The vacuum cleaner and the cop

This is going to be fun, mix fact with fantasy. Where to begin, the cop or the vacuum.....

If I go most recent backwards I guess the cop wins out. Grab a coffee....

So our town gets a lot of newbies from the RCMP depot. They come after graduation. One officer came about 3 years ago, he was from the East Coast originally. Anyway, I had several interactions with him when he was new.

Almost three years ago near my birthday I was out at a bar in town. A friend of mine was there as well. When it came time to go I noticed a cop car was lurking near the bar. Well where else would you be near closing time, right? Anyway, I had a beer or two and was nowhere near drunk. Was I near .08 ? I don't know. The officer, newbie guy, stopped me down the street. He told me I didn't come to a complete stop and he was going to give me a ticket. Then he asked if I was drinking. I said I had one or two. He asked when I last drank. I said an hour ago. I guess I didn't tell the truth, I had a drink before I left the bar.

Anyway, Newbie decided I needed to be tested. So he asked me to sit in the back of the car.

Some background here, I have never taken a breathalyzer test in my life. Officer Newbie had a Training Officer who thought I was a drunk, in fact he called me that at a party. I admit I was drunk at the time, but it would be wrong to call me a drunk - as in that is part of my profile.

So Officer Newbie sets up the road side device. I didn't know there was so much work. He gives it to me, i go to hold it. He says No! and grabs it back. Then he holds it I blow. So I just blew. He got upset and said I didn't blow long enough. So I went to blow longer, he was mad, you screwed it up. He reset up the testing device. Now armed withe process he gets met to blow again. I am crammed inside the back of the car. He tells me to take a deep breath. I did, i blew, until i went blue. Which was not long enough.

Officer Newbie then proceeded to tell me he was giving me one more test and if I didn't do it right I'd be under arrest for refusing to blow. I asked if we could do it outside so that I could breathe. He said for my protection we are doing it in the car. I said there is no-one on the street. He threatened again. He set the machine up and got me to blow again. I did, just about passed out, but I blew till he said ok.

Then the comedy started. Tapping the side of the machine to get the desired result. It never came. I then got the lecture, he asked where I was going, i said home. He then asked if I was stopping at another person's house for a drink. I said no, I live three blocks away. He asked if I was sure.

I get back in the car and go straight home. I didn't notice if he was following. Anyway, while writing this I realized that he screwed up even more than the obvious banging on the machine. He did not give me a ticket for the perceived roll through the stop sign.

A cop friend explained what happened. He asked if I saw the result I said no, he wouldn't show me. My buddy said it must have been ok if he let me drive my car home.

Fast forward to last Xmas. I was at Fire Department Xmas party and then we went to the bar. A crew on patrol came in. Officer Newbie was one of them. Since we work with them, I went to say Merry Xmas, even to Newbie. He visible refused to shake my hand. A few firefighters noticed. They then asked what that was about.

So today I was driving to the city. I was going a faster than the speed limit. I passed some cars at Mundare. I saw Officer Newbie was one of the cars I passed. He was in civies. After I passed him, he got out and passed me. He proceeded to drive in the left lane all the way to the city. He was ahead of me all the way, we were both going faster that the speed limit.

I guess he was following someone for a city trip. When we got near the city, he was in the left lane panicking trying to get behind the vehicle which he was following, which was now in front of me. Even though he had trouble with signal light, I managed to figure this out. I slowed, let him in front - it would have been funny if I didn't; but I am not the person his T.O. told him I was.

I got the cowboy boots back, man they look spiffy. I guess it was worth the $35 to fix them.

Now the vacuum, Saturdays are house work day; especially when it is not bike season.

So I did the dishes, laundry and and cleaned up living room. I decided to vacuum, I only have carpet in one room. Anyway, I go to the spare room/junk room to get the vacuum. It's not there! I check the bedroom, not there, then the kitchen, nothing. Basement, nope - although I would have no reason to take it down there.

I searched the house three more time, even checked the small bathroom. Nowhere to be found.

It worked ok the last time and it has a canister which can be emptied. I remember doing that. I searched one more time.

Where the F is it? I have a big screen TV in the living room and a pretty good stereo, a laptop and a PC. The PC was in the room that the vacuum was in. They were all accounted for. So was the iPad and the iPhone and many more portable things.

The landlord is the only person other than me with a key, I couldn't see him taking it. I dread to think he was walking around the house.

I am intrigued as to what happened now. What happens if officer newbie shows up at my door to arrest me as they found illegal drugs in the canister in my vacuum. I guess I'd ask for a lawyer immediately. So he can ask where the vacuum was that the officer managed to extract the drugs. And better yet, I'd like to see the evidence that it was my vacuum. If a vacuum is stolen, do you report it to the cops?
These are things I want to know. No I didn't lend it to anyone.

