A LITTLE STORY

So after setting up the tent and visiting, I may have had more than one beer.

All my friends were eating, and it smelled good. I got hungry. I decided I needed food.

When there is a Taco Time around, I go there. The Veggie Burrito Combo is good and when working out it is great!

So I went to TT on my bike. I get there and there is an RCMP Harley there. after I ordered and had the food prepared, 3 Alberta Sheriffs show up.

They sit looking my way. Me with the gay arm band and Rodeo wristband.
Detectives A,B,C and D figured out which side of the plate I batted from.

I finished up, another cop came in. I drank some more pop, Mountain Dew. I then went to throw my trash. My bike keys were on the tray. I tossed them. Outside the window I was searching for my keys. The realization that I tossed them in the trash next to the cops dawned on me.

I Went to the trash, Yup, there they were. On top thank God. I went out started my bike and was gone....gone. Real fast. All the cops in town were at TT.

The End.

Once in a lifetime

Well, this week went by fast, it does when you take Friday off. I am writing this from a Casino in Calgary.

You may ask yourself 'How'd I get here?' And I'd say, 'Letting the Days Go By'.

Work was OK this week. One funny case, all the identifying details have been removed for privacy reasons.

A guy was basically here illegally, he wanted to restore his status so he could be in Canada's good graces. So he said he wanted an extension to the 27th as he was catching a plane to leave Canada. He included the plane ticket, it showed he should have been on the plane when I was working on the case. The Devil and the Angel were on my shoulders, I listened to the Devil and called. He answered the phone. He didn't get on the plane, as he was waiting for an important paper from Immigration. Why didn't he turn his phone off? The onus was on him to prove to me that he was going to leave Canada. Now he may have trouble coming back. Time isn't holding us, time isn't after us, time doesn't hold you back.

The Gay Rodeo is this weekend in Strathmore, which is East of Calgary. I wanted to go, and I wanted to ride my bike. The issue, as it has been every year, is how to get my tent and sleeping bag there. As has occurred every year, people have said they will take it. As has occurred every year, their phones break in the week before the Rodeo.

I had an idea, an American friend of mine travelled a lot and had some cash. He would go traveling and ship his dirty clothes back home by UPS. I decided to ship my tent and sleeping bag to Strathmore by Greyhound Bus. The first quote I got on the phone was redonkulous, the guy didn't know what a Vegreville or Strathmore was, they were a foreign language to him.....well it was a call centre, outsourced to a place where English is a second language. At the bus depot, it was $20 to ship. Worth it. One alternative I was considering was buying the tent or sleeping bag in Strathmore. But that would be wasteful.

I shipped the stuff and then I had an urge, to travel. I got home, packed knapsack and tank bag and left town. The plan was to stay in Calgary on thursday night, and go to a bar, one that some people I know go to.

The trip was uneventful, I broke it down into three parts. Vegreville to Edmonton was normal, no excessive speed. Edmonton to Red Deer was manic, all the drivers getting out of town early were psycho. I met up with another biker about the halfway point and we rode together. It appeared all the cars on the road wanted to break us up. They would speed up and do other nasty things. One thing they don't know. My bike is like a rocket. I twist and it goes, sort of like the Roadrunnuer - beep beep.

I stopped at Starbucks in Red Deer, had a relaxing cup of coffee. I got on bike and decided to be sane on the normally insane Red Deer to Calgary portion. It was OK last night.

When I got to the motel, it was nuts, I was nervous I would not get a room. I got one.

I went back to my bike to start it. It went ppfft and then the lights went out. It would not start. I wheeled bike to my stall and called the auto service. I had to wait for them. The thoughts in my head were, there goes the trip. But I tried not to dwell on the negative.

The tow truck guy said it would be better to take it to a dealer in the morning. Not at night, they are in industrial places and a guy could come with a pickup and steal my unattended bike.

I took the C-Train to the Eagle, it cost $3, it was a 20 minute ride. I had 3-4 beers there. I could drink and not care about DUI's. I took C-Train back to the motel.

This morning, I was up early. I had a tow booked for 8. He arrived at 8:30. The Suzuki place we thought would fix the bike was a car dealer. iPhone found another bike place.

I dropped bike off there, they think it is a short, in the turn signal, front. The one Bambi took out, the one the insurance company is ignoring me on fixing. Phew.

So the bike is at the dealer, the cute parts guy helped me out. Why are the parts guys always hot? Especially at bike shops.

I came to the Casino for breakfast, as I am in an industrial park.

The Rodeo doesn't start till later anyway, so I can hang out in Calgary.

That's how I got here. Thank You David Byrne for the excellent lyrics.

On Call Weekend

Oncall weekends drag. Normally there are no calls, or if there is one it is a false alarm at 2:30 am. I have to be available 24 hours and respond in 15 minutes. I am a pump operator on this weekend, so which means I get to drive the truck, lights and sirens to the fire. Yes it is exciting, enough said.

I am not in a coffee shop writing this time, I am in the backyard. I have a fire going and I am drinking lite beer. I have some burgers on the BBQ and I am listening to WWOZ.org - It is Funky Soul Sister night. It started off with a half hour of James Brown. Git down,,,,git backup again! By far the best station in the World.

