated events mixed by a few well-known historical occurrences, if I may say, in the early 70's including the Oil Embargo led by Saudis and some other insignificant tales(!) mixed up with a romantic relationship between a teenage boy and a woman in her late 20's! 

King Faisal of Saudi Arabia who orchestrated the embargo, on the left. He was later assassinated! but one might ask why this even was in the movie?! I mean there is no mentioning of this fella but the crisis is and the story could go without it!

Both Alana Haim and Cooper (not Copper!) Hoffman, the son of the addicted actor who took his own life a few years ago, have great performances but it does not help, particularly when you see two veteran actors who each have a 15-minute appearance! I'm sure they all get a good salary for their work but at the end neither the audience nor the producer is happy. The funny thing is the movie throws a couple of religious things in the story, for no apparent reason and does not go anywhere! Thanks to heavens that it was released way before this Israeli-Hamas conflict as this was about how Jewism was about! 

(Photo, top: Haim, left and her two sisters in the premier of Barbie. I didn't even know that they were in that movie, not that I have watched it but considering all the dance and girl scenes, it makes sense!) 

Checking Village Brewery

The Chef and I were in the city and he suggested to check Village Brewery out. It's a small bistro and brewery, of course, in a commercial/industrial part of the city, about 10 minutes drive to Downtown. It was his suggestion/his money, so I didn't object. The only thing that one should consider in cases like this to be careful with him not drinking too much! 

Village Brewery has a nice and clean environment and at the time we were there it was almost full for a weekday night. We ordered two Blacksmith, I think 20 Oz. beer and two small bowls of nuts, each cost a total of $16! I had not had any alcohol for nearly 14 months but was not too impressed by it. Then I realized something else: The glass stuck! I think this guys try to save money by not washing the glasses and dishes and only rinse them or wipe them with a piece of cloth! I didn't say anything but the smell was overwhelming! The Chef didn't notice that and I didn't want to ruin his fun, especially because he was about to get drunk after half of the glass was done! The bowl of nuts was good, despite the fact that we know they have no respect for the customers' well being and do not follow health and sanitation regulations! In fact one could be full for the night with that beer and nuts. The waiter approach when I had the first glass and The Chef asked him to bring the second round. It was the second glass that screwed him up! He was already drunk at the beginning of it. So was I but not to that extent. The interesting thing is the effect of alcohol on someone who drinks every night (The Chef) and someone who only drinks socially! We finished the second round and the place was getting empty but there were still a few customers. The Chef asked me to order food! Now he was out of his conscious, I would say! I took him to bathroom and ordered two Brisket Sandwiches for us and the third beer for him.  

He was so drunk that when he was going to the restroom, he left his wallet open on the table! The sandwich tasted good but who knows what they had done in the back! It was time to good but was not easy to make him understand we need to get the hell out and I didn't want to get to the point of dragging him out! The entire visit cost $65 plus the tips, in two separate bills, as there's yet no tax but the tips was high! I think he paid 15% on the first and 30% on the second! So the total charge was $79.7 which was too much! I could each for two whole week with that amount! 

Now we're in the car and ready to go and I have to rush to the Safeway pharmacy in downtown to get my medicine and he says he wants to get a bottle of wine! We go back in and the girl says their wine costs $30 and convince us to buy one from a liquor store. We get the hell out, and I drive to the pharmacy. Luckily the pharmacy is open and I get the medicine. The funny thing is the pills are for my gout and the only reason I could drink those two tall glasses of beer is they serve a bottle of water with that! The doctor has told me as long as I drink two glasses of water after ever glass of beer, I can drink that. This, obviously is to dilute the alcoholic beverage. I survived that because I do not drink regularly or I would not have been able to sleep throughout the night! 

I drove him to a Co-op liquor store on our way back to his place and he got two bottles of booze and we finished our night. 

(Photo: The brewery has a very nice atmosphere. You can see the bottles of water and cans of beer in the cooler. I blurred the face of the staff in case they want to play games! This was shortly before we left so most of the customer's had already left but there were still a few, behind us and one couple in the picture, of course)

The Embarrassing Audit

 
We had been scheduled for an audit, by a third party, for about two months, a few weeks ago. I had been invited as optional although I had a major role! So I said to myself: I have enough to do. Why do I bother? Then I went to the genius(!) and told him that our Q. M. was not yet ready and I was working on it. He said the audit would be for welding shop only. I said okay and left. 

Then the audit days comes and the idiot (of course I was sarcastic when I said the genius!) comes to me and asks me to join! I go and sit, without any introduction or something! I don't remember if that guy was the same as last year's but he starts to ask questions about the ways things are said are done in the Q. M. but we do it differently, because we are in the process of updating that document! I try to find a proper answer but I do not have any simply because I was updating the Q. M.! Now we look like idiots! 

Then he asks another question, this one about a key part of the document which involves the top management but they have done nothing, as usual! So my answer is that they did probably not have time! 