So if it magically re-appears, I will have been re-violated. Maybe they will leave rental fees.

I'd hate to think it was the landlord. His wife has not been well, but when she is, she is kind of snoopy.

I got the application in for the job in the East. It took three days to write it. I also went on an Excel course, no big whoop.

Later

First Day of Snow

What a week that was!

First I was sick for the first couple of days, a flu going around town. I was at work on Monday and just about passed out. Went home and slept. Slept a lot on Tuesday too. Better now.

I go the application in on the closing day for the Vancouver job, after hemming and hawing. I figured I could always turn it down, right?

So I finish that application and a friend in another office asked if I was going to apply on a job in Ottawa. I had looked at the poster and self screened myself. Then she told me more. Friday I spent half the day writing the cover letter.

Answering the questions I knew I had the experience. Writing the concise two paragraphs on each section was the hard part. The posting closes on Monday, I am headed into work tomorrow to fine tune the letter. Apparently I will be one of a short list of people applying for 5 jobs.

One thing I learned while completing these applications. My job is a hell of lot more important than I think it is. Not so much for the work, but for the training it gives you.

The Ottawa job would be good. I think it is time to move, there is nothing tying me down here. My son is on his own path and the rest of the family is not close. My dad actually lives close to Ottawa, so it would be good.

My best friend lives and works in Ottawa, she is always bugging me to get a transfer there. The issue is the jobs, they sound good until you get there.

Today was like Spring Cleaning, except it's Fall. I slept in, mandatory, no overtime and no reason to be up at the crack of dawn. I cooked breakfast, did laundry. Then I went shopping at the Wester Wear store in town. I got a pair of Wranglers, a shirt and a belt. I got a deal! The Canadian Finals Rodeo is coming up soon. I think I will go to it this year.

Yesterday, it was kind of warm. After work I decided to make room in the garage for the car. I started bike, which has not been started for a couple of weeks. I went to an auto parts store and got some fuel conditioner and then rode around town. Then I filled it up with premium and parked it on the side of the garage.

If your fuel is suspect, it has a bitch of a time starting in the Spring. I had to get gas line anti-freeze to help evaporate the water that was in the fuel. It two and some high test gas to get it going. I think I blogged about that in March.

So today, I headed into the city in my new clothes. I had my brown cowboy boots; which needed to get a heel fixed, it was not built for being used on a motorbike. The heel dragging on the ground cause the rubber part to come off the bottom. It was only glued on.. I also took a pair of sunglasses which were expensive in, a little screw came out about a year ago and a lens came off. I took both in, the boots were $35 to get fixed! I think I could have glued the rubber part on and then put nails in to make sure it stayed on. But shoe repairers are becoming rare. So I paid it.

The glasses got fixed for free!

I went to a music/DVD store. I had two TV series which were complete until some people borrowed a season. It has been a year and the guy that borrowed part of Rescue Me has not been around. Luckily, the missing parts of Rescue Me and The Shield were on sale.

It snowed today, it sounded like armageddon in the city. I guess the fearful were driving at 10-20 kms under speed limit, even though the snow was melting as it hit the ground. It is 16:00 now and there is hardly any snow left around. I wonder how many people called the motor association in a panic?

I bought a book from Amazon to read on my iPad. The Finish: The Killing of Osama bin Laden. I have read about 10 pages so far and it is good. I think I will actually read this one outside the gym.

The guy I met from Calgary is keeping in touch, sounds like I may be going down there again, he works every second Saturday, next week he should be off.

Argo was good, in fact it was great. A patriotic movie for Americans and Canadians. President Jimmy Carter didn't get credit for the rescue due to privacy. History looks kinder on him now.

Great day in October

The pics today are from earlier this week. Last Monday when I headed back home the Northern Lights were out. I saw them as soon as I was on the way out of Sherwood Park. The Lights are vain, they don't like competition from other lights.

Normally in a city, or town even, you can't see see them due to the incandescent and neon lights. But Sunday, they came out. They didn't care if there was other lights on, they wanted to show off.

The week at work was ok, a big meeting for brainstorming how we would be doing projects for the next year. I usually have lots of ideas, but get railroaded by people that don't want to change.

My co-worker is one of them. Due to some issues our work levels went down, significantly. Normally we are buried in work. So I started to clean some of the paper we had collected over the years. The boss was ok with this, as she wanted it gone. The co-worker was not. In the meeting the animosity showed. Oh well, this leads to another meeting on Monday. How we are going to do the projects. This otta be fun.

I haven't applied on Vancouver yet, still thinking about it. The closing d 18th. I probably will apply, may get a free trip for an interview. The job is at a higher level but nowhere near as interesting.

The bulb came for the TV! It was $200 total, but it works. I don't have to shop for a new TV just yet.