Today the Fire Department had a boot drive. We were located between Tim Hortons and Wal-Mart collecting money, for Muscular Dystrophy. We made about $4000 in 3 hours. I did well with the ladies, I think I raised a $1000 myself, i sure how they weren't expecting a number. I'd use Dennis Leary's line...got a pen? '9 , 1, 1, ' just ask for Fire.'

After that event, I came home, there was a street market half a block from me. I walked over. I changed out of uniform first! I cruised around and met people.

Brian, he has been helping with bike issues. He was helping on my old bike. He found a mechanic in Camrose who may know how to fix motor. Yes, bike haters, I would have two reasons not to drive car. The other bike is way louder.
The guy may buy it as is, that would pay for a trip to Chicago and Minnie and Richland Centre, WI.

The second person to show up was Chad, a firefighter that got injured. He now is single, he has a lot of time on his hands and the nicest eyes ever. His wife is in the process of leaving him. They have 2 kids. He suspects, but changes the subject every time it gets close to being revealed. I am sure he is too redneck to be gay.

After Chad wondered off, I went to see a display on the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Apparently the local theatre company is doing it in October, they are looking for an Eddie (he was the guy on the bike). I said I can't sing, they said lip synch. Looks like I am recruited. I am not sure of the fishnets though.

In Ottawa, many moons ago, when the World did not know of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, we used to line up outside the Towne Cinema 'for a late night double feature, picture show, by RKO'. I think I saw it 17 times. You'd think after that I would have known I was gay. I mean Rocky runs around in underwear for the whole movie. I hope they have a good Rocky here. Riff Raff is a cute reporter for the local paper. But I am sure there is only one gay guy in town, besides me. And he hides when he sees me. He doesn't have to worry, like 90% of the straight guys who are afraid of gay men, He is not my type.



It looks like it is going to rain, which would be nice, it provides for a full night's sleep for firefighters :).

When I was lighting the fire I used all my knowledge to get it going and some paper that has been building up. No Gas!

I put the paper under the kindling, to allow for pyrolisis to set in (heat the wood up till gas starts coming off it) It is the gas that burns, right. It was a bit windy, but the paper started the wood, which started the bigger wood and now it smells really nice.

"Each and every thought you have changes the wiring of your brain' Bashar - that is profound. Take the lessons learned in Illusions (Richard Bach) and think deeply on that statement. People that trap themselves in a situation, due to heritage. I am thinking the Southern US or poor people in the third world. They have been taught that 'that' what ever 'that' is, is the way things always have been and how they always will be. So they let users, republicans or 1%ers do their thinking for them. People that travel, learn it is not so. Soldiers learn it is not so, which makes it hard for them to fit in, when they return from war. Despite what unit training does.

It's a new day

Well my last blog was totally wrong, he went West and then tried to cross into USA in a vehicle without a passport. He even had his mom's plate on the truck. He got caught based on license and no passport. I didn't figure stupidity into my post.

Well no down this week, the running and push ups must be working. We that and I got picked up, seriously picked up. Probably will not be anything ongoing, but it is nice to get cruised and then, well you know, get some.

The hits keep coming more immigration fraud is being busted. A couple of 'professionals' and a total fucking amateur that talks a BIG game.

The police have the professionals. The BIG talker is outside Canada trying to get in. He joined a site, Silverdaddies. This is where old men and younger men meet - NEWSFLASH - gay men have the same issues and straight men. The age separation is 50+ years.

The BIG talker is outside Canada. The family of his spouse now has power of attorney over his affairs. Yeah, he is knocking on heaven's door. The family has supplied us with enough stuff to question the relationship. Some of the stuff is the retort emails from BIG talker to the spouse. Anyway, the visa post was advised as were the ports of entry. He may get a surprise when he tries to enter Canada. BTW he is still advertising on the site, as single.

The Black Banners book is incredible I suggest reading it. I am starting to know a lot about Al Qaida, they are not the big fearful organization that we thought they were. Karma has just been nice to them. Maybe God figured we were too complacent. Or the Devil saw that we were.

I have been breaking in my cowboy boots and Wranglers, wearing them a lot. I may go to the Gay Rodeo next week, but only for a day. The bike has to go, so I am going to try and find a cheap place to stay.

There was a storm Tuesday night, I took some pictures. The Rainbows lasted about 2 minutes, when I got to the corner, they were gone.

I took tomorrow off, I am on call this weekend. Which should be fun, since it will be sunny and warmer, not hot. But carelessly thrown cigarettes will probably keep us busy.

Oh and this is the full first day of Summer. The Sun is up a long time. It is going to be a good summer.

POV

This is just an opinion and it is not scientific at all. I am in no way delegated to this type of profiling and respect the people that do. But I do have experience with reality. I do not know Travis or his circumstances.

I woke up Friday morning to read that three G4 employees were shot and killed while delivering money to ATM's at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton. Another person was injured, it is not known how seriously.

When I first heard this story, I thought it was more than one person that did the shooting. I also felt that they had to have some inside information. Later in the day, the police indicated they wanted to speak to Travis Baumgartner, who was one of the guards, there were 5 in all. That suggest to me a lot of money.

I was thinking he was inside guy, and that he helped. I didn't think that 4 co-workers could be taken down by one guy. This is not a situation where the guards are doing something else and surprised, they are paid to be prepared. So gun recovery would be faster. The police have now charged Travis with 3 counts of murder and one count of attempted murder.

