general update

broke my G-string

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Just to be clear, I’m talking about the G-string, string number 3, on my guitar.  I was tuning it and adding a bit of lubricant to the nut of the guitar when so it didn’t make a popping sound and glided smoothly, when

POP!

the string broke.  Oh, so sad.  I rummaged around in my “household” box of stuff to find a replacement string.  No such luck.  I had several other strings but not the one that was needed.  Luckily there was a music shop downtown.  Unluckily, it was in Park Place Mall, and it was Boxing Day.  Ughhh – crowds.  I park at the far end of the parking lot and hiked in with my guitar.  $15 later, I had a new package of strings.

But … I discovered that any similar string will do.  I used a spare B-string (#2 string), and it works fine!  In fact, it tunes better now than it ever has.

In the process, I learned (apparently I have learned to read within the past 7 years) that I have a George Washburn.  Good name, I think.  Except that this was a $150 Costco guitar.  Just the same, it’s a whole lot better than my previous W30,000 (about $30) guitar bought overseas.

Anybody want an unopened package of guitar strings?

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.