Today I worked overtime, for 5 hours and then came to the city. I was hoping the guy from the last blog would here, Headphones Guy (HG). But alas he is not. Bad, cause Argo is out and I was going to ask him to go see it. Such is my luck. Tomorrow I am scheduled to work overtime too, I don't think I will get into the city again till next weekend.

I am so so about the Fire Department. I have been busy all week with high profile work and lots of overtime, so I have had the radio off. This weekend it is off, due to overtime. I am not turning radio on during overtime. Apparently there was a call this morning at 08:00, the same time I started working. Oh well.

My reasons for being on the FD have not been met. I can saw I have a lot more people I know, and there is a sense of pride. But am I meeting friends? It is a small town with little to no life after work....except hang out at WalMart. The friends I did have, have all moved on. I am picturing a goal of becoming fully trained, but that will happen when I am 57. I'd get the certificate and then retire. The extra money every three months is nice.

A break may be what I need, six months in Vancouver?

My friend Greg in Wisconsin is having a bad year. Both of his parents have passed away, within 2 months of each other. Hugs Greg

I am starting to feel stronger and more self assured. But it is the lead up to the big depression Xmas. I have consoled myself that there will be no family events. I am setting my expectations realistically, therefore there is no disappointment.

The thing about Vancouver is there are not very many chances to get there. I could use this assignment to apply for jobs there.

Biden kicked Ryan's butt in the debate this week. That was a good thing. It felt uncomfortable, but last week Romney was beating up Obama and the moderator. So one had to expect a Democrat to dominate soon.

The best was afterwards, a magazine debunked paul Ryan's 6 studies.

http://t.co/poygjFXW

Take care have a good week. Sons of Anarchy is kicking butt this Season - just sayin

The day after

I am thankful that Thanksgiving Day is over. I am now prepared to handle Xmas. My shoulders were a little sore from sleeping all day, but I made it through the day.

I finally got a text message from my son. I texted him on Friday night to ask when he was free this weekend. 14:43 on Monday he tells me he was busy with family all weekend. Nuff said.

My realization of last xmas is proving true. These family holidays are just a power thing. They are a way for people that have been marginalized to show they have power. There it is over, I feel 100% better.

I am at a Starbucks, I switched locations from my normal one after it became too popular.

The first time I came here, a couple of weeks ago I needed to find a table with power. Found one in the back. The tables are close together. I was wearing chaps and motorcycle jacket. I had to squeeze into the chair. The guy next to me was reading, he had on Big headphones attached to his iPhone.

I had just bought the Lifeproof case for my iPhone and came to Starbucks to set it up. Also figure out how the handlebar mount worked.

HG - (Headphones Guy) watched with interest as I was out the case together. It is waterproof, so it is a little more exact than installing other cases.

Anyway, after I had it all together he asked me about it. It was a short conversation. He was really interested. I wrote some stuff on the iPad and then packed up to go test the mount out on the bike.

Last weekend I came to the same table at the same Starbucks. HG was at the same table. We talked a little bit and then I started writing. I seemed to notice that the guy was checking me out a lot. Remember zero gaydar here.

He left before I did, he made a point of saying good bye.

Saturday I came to the city to ride mountain bike. I wrote the blog at this Starbucks, same seat, HG at the same table. He smiled broadly as I came in. I had to change from bike clothes to jeans, in the washroom.

Anyway. after I sat down and started writing I saw he was checking me out again. He reads a paper back book, holding it up. I didn't check out the title.

I He smiled at me a couple of times, but we didn't speak. I think I was wearing my long weekend defence shield. He stayed for awhile, and before he left he told me to have a good long weekend.

Which brings me to today. Te Starbucks was packed and the dynamics were wrecked. HG was here, but sitting at a window in the front, by the couches. I could have sat up there, but writing would have been impossible.

I sat at the back, this lead to something hilarious. He happened to show up to get a refill as I was ordering coffee. I got a bit of the cold shoulder. Good thing I decided to sit at the back. When I said hi to him, the smile was back. This just occurred to me now, I think he saw me come in.

Anyway, to do this chronologically I was sitting next to two women, one was a visible minority. I think I had to bring this up due to the conversation. They, well basically one person was talking about holistic, spiritual, new age kind of stuff. The other person looked trapped. I don't know if she was being polite or was just plain stupid. Some of the stuff coming out was just....well.

'She was holistically spiritual. When you saw her aura, you knew she knew. She never wears black, it deflects compassion.'

'God is not just, if he was we'd be in a different place right now.'

"Prayer sets the ball in motion. Whatever you want visualize it and it will come. But be specific, if you want a cup, ask for a blue cup with a handle, God will make it so.'

'Science is like putting blinders on a horse.' This was almost Romneylike, is Mormonism related to Hinduism?

The final zinger was 'When the student is ready, the teacher appears.' She said this with a knowing smile, like the peace of a thousand generations were reflected in her face.