I did a google search on the guy and found his Twitter and Facebook page. He also had a personal ad on Plenty of Fish. The FB page made me think I had the right guy. There were no pictures of him, but some of his friends had guns. He had the info pretty stripped down. I started to get some idea. Later in the day, it was revealed that Travis' mother had contacted the police as she had a big fight with him over money.

My take: Travis was on midnight shifts, he had been on them for one month rotations. He hated them, he was single. He thought himself to be a good looking guy and he was young, he should be dating. Hell he should have women chasing him. Travis was stuck with the midnight shifts and it was damned hard to meet anyone.

After a year or so, he started hanging out at Casinos, as they were open long hours and they were busier than the bars. Travis started to play the machines, just for something to do. He did ok, he wasn't winning lots, but not losing lots. Or so he thought.

He started to play the tables, blackjack, poker and roulette. He was luckier on the table than on the machines, but when he went big, he lost big. He made friends there and they hung out. Soon it became more than a habit, it was a lifestyle. He was spending all of his off time there. Everyonce in a while he'd do well and the girls would be around him. He'd treat them to drinks, food, and even take one. Life was good.

Time past, and he didn't recognize that he was losing more than he was winning. He fell behind on the truck payments. He was still living at home, his Mom decided she wanted rent money from him, hell he was 20 years old and employed.

The pressure started to build, it was the third night of a midnight shift. The bank had called him asking for payment on the truck. The credit card companies were starting to send him letters threatening him. His Mom was pressing for money. Travis felt his back was to the wall, he knew that the solution was money. The trips to the University to stock the ATMs for the weekend would solve all of his problems. As they started to fill the machines, Travis decided it was too much. Gun out he shot one of the guards, this person was removed from the others. He knew they were dead. He then moved on to the next guard and shot them, dead. The third guard heard the pop and turn to shoot him, he had no choice. The fourth guard was kind of a friend and he couldn't do the kill shot.

Travis gathered up as much money as he could and headed back to the truck. He loaded all the bags into the truck and headed back to the office. Travis parked the truck and ran back to the parking lot to get his truck. He drove back to the armoured loaded the bags into the back of his pickup and headed out of town.

Travis knew it would not be long before the police were looking for him. He knew better than to head home, but he did head East. He grew up in Sherwood Park and knew the area. He headed East to the Hastings Lake area.

All the way there he was trying to decide where to go. East to Saskatchewan, if so how? Take a Northern route or just blast straight East on 14, then jog down to 13. He knew 13 was less travelled. Travis changed the plates on his truck, he found another pickup like his, not the same colour or year. He took the plate. He figured he was safe for awhile.

Travis took the sim card out of his iphone and chucked it. He knew it would help the police track him.

Travis was trying to figure out what to do with all the money, he knew he needed some of it. But he didn't need all of it. He tried to think of places where he could go to hide some of it. He knew friends that had a cottage by Tofield. He'd put it there, someplace easy to get to.

After he had done that he headed down to highway 630 and went South on it, to 14. He headed East to Viking, then South to Killam and East on 13. He paid cash for gas in Hardisty, he was happy that the guy at the gas station was only concentrating on the money. He had no TV either. Travis was sure his picture was everywhere now.

******************
As the day went on, Travis starts to panic. He heard on the radio that the US border patrol has been contacted and there is a Canada wide warrant out for him. His mother is pleading with him to give himself up.

Travis tried to call a few friends, for advice. True friends, ones that would not give him up. They told him to give up, they said it was not going to end well. Travis in his cockiness said that he would not go down without a fight.

The plan that seemed to certain after the killings was starting to unravel. Travis needed to pull over to the side of the road and sleep, think about it.

He needed to lose his truck, there were a lot of pickups in Alberta, but not a lot the same colour as his truck. He is 6'4 tall, and towers over a lot of people. There is not much he could do to change that.

Now to the point of this little exercise, Travis the gig is up. There is not much else you can do. The writing is on the wall. You are not going to be safe anywhere. Even if some distant relative is hiding you, they won't be for long as the police start to drill down through your relatives. That too and when a reward is offered.

You are still young, the jail time will pass. You will find peace and a new meaning to your life, sure you'll be restricted for a long period of time. Your mother will be more at peace than if you were shot dead. Go ahead, get laid, this one last time, well that kind anyway. Then turn yourself in.

not boadcasting this post, if people read it, they do. I just needed to write my thoughts.

What I am good at

1. Riding a bike. I really enjoy this and it gives me pleasure. In the Summer it is my primary mode of transportation. Until today, the car had 76 kms on it, that was from April. Some people view the bike as a toy, something to do when there is nothing else to do. Thelma asked my why I rode bike into town last weekend. No matter what I said, it was not acceptable. The Ride for Dad, in a car, well let's just say its not possible.

I drove to the city in the car today because Thelma had a printer to get rid of. I said I would take it, I don't really need it, but he wants another one. I can leave mine in the box and use the used one. I also rode as we are enjoying very Vancouver like weather, not very warm and a lot of rain.

Tomorrow is going to be nice, which means I will not stay in the city tonight, I will be headed home to get bike to go on a ride with the gang.

