general update

Christmas

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This is the Christmas break.  I’ve got 10 days off work.  Now at a movie theatre.  We’ve got a turkey for this coming Tuesday.  Typing on my phone in a movie theatre.  Probably shouldn’t do that.

new toaster, printer, job

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A couple of days ago a few things happened – I bought a new toaster, I found a printer on sale and bought it, and I got an offer for a job and accepted.

First things first – I am now a Drafting Technologist for ISP.  I applied last week, had the first interview earlier this week, a phone call to come in for a second interview on Thursday, and was offered a position during that interview.  I start Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 and will be reviewed after 3 months.

I also got an email from ASET congratulating me on being a Technologist in Training.  Now I must work for two out of the next three and a half years go obtain my C. Tech / C.E.T. designation.

I bought a toaster.  Thanks to Walmart’s Rollback price, I got a Black & Decker toaster for $18.88.  Pretty cheap.  It even has a bagel button.

And, finally, a printer.  I thought I’d drop by the printer / scanner area to try to replace my dead machine.  I was looking at a printer, and a Walmart guy came around and asked, “You’re looking for the one on sale?”  “Uh … yah, I am.”  Eh?  I found a pile of Canon PIXMA MX492 boxes.  I wasn’t expecting to pay $34 though.  I’d be an idiot to not buy it.

dead bird hanging around

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There’s been a dead magpie hanging in the tree outside our window for a week now.  I thought Parkbridge management would take it out, but no such luck.  I went with gloves and mask to retrieve it.

He must have died of old age.  He wasn’t eaten or pecked apart or chewed up.  Imagine, dying of old age doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing – just hanging out in a tree.

flat tire, new rims

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Well this is embarrassing!

But these tiny spare tires are supposed to do up to 80km/h.  Wow.

Even last winter when A&C were visiting, two tires went flat.  Cheap iron rims.  They rusted and continually lost their bead.  Matt B., a tire guy I know at Elrich, told me these would probably last 3 or 4 years, especially if only used in winter.  He knows his stuff,  Not using them during hot weather loosens the bead, moisture gets in, and the metal begins to rust.

So I went to Kia to order rims.

What do you think?  I know, I know, they’re a lot of money for just a set of rims.  The point is a) I hated those winter beater car iron rims, b) I wanted something nicer to match the summer rims, and c) I hated pumping up my tires every few days.

Earl Grey tea

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I shocked the world today.  I walked into Good Earth Coffee House and ordered … “Earl Grey tea, please.”  The server, stunned, just looked at me with wide eyes for 3 or 4 seconds.  I wish I had a body cam.  She turned to her coworker and said, slowly, “Earl Grey tea.”  The coworker widened her eyes.  “Okaayyy.”

I’ve been coming here for several years, on and off, and have always had coffee.  But, once in a while, you have to shock the world.

donation 112

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I gave my 112th blood donation today.

They take half a litre every 56 days.

Someone asked me, “Is that a pump?  Are they pumping it out of you?”  No!  It’s not a pump!  It’s just a bag of blood sitting on a platform that moves back and forth every few seconds to stop the blood from coagulating, or whatever blood does when it sits still.  The heart is a pump.  It pumps it all around; and if you put a hole in a vein and let it out into a bag, your heart doesn’t know the difference.  It just gets pumped out.  No biggie.

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no heat

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We had the furnace ducts cleaned yesterday by the 4 Seasons Home Comfort people.  $262.50 later, we have clean ducts.  But it didn’t do any good at first because a transformer blew apart.  How?  Something about a faulty ground wire.  There is normally a buzzing noise from the furnace (the old transformer did that), but this morning – no buzz, and no heat.  Another technician came today to fix it, no charge.  Now all is good.

min. 3 years experience

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I’ve been searching non-stop for employment since convocation in April.  I have had a few interviews and spoke with several employers, but pretty much all positions posted online require minimum 3 years’ experience.  There are repeat job listings rewritten with “This is not an entry-level position” included in the job description.

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