Don't sweat the small stuff

So I am just getting ready to head to the interview and thought I would take a quick couple minutes to update my blog. The interview is just south of Saskatoon about 30km so it will be a nice relaxing drive before I get there. I need to relax a lil bit more as it seems I have been feeling a little bit uptight with some anxiety because of the inability to make a decision what I want to do and where I want to work at.
My worry is this interview will go well and I will want to work there but then the money will suck. The job I am currently at is the right work for me, but I am not too sure about the client or the people I work with. There seems to be a lot of pissed off people there and all based on the way they are being treated, not as leaders and supervisors but as just another person. Most of the people there are really good and seem really nice, I just am not sure if it will be a positive environment to work in for 3 years.
Hopefully by the end of this week, I will have a clear path on what I want to do and where I want to be.
Also it seems this past week or so have been really annoying in that a lot shit is going wrong. And maybe its not that a lot of things are going wrong as much as I am letting it get to me. It seems everything I touched the last week broke or didn't work, or got lost etc. I feel angry all the time and that too could be because of of the way I am feeling about what I want to do. I need to take my advise from this here and now, and not sweat the small stuff. To just laugh at the things that happen and be happy with the positive things.
I should run and get dressed and head out. Wish me luck!

Back to back to Back....

What a great couple days it has been in regards to the weather. When I left to go on holidays the weather in June was dry dry dry and the farmers were not getting enough rain to sustain their crops. The time I was away apparently they received a lot of rain including the mother of all storms. In speaking with my family and friends in Ontario I guess they have been getting nothing but rain, and the week I was there it was about 50/50 with the weather. It really has not been a perfect summer. I suspect this weekend was good for Edmonton because of Capital Ex and the Indy being here.
I head off this afternoon to Calgary and then onto Saskatoon for the night. I wil be meeting some folks there tomorrow and most likely a final interview for a position I started interviewing for almost 4 months ago. It will be interesting as this is an owner company with little construction experience. I am not sure how I feel yet about the position, but I guess I will get a better feeling once we have the interview. Financially it may be a bust as well depending on the offers on the table.. I do have the options of contract versus Staff. So we will see.
I must say I am almost all settled in Regina, and I am content for now, not happy, but content. I think that I like a lot of others at the site, am waiting to see if there are some positive changes going to happen. I think I am building a relationship with the client, and I will be comfortable in that aspect. I am trying not to sound greedy but it’s the compensation that really sucks on this job. None the less when you are pretty much the only dance around (for now) you can dictate the terms. Once things start to turn around, and they will, that all changes. I can survive and I can wait. In the meantime I will finish off the couple interviews I started before this role just in case there is a better opportunity.
My back has been killing me the last lil while. It has been a while since I have had back problems, and for those who don’t know I injured my back in a car accident 25 years ago and then again in a helicopter crash in Africa about 15 years ago. Have been able to build enough muscle and use them that it has been a non factor most days. I realized as I typed this though, I have stayed in so many different beds the last while9stop thinking dirty) I mean with the trip home, the reunion, Toronto trip, Regina and now back home. That’s 5 beds in 2 weeks. And now it will be 4 beds in 5 nights, Regina, Edmonton then Saskatoon tonight, then Calgary tomorrow. I bought Robaxacet and it seems to be helping. I think that I just need to start working out again and build the muscles up a bit more.
Speaking of which, I am now exactly .6 lbs away from loosing 50lbs! That’s right; my first MAJOR goal will be reached hopefully within the next few days. I have reached all my short term goals in pretty much the time I allotted. In most cases it was within a couple days.
SO Officially I have lost 49.4 lbs as of today. What I think is amazing is I went on holidays and gained maybe 2 lbs back in 10 days, and I dropped them almost 2 days after I got back. I have been eating pretty much normally, not diet like the last week, even had Steak 3 nights is a row (long story). I basically have been trying to fill at least half my days with salad and the other half with normal foods. I even sucked back a big bag of BBQ chips last week! I believe my metabolism is picking up and I think that I am burning more calories daily now. I know I still need to focus on eating right, I think I am aware of the foods I eat and the calories in them and I think that definitely helps with the portion controls. I have a couple more plans for my health kick right now, and once the dust settles and I see where I land, I will institute them. Hopefully the next time I blog I can say I have reached the -50lb mark!
That being said I think I should have some interesting blog schtuff later this week after Saskatoon and Calgary. Stay tuned!