I did ride in on Tuesday for the Chief of Police's Pride event. It was at the Integrated Operations Facility. This is where the Emergency Response Team (ERT), K9 Unit, Bomb Squad and Forensics are located.

I was writing a story, started it on Sunday and I was stuck. I needed to know what kind of weapons an ERT officer used. I asked a cop, he didn't know, he said check the net. Which is like going into a Walmart looking for a tack.

At the presentation I got to speak with ERT guys about their weapons. I took notes, couldn't take pictures, they wouldn't let that happen. BTW I think one of them was cruising me, I dropped my name enough that if he were....well he's a cop.

I went to the Art Show where Nick's work was on display. He was kind of shocked to see me there, I did say I would go. He must have forgotten. I wan't there long,

When I left I was headed East to Vegreville into another storm. I got totally soaked. At about 22:00 I passed the place where the deer was hit on Victoria Day, I was really careful.

2. Well I guess I will go into writing. I am good at it, I think. hen I do writ, I hear a voice saying the words, I just type them. Last night my friend Toby and her boyfriend were hanging out. Toby has a thing for bikes, but she is afraid of them, due to some childhood trauma. Her boyfriend Alan rode his bike to her house, he challenged me to some races. He has a Harley. I lost all three races, but my bike beat him all three times on quarter mile. When we finished racing, his bike was leaking primary fluid all over the street. Later we went to eat, I suggested Toby go on the back of Alan's bike.

She did, but there was a lot of tension before. She rode back too. While at supper she asked me about writing, I told her about the story I wrote about a guy on a bike in a garage. She wants to read it now. The people that have read it, found it ok.

Yesterday I read another blog about friendship and coming out later. The writer analyzed the subject really well. He spoke about the brake pedal on discussing gay stuff with straight people. I experienced this too. But Toby was really interested in reading what I wrote. Oh well.

3. Work, I am pretty good at my job. I can profile and alter my reality to figure things out. I am right more than I am wrong, but it is not an exact science. This week a person that I helped catch, was caught. No details, but she is in jail and it may be a long time before she is out.

But that being said, I am not having fun at work. I believe the stress from the deer and the week before the deer are still lingering. I have been working out, as prescribed. I do 50 pushups every morning, and now every night. The ups and downs are still there. The downs are really bad. Toby told me to call her anytime I need to talk.

Today I am in the city as Thelma wants to go to some drag event, they are going to have a drag queen, drag king and something else. I don't think I will see the something else, as I need to get home to have beauty sleep for ride tomorrow.

While at the police demonstration I go to play with laser radar and ask questions. The officer said it was hard to hit a bike. I described the front of my bike (see picture) the headlight is probably the only thing he could aim for. I asked what about rider, he said "No!" Imagine looking through a sight ant my bike at 500 yards, I'd see officer at same time he'd see me (they wear bright vests). Clutch in and radar gets two different readings.

Jaywalkers

I guess I used to carry my laptop around a lot, and write. The iPad came soon after I wrote this. This one is really relevant. Thelma asked me why I drive bike to the city, when I have a car. This is becoming a recurring theme. The answer it is summer and the biking is good, doesn't appear to register.

anyway......

What fun, a blank piece of paper – so to speak – an empty screen.  It’s like Graham Nash’s song, Blacknotes.  Just hit them and sooner or later a song will occur. 

What should I write about, it has been awhile.  A bike story, I have been riding a lot lately.  The motorbike, that is.  I bought one in April, I have put almost 5000 kilometres on it.  Time seems to disappear on it.  It is not like running or cycling where you have thoughts and then build on them.  Maybe that is obscure, when I start running, until I get past the first mile or so, my thoughts are ‘When is this going to end, or only 45 minutes to go’  After the first mile, you forget all that BS.  Some thought has entered your head.  It could be anything, a co-worker that pissed you off.  A case at work; A new toy you want to buy….like a bike.  Soon, you are lost in the thoughts and the running/cycling are incidental.  This process works most of the time, it doesn’t work on Marathons, somehow the transient thoughts have a time to live, three hours of running is way past that time.

So anyway, back to the motorcycle. It’s not the same.  On a bike, especially in the city, you have to pay attention to the road.  If you don’t you could become a statistic.  Riding a bike is like nothing you have ever experienced.  So many things are happening when you are riding down the road and your job is to be aware of each and every one of them.  Driving a car is like that, to some extent.  But as you are in a bigger moving object, more people pay you respect.  A pedestrian is going to see you before darting out from behind a van.  Not so much the motorbike.

I remember riding past Oil Country on Jasper Avenue around 11:30 at night.  Anyone what has driven by there knows it is busy. The sidewalks are crowded with smokers and people in line to get into the bar.  There are taxis lined up to pick people up and drop them off. This was a couple of years ago, when it wasn’t as crowded as it is now.  The missing element was the Police presence, currently the cops have their paddy wagon there and about three of four cruisers as well as cops on mountain bikes. 

The owners of Oil country had just opened a new bar across the street, in an old bank.  Some people, who like to be on top of what’s going on; or are selling something, like to be in both bars.  In order to do this they run back and forth across the road.