The whole session is nothing but embarrassment! Simplest things that we could do but these bunch of retard , lazy, idiots had not done anything!  

The third party, under circumstances, could sustain the company's certificate but this was not one. In most cases they work with the companies but the bad thing is we had at least 7 more findings in comparison with the last year's and it shows nothing but incompetence, laziness, stupidity and carelessness of most the staff from top to the bottom, in this shithole! 

(Photo: Our auditor did not look as professional as this one and even if he did, he wouldn't do much! He didn't even bother looking at, at least, 6 or 7 other sections of the Q. M. which has complete different base from what we did in the company! Fool! You're all nothing but a joke! A silly and stupid joke that does not even bring a smile to anyone's face!) 

The Shocking Housing Market

 

I never paid attention to all these news about the housing market and how difficult it is to rent a decent place or buy one until yesterday that I opened my place's assessment. I was shocked. It's been always said that the municipality's assessment is lower than the market. This time it is more, according to my realtor because although I received it in Feb., the evaluation has been done in Jul. of last year. Here's what we have:

1) Purchased price (Aug. 2020): $285,000

2) Assessment (Jul. 2024): $478,000

3) Minimum Market Price (Feb. 2025): $430,000

The difference, based on the minimum sale price and the original cost is approximately: $145,000.

If I sell the place, based on what I owe the bank, which is apparent, I will have at least $238,000 in my account.

It would be good for someone at retirement age and a good pension. He could simply rent a place and live but I'm not there yet. If the situation was good in the old country, I could go there but it does not look so promising. The Chef now receives his CPP and unfortunately it's not much. He made a lot of money throughout the years but spent a lot on booze and shit and sent a lot to the old country. He says his family has build a house and rented it out but he lives on a $898 pension, in an old and gloomy basement and washes dishes in a restaurant which he has to walk to and from in -25 ℃ (-13 ℉) because he doesn't have a car! He probably has some money saved here but he's not spending it but even if he wanted to purchase a car to protect him from the frigid cold and bring some convenience to his life, let's say something around $2000, it would be very difficult considering the insurance he had to pay. I got a quote for him nearly 7 years ago and it was around $5000 for an old car. It was, I think because of the claims and his incidents.

Going back to my shitty(!) situation, I was hoping to pay the home off in the next three years, which would have been a little more than 2 years after the first five years, if I kept my job but now I'm out and need to start over! How annoying that is? I first thought of purchasing a place back in 2008 when I was in British Columbia but never stepped forward and then in 2012 I was married and had a good job, economy was good and everything was reasonably priced. I and my spouse went to the bank and requested a loan but the silly thing is she started asking questions about what happens if the couple split! I'm not going to say the rest of what happened but we ended up buying nothing and she left me as part of a long plan later which she regretted and want to come back(!) but I was in CFLRS and told her that I could not leave! I didn't finish the program and she never called me after that. We both sustained heavy losses both emotionally and financially but that's in the past. She has recovered by marrying the guy whom she used to see before me! I'm in shit and thinking what would happened, had he purchased that home back in 2012 and moved on with our lives?! It's useless to think about the past but it's good for readers to learn and avoid the mistakes. 

(Picture: this might not show but this neighbourhood is only 10 minutes drive to Downtown Calgary and has some of very nice houses and beautiful trees in late spring, early summer and there're good businesses around. I, of course, don't live here but just want to show it. It's, of course, is not the only nice neighbourhood in Calgary. There're many more but I had this picture and decided to use it. I don't believe one could find any house less than, at least $700,000 in this area and that's only based on my assumptions and what I've learnt from the market)

Back into deep shit!

Here I am again, sitting in front of the screen looking for jobs and sending resumes! I'm in deep shit again! I was asked top leave, I assume, I was too hard on them but it doesn't matter know. All I need to do is to dust myself off and start the beginning. One of the nice gays were helping me with my stuff when I was leaving and I told him " it was my nature ". He could be one of the people how complained about me but he shock my hand and said he was sorry! I was going to ask if he was sorry because he was a disgusting, incompetent ass or was he sorry for something else, but I let it go! 

The good news is, as everyone knows, the tariffs are postponed now! At least there's a light at the end of the tunnel! I applied for E. I. yesterday but I'll have to see when it starts. I also have started sending resumes but I realized I made a few mistake so I'm going to use these tips, that I found out after sending, perhaps, nearly hundred resumes(!):

1) Adjust your resume to what the employer needs but:

• Shuffle everything they want you to do.
• Change the wording.
• Add one or two more things. 

2) Be mindful of the start and finish dates. Do not leave long gaps. make up stories, if you need to.

3) Do not rush sending the resume out. Read as many times as you need to be sure everything is right. 

Now I'm not posting for making money or I could've done that 20 years ago but the above is helpful and effective. There're a couple more that I may right later but that'd be after I get an offer.