New clothes for the newby

Wow, it’s been a week since I updated this Blog. I think it isn’t because I was overly busy, more so because I was a little busy and tired. One of those things that you say “I will get it done tomorrow” I guess I am a closet procrastinator! I got back to Regina on Monday afternoon, finished setting up the apartment. I do have more furniture etc coming today (was supposed to be here last night but didn’t show up from Calgary. (Good ol’ The Brick) So I will spend the evening putting that together. Did manage to get a good portion of my shopping in for grocery; however it was for mostly reusable items as I was only going to be here for 5 days and I fly back to Edmonton tomorrow morning.
It will be a quick trip home again, basically repack the suitcase and head to Calgary Sunday(Saskatoon for a day for a job interview) I need to get out and buy a suit jacket as all the others are swimming on me. Yes it is amazing how loosing 50lbs will affect how clothes look on you. I will most likely get a haircut and get some new pants and maybe a fancy schmancy shirt as well while I am at it. Might as well look good!
Yes I did manage to, not only loose the two lbs I gained over my 10 days off, but I have lost an additional 4 this week. I sit at 241.4 which again is the lowest I have been in 4 years. I think I was this weight when I was in Houston back in 2004.I probably would be down more but I have not reverted back to perfect weight loss eating habits since holidays. I went for a HUGE lunch at Boston pizza yesterday, so that doesn’t help. The logistic guy in I work with always wants to go to lunch even though bring mine to work every day. I need to just say no and stick to the plan!
Speaking of work, I have basically got back to work now, and things are still pretty slow there. More so in getting the infrastructure set up. I still don’t have a phone on my desk, so it is frustrating trying to get things done. I am on the hunt for some rental space for a temporary warehouse as my facility will not be ready for at least 6-8 months. I am trying to get Purchase orders set up for a lot of little things we need and I am making head ways there, just not as fast and proficient as I would like.
I am still not happy here on how they are treating the CM staff in regards to the micro managing and cattle treatment. We are bussing from the parking lot to the site, and then a vehicle from the site gate to the office. So basically it takes 3 vehicles to get from my house to the office and it is a 4 minute drive normally. Most of the senior managers don’t care since they have their own trucks and go from house to office in a straight shot. I also don’t like the double standard of the area managers having vehicles and the department heads don’t. It has really made me question why I am here now and how long I will be here. I really like the construction manager, but I can’t see myself staying in a place where it feels like a cast system, where some people get what others don’t. I find wit the site assignment policy, salary etc are all along the same lines. One contractor gets OT, I don’t, one gets a truck, I don’t. the project on the other side gets $300 more a month in LOA, and 2 flights a month, we get 1 flight every 5 weeks and the LOA is less.
It is ok to do these things when you’re the only dance in town however; once things get busy in Alberta again I think things will change here. You can only take advantage of people for so long. If the interview Monday goes well, I will be hopefully negotiating a decent salary and moving there. We will see.
On a positive note, it is good to be working again and dealing with the day to day things. I am looking forward to the challenges this year will bring no matter where I am and am looking forward to some more trips and holidays I have planned in the next 5 months!.
I will try and update this more often, Until next time….

When it pours it rains!

Well today I am winding down after a week of fun with friends and family. I haven’t really done much since the reunion this past weekend but it is also nice to have nothing planned. Tonight I have some friends and family coming over for a BBQ and beers, so it should be a fun time. Tomorrow should be a quiet day not just because of the hangover but because I will be leaving early Sunday to get home and do a few things around the house before I fly out to Regina again on Monday.
Mom has made her normal 150 person spread for 10 people, so lots a left over’s tonight no doubt. A couple other friends couldn’t make it as 1 is working and the other is having to deal with his wife being away. It is too bad as they are fun people to have around when you’re partying.
My sister Darleen and Brother in Law Al will be over as well so Dar is normally a lot of fun to be around when were drinking a few beers. I am sure we will have the odd guest stop by as usual; it seems to be party central in pops garage.
Speaking of dad, took him in town today so he could buy his truck. He is a very happy camper now that he has a brand new Ford ranger truck. It has been something that he has been talking about for a while, so he finally did it. I think this will be his last vehicle, at least new vehicle.
Well this is short and sweet, time for me to go get ready for the company, My part of the meal is the salad, and pineapple. The rain has stopped (it just down poured here for about the last 90 minutes!) and its time to go organize schtuff!