At 11:30 I was riding West bound, at about 45 kms per hour.  I slowed down due to all the distractions, had to let the brain process them.  Anyway, as I get to the front of Oil Country two guys smoking on the sidewalk turned and ran out onto Jasper, without looking.  I was about 10 feet from them and at my reduced rate of speed would have hit them.  I did the emergency stop.  I left a strip of rubber and got the attention of the crowd as well as the two jay walkers.  All I heard was a collective Holy Fuck.  In stereo; from both sides of the street.  The bike stalled, I re-started it and proceeded on my way.  My heart was up in my throat, I was mad, but I was still alive.  Everyone else was too. 

Afterwards I had to go someplace and park and work it out. All the ‘what if’s’ started to come to me.  The biggest one, if a car were behind me, I was dead.  There is no way a car could stop in that distance.  I was lucky I took the safety training, remembered my training and kept the bike up.  I dread thinking about laying it down and then sliding into a vehicle parked on the side of the road, or the people there.

 That was just an example of what can happen. It doesn’t happen all the time, but there are lesser incidents of near death.  Cars,  no make that mini-vans in a lane that ends after the stop light.  They will race a bike, and a tie goes to them (they will knock you over).  If you beat them, then it is two blocks of an irate minivan driver trying to pass a bike.  So you say, let him go. I am not saying this happens all the time, but I have seen it happen.  You let mini-van go in front and then he proceeds to turn on four ways and stop. The side door opens and he lets someone out or picks someone up.  You almost get hit by car behind you, who is on the phone or texting and not expecting the mini-van to do this.  

Biking is fun; it is something you can do alone or in packs.  We are intimidating in packs, maybe it’s because we keep the mini-vans in check and the jay walkers on the side walk.

I'd like to think the Rapture occured.

I wrote this last year, what's it about May long weekend? A deer this year, a dude in a pickup last year. I was cleaning off my desktop when I found it.

Saturday on the long weekend I decided to ride my motorcycle to a lake where some friends were camping.  It was warm out and hardly any wind.  I managed to fit my headphones under my full face helmet and was enjoying music on the trip.  I took an alternate route (note to non-bikers, bikers believe there are no straight lines).  

After 45minutes I was approaching the highway where I had to turn left, running parallel to the highway were railroad tracks and one those tracks was a train.  I was thinking of crossing in front of train, but it is stupid, trains are actually moving faster than they appear.  I stopped and watched it go by while listening to music.  I live on the prairies, this was a long train.

The train past, it was about a mile long and I crossed the tracks and turned left.  500 yards down the road is was a construction sign; then a wobbly motorbike sign; then those stupid groves in road (about 8 miles of them).  I proceeded along at 80 kph (50 miles per hour).  The bike was wobbling and as long as I thought happy thoughts, I didn’t think I was going down.  About three quarters through the wobbly bit, a saw there was a pickup truck on my ass.  I mean ½ car length behind me.  I did the math, if I went down, I was road kill. 

The speed limit in the construction zone was 80. I was doing 80, so I just trudged along.  He/she did not appear to want to pass, just ride my ass (I don’t think it is that hot). Anyway, the wobbly part stopped and freshly paved road way was under me.  I twisted my right hand and was going 140kph, the truck became smaller and smaller.  

It was a Saturday on a long weekend, there were no construction workers or any indication that construction was going on. But they didn't cover the signs, there is a fine in there someplace, just sayin.

The train was beside me, I did what guys do with trains on bikes, any kind of bike; We race them.  The train was not going 80, I think it was going 120; I worked my way up the train.  Then I had a nasty thought, if a cop were to catch me I am truly fucked.  140 in an 80 which has construction signs…..

After having that though, I saw a car coming the other way.  It was a while car.  It was getting closer. It had a roof rack. It hit the brakes as it passed me. I slowed to 120 (still fucked).  I have useless mirrors on my bike; they give me a great view of my shoulders, not the cars behind me (so I am dropping a shoulder, leaning etc. to see if the cop is coming.  Don’t want to make it any worse.  I am going 100 at this point. I couldn’t see the cop coming but the pick up was.

Bikers have two defense mechanisms, one is passive the other is aggressive.  The aggressive one is obvious; speed.  A lot of bikers especially the ones on sport bikes would twist it and take off at about 200-300 kph.  My bike is a cruiser; I could get up to 220, but why push it. The passive defense mechanism is how we dress. Black jacket, jeans, riding a shiny bike.  Even trained professionals are screwed by this one. We all look the same, a cop who rides a bike may be able to figure out some stuff, but the bikes and riders are similar. 

Here is what happened, and this is the truth.  First off, it was Saturday 21 May 2011, Rapture Day.  I am heading into the small town where I have to turn left, cross the tracks and turn right on another highway.  As I slowed down, the black pickup was on my tail again.  While looking for the place where I had to turn left, I saw another train.  This one was headed West.  I figured, if I timed this right, I could cross tracks and then the two trains would effectively block anyone from following me.  Speed on a bike assisted with this.  I did just that.  I cross the tracks and then made sure I was going exactly the speed limit as I worked my way through the town.  The secondary highway ran parallel to the tracks and the other highway. Pickup did not turn, he was still traveling East at about 120 in an 80 (the speed at this town).  As I left the town, I saw red and blue flashing lights at the crest of a hill.  I suspect it was my cop and the black pickup.  That’s what’s logical to me.  The reason the cop didn’t get me; the black pickup prevented him from doing a U-turn.  The cop still has to follow the rules of the road, even with lights on; he can make a U-turn ‘When safe to do so’.  The second, not so logical, but possible reason for no ticket.  The cop was one of the 200 million chosen and as he was making the turn to come get me, he ascended into heaven.  Either one works. 

