The event is done. At 4:30, I went down to meet T, C (T’s “old lady”), R, & S (R’s sister). No one was there. I wandered back and forth for a while and, eventually, received a text from Tyson. “on my way” I said, “I’ll message Randy, see if he needs help with his tie or something.” Turns out I messaged T instead. I called R. “Yup, yup, we’re on our way.” Everyone was in suits and gowns.
at the hotel in Edmonton
I’m in the hotel room now in Edmonton for the ASET event. We pulled up to the hotel via the new van’s navigation flawlessly and found that they had valet parking. The front desk said that parking was $35 per night plus $10 for valet if we should choose, but apparently the payers of the room also covered parking. Randy’s sister came by car on her own, so her parking was taken care of, too, along with valet service.
I went up to my room after arranging with everyone to meet downstairs at 4:30 in the Ballroom. I seriously needed a shower. I used scented antiperspirant, and it bothered me the entire trip and only got worse near the end. I’ll never do that again! The room is nice. There’s one king-size bed, a desk, a chair with table & lamp, & a bureau for the coffee, TV, fridge, safe, and such. It’s a standard hotel room, I guess, except nicer. Shampoo, body wash, hand soap, shower soap, face cream, shoe polish stuff, all that.
physio, rental, van from K1Z, money, more money
Today …
- I had my first physiotherapy appointment. The accident has given me pretty poor mobility in the upper body.
- I returned the rental van. “You only put on 12km.” Yes – I drove home then drove back again
- F and I went to K1Z Auto Sales to pick up my new van. Very pleased.
- Mom paid for it using her line of credit until I get the Kia Soul settlement money. Hopefully it’s not too long.
- The van took $83 to fill from one-quarter full. Wow.
insurance, job, lawyer, cards, rental, seed
Today …
- I heard how much I’ll be getting from the insurance company for the Kia Soul.
- I applied for another job.
- The lawyer phoned me re- Father’s estate.
- I paid all my credit card bills. No interest charged, as per usual.
- I traded the little Volkswagen Jetta for a larger van to go to Edmonton – a Kia. Go figure.
- I dig in the yard again and planted the flower seeds.
new used Town & Country
I just bought a new used car. The Kia Soul is probably scrap, so I’ve been looking at other vehicles. I found a 2010 Chrysler Town & Country. A what? Why such a big vehicle? Many reasons – plywood, mattress, camp gear, people – all will fit. More later.
van, blood, dirt
Today I …
- … Put a down payment on a new vehicle – a 2010 Chrysler Town & Country. I decided that, after doing research on this dealer in town – K1Z Auto Sales – that this is the one for me.
- … Gave blood. That makes donation #115 for me.
- … Dug in the yard. I’ve put in wild flower seeds for birds, humming birds specifically, bees, and butterflies. Rather than having green grass (basically a desert for any part of nature to try to live in it – a monocrop of nothingness), I will do my part to assist with repopulating the planet with nature.
four major events – interview, probate, accident, student (almost)
Four major things happened today. Here’s my report.
I had an interview today with TT today. It was a good interview.
Probate on Father’s house finally came through today. Finally.
I was in an accident this evening. The car is totalled, but the airbags went off, and I’m fine.
I had a new student start today. Unfortunately, I was two blocks away from his house when the accident happened, so I never saw him.
I think I’m ready for bed. <sigh>
US bond yield curve
According to CNBC, the US bond yield curve has inverted, a significant indicator of a slowed economy.
Now I’m no professional economic analysis expert by any means – but is it not just as simple as knowing that the industries and, indeed, industrial models you’ve relied upon for “growth” all this time have started to fail because they should? Did the steam engine not get replaced by the Diesel? Then the Diesel-electric? Did stone houses not make way for brick, then wood, then steel & glass?
Is Alberta not suffering now because people have a poor idea of the reputation of oil sands? Lethbridge, for example, has an enormous amount both of sunlight and wind. Isn’t the writing on the wall stating that, within 20 years or so, oil will seriously on its way out? Now I’m not getting on the Liberal bandwagon and saying we should all convert farmland into solar panel land. … Then again, you’re building huge advanced greenhouses to grow pot. Good for you. (There’s a facetious tone to my remark, by the way, in case you couldn’t hear me.)
Instead of looking at this as a doom-and-gloom thing, this seems to me to be a sure indicator of the need for innovation, changes to the status-quo, advancement of “alternatives” (as though oil is the benchmark and everything else is an alternative). In short, the stuff you’ve invested in is losing ground. Stop trying to prop it up with make-shift measures. Let it die. Move into something else.
And Trumpy wants to open up more coal mines and “put Americans to work again”, as though going back in time will save us all. Fool! And you’re dragging everyone else down with you.
The Princess and the Pill
Mom told me a story.
“I put my foot in my shoe, and I could feel something in there. I dumped out my shoe, and nothing came out.” She checked her slipper. Nothing. Then she dumped out her sock. Of all things, a pill came out. Apparently, Floyd lost a vitamin-D pill a few days ago. How it landed in her sock, no one will ever know.
However, she apparently hadn’t heard the story, The Princess and the Pea, so my comment, “You’re the Princess,” didn’t make any sense to her. Floyd thought it was funny though.
putting up walls (or, ups and downs)
I’ve completed the walls for the latest project, the teardrop trailer. Unfortunately, I broke a jigsaw blade and had to go buy some more. Fortunately, the shop is close. Unfortunately, those little suckers are expensive. Fortunately, I get AirMiles. Unfortunately, I haven’t figured out how to use my AirMiles – just keep collecting them. Fortunately, however, all my AirMiles points are toward cash value from now on instead of travel / merchandise. Life is full of ups and downs.