The interesting thing is I could sense this just a few days before this happened because this fella is such a phony but I don't care anymore. I just wanted to say that these guys were, majority of them lazy and incompetent but I'm not going to go there. 

(Photo: I thought I shall use this photo not because it shows a sunset but because it is nice or at least I like it!)

The 47th

I'm so tired when I get home these days and there's not much going on. That is why there's no post, not that anyone cares! Trump's second term was something interesting to watch. I had never watched or even interested in the oath ceremony and all the related but spent more than an hour on inauguration. It was interesting. When he started his speech, Biden and Harris who were sitting next to each other and close to the podium, never clapped, every time everyone else did! I think they had to be there but because everything Trump said was actually an insult to them, it seemed very awkward. 
The other weird thing was the way Musk and the Faceless Book fella looked, especially the latter! They were both standing in the back without much reaction and I felt forgotten or ignored! It was because the announcer would call people one after another, by using prefixes and they would enter and the audience would clap. These guys were standing there and felt like a couple of extras! 
Then it was Trump's third wife who was wearing a big hat! I don't know what it meant but you could barely see her eyes. When Trump stepped in, as the last person and walked towards her, he looked like he was going to give her a kiss, at least on the chicks but his lips didn't even touch her face! 
It was obvious that Tramp was reading from a prompter, or to be specific, two but he was very clear and never stuttered. I don't know who had written his speech but it had funny and interesting parts such as Stay in Mexico policy. This was to the flow of Hispanics who walk from South America toward the US. He has decided to expel nearly 11,000,000 illegal aliens! I think Canadians were amognst a few who sighed because he said he would not impose the 25% tariffs but added that he considers them for 01.Feb.! 

(Trump in the middle and the vice president on the left. He's only 40 years old. Joe can be seen on the right with his wife in the next row, standing next to Harris's husband)

The 2025 Plan: 2) Hiking

2024 was a very bad year in regards to hiking. I had at least 4 attempts and never reached a summit. Now with low dollar, I think I shall cancel the European trip and simply focus on local hiking but the first on the list would be the failed attempts

1) Abraham Mountain

2) Stegosaurus Mountain! (Known as Dolomite Peak in Canada!)

3) Thrift Peak (This one I have tried at least 5 times so far, if not more!)

4) The Wedge (Was attempted, probably before 2017 or sometime around that year, the last!)

5) Big Sister (Tried once dangerous and hard hike)

6) Black Tusk (This one is B. C. Need more funds for that. Was tried once back in 2016, I think)  

7) Boundary Peak (Nevada. I need to get this out of my head as well)

8) Mount Burns.

I think this is enough and if I can reach the summit of all, it'd be a big accomplishment but I know it won't be easy, especially solo. While most of my good hikes have been solo, having somebody at the side creates a sense of competition and at time security in case something happens. I was all by myself in six out of eight of the above hike. 

(Photo: A small herd of Mountain Goats. This was in 2015 and the air as might be able to see, in the background, was nasty. This is happens to the world where nasty animals who only think about money, take control: Motherfucker Capitalists of Western world) 

The 2025 Plan: 1) Food

I go to one of the Lina's location for some grocery shopping, at times. I don't by any Pasta, Cheese or Pizza. I only buy Olives, Eggs and at times Olive Oil. Yesterday's list was just limited to Eggs and Tomatoes and I realized that they had increased the price of the first item. No wonder why families struggle. I'm one person and I eat a little and I have problem when I go to supermarkets. I have decided to control my eating by following these simple rules in the new year:

1) No eating outside. This is not new but we went out a few times and it was extravagant. What you pay for two meals and service equals to what I pay for almost a week of grocery! 

2) Buy meat (of any kind) twice a month, only. 

3) Avoid or limit certain foods (mostly for health reasons but the cost is a concern as well)

• Pizza. Never bought in 2024. Made at home a few times. Making is okay but not too often.

• Ice Cream. must cut it out completely. Had it a few times, last year. Making Ice Cream at home is messy and expensive and is only a little better because you need Cream and Sugar and they are both bad for you. I have my machine and just for the sake of using it, I might make some a couple of times in summer! 

• High fat diary such as fake Cheese, homogenized Milk (3.25%), and high fat Yogurt.

• Ready-to-eat food. I used to buy Rotisserie Chicken, Potato Wedges and Hummus but I stopped the fist two and will hopefully never buy the latter either. 

• No outside Coffee and reduce home-made ones. I've written how stupid it is that the cost of Coffee is bigger than gasoline! While I've reduced buying outside coffee, significantly, it must be completely cut out. Home or office Coffee needs to be reduced to 2 cups a day. 

This is another type of salad that I make at time but the problem with this is the damn cucumber are fake!

It looks like it is very possible to have higher food prices, soon, unfortunately. If the tariffs are in place or the Canadian dollar stay as low as it is, then higher food prices is expected. 

(Photo, top: I try to eat more salad than any other meal, this year)