Footnote: this morning I left the campsite to get home as it looked like it was going to pour.  As I was traveling West on the secondary road, doing 105 in a 100, I passed a cruiser going East.  No brake lights.

It is what it is

Maybe I have found out the point of all the tension in my life, no it's not male menopause. Or a midlife crisis (is there such a thing?).

Well on the weekend I got lucky, no details. I just did. This was different though, I didn't make any effort to picking him up, he did all the work.
After it was done, I just avoided any talk of meeting up again. Ironic on True Blood Jason Stackhouse crashes a party at his girlfriend's house. She obviously didn't want him there. Anyway, Jason is a smooth guy. He picks up a woman at the party. They leave together. The girl obviously wants to do it with him. He finally says he will drive her home and they will not have sex. He will say things he doesn't mean and she will give him her phone number and he will say he will call. He tells her he will toss the number as soon as he is on the road and she will be hopeful for two weeks. He didn't want to do that. I digressed, but that scene resonated with me. No expectations.....from me anyway. We'll see how this works.

Last night I was at Fire Practice and I brought up an issue with the Chief. It is to do with a charity commitment. I am chair of the committee. I know that we have to confirm we will be part of the charity next year, by July 1st. There have been delays on anything to do with this committee. I told him we need quorum, and a copy of minutes if we opt out. All I got was negative stuff.
I was kind of disappointed. But then it dawned on me, I get too wrapped up in things. I care too much. People these days don't. 'It is what it is' is the mantra for today's society.

With regards to committee I know two things, I am not the chair next year and I have done my share this year. I am not going to worry about it. If the club gets stuck with the commitment, 'it is what it is'.

I just avoided getting in shit today at work. I got a question from the people at headquarters. It was a routine one. I answered the first question, they replied with another one. I sent it to my manager. This is regarding the same issue I encountered in December, when I wound up getting a written reprimand.

I am not sure they want me on the Dark Side aka Immigration Consultant. If I were them, I wouldn't. It is what it is.

i am in the city today. I am going to a Pride event hosted by Edmonton police Service. The Chief of Police will be there, it is for community relations. I got dressed up! But I did ride bike, no chaps, so now I have dead bugs on me. Cold water to wash them off.

After the Police affair I have the Rainbow Gallery affair to attend. Nick has some art there, I think. He was painting some stuff to display there. I am sure he will be there.

I met a guy online...(why?!?!?!?) Anyway, he was an artist, motorcyclist and not part of the community. Sounds like me, but not the art. I asked if he were going to the event. He had not heard of it. Then something happened to the messages, a server issue. Communication got all screwed up.
At a fire scene this would be a disaster, in real life, It is what it is. When I tried to clarify something, as a person would reasonably do, I got sarcasm. I guess karma screws with internet sites too.
Needless to say, I won't be chatting with him anymore. Was that McAfee protecting me? I wanna know.

Texting is even worse. You text people, it doesn't matter what age, and they treat it like email. 'I'll get to it, when I get to it.' (the mantra). So here I am on my bike waiting for a response and........

People have phones and are always checking them, for messages. But they appear to only want them from new people. They never want to finish a conversation they are in the middle of.

When you see them again, they asked what happened. I show them the 'dangling conversation' - Paul Simon, thanks for the words. Go to the link, it really is a beautiful song.
http://www.songmeanings.net/m/song/7377/

Well I am off, maybe I should have worn the chaps, i'd have less bugs on me. It is what it is

Quick update

Nothing goes as planned. I could not get in touch with Thelma, the Android phone has issues. The iPhone that drove him nuts always worked though. I wound up making other arrangements to sleep. Not the best, but.

I woke up and was worried where to put my knapsack. I was going to ask someone to store it for the ride, but I have to learn not to depend on people. I ask too many favours. I was riding down Jasper and thought of bus station. I didn't think you could store stuff there anymore, due to terrorists. Then I thought they'd be doing Edmonton a favour by leveling that place. There was a locker $6 for 12 hours. Woot

Bear Beer Bash was ok. Saw Nick, Brian and Thelma showed up. It was an underwear party. I had chaps on and underwear, which was not the same effect adjust underwear. I think I was legal to ride home.

I am at McDonalds, using their WiFi and having coffee. Meeting up with bike gang to head to Garrison in a group, so we can ride in a group.

Sun is out now, but farmers need rain and they are praying for it. Looks like they have an in with God.

Friday the 8th

Well the week went OK. I am having trouble concentrating on work. I am easily distracted.

I went to the Doctor on Tuesday and we had a good chat. At the end though, as the depression thing isn't getting any better he asked about pills. The anti-depressant variety. I told him I couldn't commit to those. He said that I needed to do something. I was having trouble to committing to exercise, well not all exercise. I 50 pushups every morning, but they don't appear to be having an effect on the D. Prozac was mentioned, he did admit that he would have to test a couple. I same months of taking pills.

We discussed the fact the my mother was bi-polar and I asked it it was hereditary. He said it could be. I have always been cognizant of this and been pro-active. This the running, biking, swimming, weights etc.