She also said something about scripture helps her have purpose for her life.

Thanks God for throwing that at me. And then before I stared laughing maniacally two other women sat down between us. So I missed the rest of the conversation.

No, I wasn't eavesdropping, this was like a mini-sermon intended to gather listeners.

Back to HG guy. He left, but didn't go out through the front door, he took the back door to the patio. He made sure he said goodbye to me. I think he lives nearby. I am thinking next weekend I will try to engage him in conversation.

The good thing about this last low, it was solely holiday related. As soon as the event went away, I was back up and grounded again.

To quote chakra lady, I am getting strength from someplace.

Today is a holiday, going to see Looper at the Mall - that's how we refer to West Edmonton Mall here. I would go someplace else, but the times are screwy.

My question in this movie, if the guy that executes people does it in the past, that means that the person's effect on the World is erased,as they never were. This is fine while he is doing the executing, but when they decide to execute him, his actions are going to be undone, therefore all those people come back? I hope this question is answered, or my brain will hurt.

Well better go if I want to see the movie.

Put your name on it

Long weekend, Thanksgiving Day in Canada. This one I was not prepared for, I always thought it was the second weekend in October, not the first. Anyway, people were preparing and I was totally oblivious.

To top it off, there has been overtime at work. I was planning on working the weekend. Well, the best laid plans.

It was quiet at work yesterday. I got a lot of stuff done. There is a temporary position in Vancouver for 6 months. It was open to select parts of the department, but not our part. I complained about it, and the next day they added us. Score!

Problem is, it is 6 months in Vancouver. That city is not cheap, and I am not moving out of my place for 6 months. I guess there is a chance I could get a permanent job there, but not certain. These things usually do not work out for me.

The last time I gambled on a job in another city I wound up unemployed. Luckily I had applied for a permanent job before I left. So I was on unemployment for 6 months. Ironically enough, that was when the divorce went through....so my income was really low.

Back to Vancouver, I am not sure if it is better than Edmonton/Vegreville. The weather is nicer and there are more people. But it is very expensive. I could live without car, but not sure about bike. Insurance could be high.

We'll see, it doesn't hurt to apply. I could always say no.

The show and tell from the week before at work went better than I thought. We had a group meeting and I guess we hit one out of the park. I am not thinking promotion.....the offices overseas though.

The days are kind of cold now, you could ride a motorbike, but not very long. So I have basically parked it.
The think has to be fixed, the shop called and they want to do it soon.

The problem is they want to take it apart, assess it and then notify insurance company. If this was a car, it is part of the estimate. For a bike estimate, they don't take anything apart. So it means I pay for the estimating on top of my $500 deductible. The insurance company said this dealer always does this. So I could pay $1500 to get it fixed. I haven't decided yet.

The TV went, a lightbulb, I ordered one online, it came and it was not secure in it's case and the damned thing didn't work. I found a guy in town that fixes stuff in his garage. He is looking at it. I returned the light, hopefully for a credit.

As I said it is Thanksgiving. The start of the alone days. I have a feeling my son will be tied up with events all weekend, as is the case. Every time I am with him it is cut short as there is some family event for the ex. Considering he lives at her house, it isn't fair. But that is one of the reasons why we are no together. He is 21. If he wants to see me.

The other part of my family in town, my sister, gave me a lecture about my choices a couple of weeks ago. I guess I chose to be gay. Therefore my aloneness is my fault. I could chose not to be gay and be in a relationship. Then the world would be good.

Ironic, as last Xmas, she tore into me about something. I am not the best at Xmas anyway, it is a time when I am really alone. I thought we made progress this year. She actually spoke with me and called me to go to O'Byrnes. But maybe it was part of an agenda. She sells Melaleuca and the owner is a homophobe, maybe in their conferences they have sessions on curing the gay.

I came to town in the car today with the mountain bike on the rack. I went for a ride, got to thinks through all that shit. I think it is time for a timeout.

Normally all this shit happens when I start to get my feet on the ground and assert myself.

It was a great day for a bike ride. About 10 degrees, so it wasn't too hot. The wind was about 20 kph which was no problem in the River Valley.

Went to a beer party last night. We had to bring 12 beer and then we drank them and rated them. This was not the same as drinking beer in a bar. Some of the beers sucked. There were a couple, brought by the same guy ironically, which I could not finish. I dumped them, considering the cost.

Good to hang out with friends though. Marley the dog, liked the beer.

A friend told me 'Put your name on it.' when I was leaving. What a simple mantra and truth for everyday. Put your name on it, I was here godammit!

I saw End of Watch, what a good movie.

I have an idea for long weekends, there are some people that would like the 'day' to use whenever they want, why doesn't the employer see if there are enough of us to warrant the place being open on Monday. I know, contract - union - bargaining. Just a suggestion.

Later