I committed to doing exercise, to avoid the pills. The pills have side effects, libido is one of them. I have dated guys on pills, it is strange. There are issues, and they are not good ones; well in my opinion.

I am writing this at Starbucks. I left work early, I wanted to do some things before I headed to the city. 1/2 hour on a treadmill. I buzzed my hair. I packed a knapsack and took the long way into town. I was kind of hoping to drop the knapsack off at Thelma's, I may be staying there on the weekend.

This weekend it pretty busy, there is the Ride for Dad on Saturday. 12-1700 bike riders headed all over the place. It is to raise money for prostate cancer. When a woman at work hear I was doing it, she wanted to sponsor me. I made $130 in pledges in 20 minutes. Imagine if I had tried. That takes care of the cost of entering event, which I had already paid. I guess it is a donation.

Friday is the start of Pride Week in Edmonton. aka Gay Pride Week. Tonight there is a beer bash at The Junction. Thelma and I are going to it. I am leaving early though as I have to be up early for the bike ride.

Saturday is the Pride Parade, it is getting better every year. I am headed to it after the bike ride. There is a beer garden by city hall, this is always a fun event.

In the evening there is a big bash someplace. I am headed to it. It may sound manic, but after 4 out of 5 weekends with straight firefighters I need some me time.

Speaking of the firefighters....This week we had to do a Bingo. We volunteer to sell bingo cards etc. For this the Fire Department club get s money for equipment and training. The club wants to do it. It is a struggle to get guys to work.

The positions were all full. Tuesday night I had trouble sleeping, I got about 2 hours. I left work early and was sleeping when the phone buzzed. A guy wasn't showing up, he apparently made a physio appointment in the afternoon and decided not to go to bingo. He should find a replacement, he didn't. I would up doing it as no one else responded to my calls and emails.

I took the position that gets out early, I am the chair of bingo, I can do that.

On the weekend the female firefighter who was on the course was having issues. She arrived late at the meetup on Friday night, she managed to grab a mask that didn't fit her. This caused her endless amounts of problems on the weekend. The guys on her crew were not nice to her. She wound up crying. I gave the guys shit and asked them to lay off her, as there was nothing we / she could do. They did.

Bingo night she showed up 5 minutes late. She saw me sitting where she anticipated sitting; I knew as she had done that job for the previous 6 bingos.
I guess she was pissed off, she went to Tim Hortons for a coffee and probably3 or 4 cigarettes. We had to look for her when selling time came.

About 8 o'clock she starts freaking about her son, who she does not have custody of, being in the hospital. She wanted to see him. By 8:15 she was manic. She tried to get me to stay to cover for her. I said no. I don't say no easily, but I could see through this. There was no mention of this before 8.

The person in charge of the bingo, a staff position let her go as we had young guys who were on the ball working.

I would have kept her there, the hospital the kid was in is 40 miles away and visiting closes at 9. She lost custody of kid to her parents as she was unfit. The Deputy Chief watched her do this; the Chief will be informed. My main concern, this is the club and it represents how the public sees the Fire Department. The guy that didn't show and the woman do nothing to help the public's perception.

My bike got the worst gas mileage ever! Guess where I last filled up? At the Husky Station in The guy who owned the place, selling gas at $130.9, when it is $110.9 in Vegreville; was pissed that I was using debit card for under $10. He (in my learned opinion, a Korean) started to whine. Hardisty is the storage tanks for ALL the gas in Alberta. Why is it the most expensive place for gas? He is ripping everyone off. And his bathroom was out of order.

Rant off. I am declaring this a stress free weekend (let's see how long that lasts!). I will see Brendan on Sunday, I better anyway.

Tuesday Afternoon

I'm just beginning to see, now I'm on my way. It doesn't matter to me, now I'm chasing the clouds away.

Believe it or not that song goes through my head every Tuesday afternoon. Had to share.

I am in the city. Have a doctors' appointment. I came in early so that I may take the bike to the dealer to get a quote.

In Alberta, in order to get a police report, the damage has to be more than $2000.00. In order to make an insurance claim, the company needs a police report. Do you see this nice little catch-22 forming up?

I went to the dealer and they priced out my bike, they got to $1200 but they couldn't get a price on the fender and another metal part. Guess what, they have to be made!

I take my pieces of paper to the Edmonton Police Service (you'll know why I used the S word in a minute).

Office, no I am not going to badge him, was at the counter at the Station. First off, English was his second or third language. I explained my case to him.
He was really strict on the $2000.00 - he suggested $1800 & $1900 I said it could be that, as there were two steel parts they couldn't give me a cost for. Constable detective then told me he knows all about bikes. I was packing up my stuff, I knew this was going nowhere. He wanted a detailed quote from the dealer. The type of detail detective constable wanted would involve the bike being dismantled at $105 an hour, for about 3 hours. The lights in Dudley Do-right's brain didn't clue into this, $315 plus tax added to my $1600 was going to take me over the top - let alone if the frame were bent. I said thanks and headed to the RCMP.

They took my report, the officer actually was a bike rider, so he knew what I was talking about. They could not figure out why insurance company required a police report in order to do a claim. The insurance companies must pay officer EPS to ensure there are no biker claims. There I feel better.

The Edmonton Police used to be called Edmonton Police Department - EPD. I suggest anymore of these guys at a front desk, that maybe Service is the wrong name; Department is more apt.

Sunday was a pretty good day after all. I wrote the test, there were some easy questions and some hard ones. There were 10 questions on wild land fire fighting, on this course. WTF it was supposed to be interior.

The practical tests went well, for our crew. We did what we were supposed to. I avoided nozzle, my replacement though almost blew it for us. He refused to shoot water when ordered; until i almost took nozzle from him (I am not going through this twice!).

The phobes though, they didn't do so well. With military precision whey whipped through the first two practical tests. On the third, the had issues. This was not a minor issue, in fact the tester just about failed them. One of their radios jammed up on an attack team. They were incommunicado for about 20 minutes. They sent in the Rapid Intervention Team to check on them.

When it was over, the instructor tore a strip off them. Then the tester did. Basically on the safety side they failed miserably. Safety is job one, we don't need to be rescuing the rescuers.

Last night at Fire practice they wanted me to start another course. It would involve this weekend. I resisted. I told them I have been on courses for the last 4 out of 5 weekends and I need time to de-stress. I hate to make a grown man cry, but oh well.

This weekend is the start of Edmonton Pride and it is a motorcycle rally. I told instructor guy I was busy this weekend a couple of months ago. He didn't take them into consideration when planning. Turns out he has 6 people on the course, out of 40 that need it. I asked if I could challenge exam, as the course material was covered in the last course I took. He said no.

It was pouring today on the ride in, it looks like it is about to start up again. That's ok - it is not cold.

Picture was taken on the West side of Provost. The sky really is much bigger than in the picture, it was a nice blue. The ride home on 13 was incredible. We passed a whole pile of geodesic domes in the middle of a field. If an explosion were to occur there, it would create a huge crater and affect Earth's rotation. I think they should cut down more trees, in case of a forest fire.

Last thing, after that course I am more confident as a firefighter. I has not qualms crawling around with zero visibility and attacking a fire when you encounter it.

Sunday morning

Saturday was an up and down day. This course in the short form is called Interior Fire Attacking. In the real world that is one facet of this course. The main purpose is a review of everything else you know. This is fault logic. Enforce course requirements for per-requisites and limit the course to interior attacking.

First scenario, I was on attack. This means I was the guy with the hose fighting the fire. Had to do a search of the building, crawling, dragging hose. You want to know what this is like, put a bag over your head and try to crawl from kitchen to bathroom.

I get to fire, instructor says Indirect attack. I open nozzle, it is on fog. Why you ask, before entering building I asked Officer for nozzle setting as I was going to ensure it was right. He said do it at fire, I trusted the guy.

At fire trainer tore a strip off me. Officer then mocks me after the scenario. Friend of officer says its easy, just change stream as you are shooting water. On attack, due to steam issues, the nozzle is open for seconds. Not enough time to change stream.

Second scenario, I am officer. I still had to go first. It was ok. I decided I never want to be officer.

Through the two scenarios I learned that I am ok on air in a dark space and heat.

The flashover chamber was last. This was the one I was really nervous about. All I knew is it got hot, 1200 F above the thermal layer. It can do this in your house. Firefighters stay low, where it is 500 F. That's why we wear the attractive gear.

We were in the chamber for what felt like 1/2 hour. Sitting against a wall we watched the fire go from campfire size to where it started to cause particle board to off-gas. Fire doesn't burn wood or fuel, it burns gas. The gas is created by heat.

As it got warmer we saw the off-gasping start. Then smoke formed at roof and started to build. There were times when the smoke woke stratify with layers of white smoke and then clear space. It was better than 3D.

After a bit it got black, we could not see fire anymore, just smoke. We had to let temperature build for a flashover. It was boring, I was controlling breathing to make sure air lasted. After awhile I wanted to have a nap.

We were sitting there waiting to use water to cool down fire, to allow escape. The training is for what to do to survive a flashover, not put the fire out

There were ten of us, we rotated around and had a chance at the nozzle. When it was my turn I saw the fire. I also saw the flashover. Close to the ceiling was a beautiful fire, it was dancing like the Northern Lights, it would flare towards you and then go back. Always moving. It didn't like the three fog sprays and then the three straight stream sprays.

Their job is to cool the fire enough to let firefighters escape. The fog sprays cool the fire enough to allow the straight stream get through 1200 degree heat and hit some fuel.

I survived. It was hot, but I was nowhere near as hot as I thought I'd be. The scene ended with a steam out, where water is fogged on to create steam. Water drops multiply by 1700 in a normal fire, 42000 in a flash over. Steam burns. This was to show what happens when attacks aren't coordinated.

The phobes all banded together as a unit. They didn't like that our crew was always the first to do a scenario. The head phobe visibly was pissed off. I smiled, karma is a bitch.

Went for supper with firefighters from Mannville. I am still not amused by officer from first scenario. Avoidance was good. Karma got me back, we were at the only restaurant and were getting seated when the phobes came in. The Mannville guys said we should join them. We did. We listened to head phobe talk, he likes to talk. He talked a lot. He was kind of cute in a way. On way back to hotel the Mannville guys said man, can that guy talk.

The facilitator for the flashover was Hugh. He had the nicest smile and no question was too stupid.

Bottom line, training is training. It is where you screw up. It is better to see the results of your screw up in a controlled environment than in a real scene, where people can die.