Holidays and Meetings....

So I am at the tail end of my holidays, and head home in about 3 days. T he last couple days have been nice with not much going on although I would have liked to have got some golf in. None the less I was able to get out and do some shopping with my mother. I cooked dinner for them yesterday, mom enjoyed it Dad well who knows lol.
I am actually going into work for a day at the Markham office for Worley Parsons. I drove down last night to avoid the rush hour traffic. I figured I would get in here and meet the expediters and buyers and take off people for the project and start to build a bit of a relationship with them. I figure I will only be in the office for a few hours and I can get back to my holidays. I will charge the company for a 10 hour day(travel time included) for taking time out of my holiday to come here. I do however have an interview with Enmax on the phone at 10am today. I didn’t want to take the interview but they insisted. They also said they could match my salary which I doubt they can. None the less, I can graciously decline the offer should they make one.
Speaking of which, I have to fly to Saskatoon on the27 July for a final interview with Agrium. This was the job I have done 4 interviews for already, and the one that I would be the client on. I was excited about the opportunity way back when but now that I am working, I am not as excited. I am not sure what the salary will be as a contractor, I do know there is LOA and flight allowances unless I go as a staff, and then they will pay to move me and a whole bunch of other benefits. The job is a term job for 5 years for a group of projects so the longevity is good. It is in Saskatoon, so a lil closer to home, and I am the lead Procurement guy so I have a good opportunity to show my stuff (or fail).
I am a lil torn right now after all the running around I did on this project and getting the apartment set up. I put so much work in, that to pack up after a month and leave now would be tough, however if this project vault pays more and offers more, than I am definitely out of here. I have to take care of myself when it comes to jobs now. And this job did not do a good job of taking care of the employees.
So I will have to make some more decision before the end of the month on what I am going to do. Ok time for me to get ready and go into the office, I will chat more about this tomorrow!
Later!

Remember When........

What an amazing weekend. You know you get prepared for months to go on a reunion, to see old friends, and catch up on what has happened in everyone’s lives. You get to meet the new wives, see the old wives and hear the stories of the kids and……. Grandkids! It has been over 25 years since I seen some of these guys. I was amazed how most had not changed, they were a lil older but for the most part they were the same people. The ones that changed were the ones that never came. The ones that I thought would be there, and didn’t come. I am not talking about the guys that had plans or a reason and had sent a note, I am talking about the guys that couldn’t drive a couple hours to see some old friends.
The ones that did come, ALL had a blast. I mean it was such a great time that I wonder why we didn’t do this earlier and more often. It was a typically reunion with the “remember when’s” and “Where is So and so now” and “You heard about so and so who passed away”. Although the sadness of hearing about a buddy dying is not fun, the first thing you do is “Remember when he ….” That’s what’s great about reunions. We remembered the good. I don’t think we even talked about bad times. I mean even the times we were in trouble that seemed bad, were funny to us today. That’s what reunions are, the good times.
I posted 463 photos from the weekend on my Facebook and photobucket for people to enjoy. I also have 30 minutes of video that I will use for a DVD later on. These digitals memories will allow the people that could not make it to see not only the fun we had, but prod them to make the commitment next time to come. I have been assigned to the next reunion committee to help organize it. I think that will be fun but I think it will be hard to beat the time Peter and Duncan did put into this year’s (not to mention Duncan’s family!!)
The other thing that came out of this is I was able to meet back up with one of my bext friends ever, I should say friends because his wife was as close as he was to me as well. Someone I haven’t seen in 14 years. I stopped in for dinner before I flew to my parents and seen their son whom I use to babysit!, And their grandson(we are getting matured people!) I am already committing to going to mexico with them in October and planning a weekend in Ottawa in August. We need to catch up on 14 years and 2 days was not enough!
I also have reconnected with some other friends in Edmonton, my buddy whom I haven’t seen in 3-4 years and his wife whom I have not seen in probably 19 years. So we will be getting together when I get back, as a matter of fact, her and I have to set up meetings to plan the reunion of 2011.
The final to this reunion is I have all the guys that live within 30 minutes of my parents coming for a BBQ Friday night at my parents just to shoot the shit some more as well.
What an awesome time, this is the one time I don’t regret being older……

I don't care, I'm on Holidays!

Alright, holidays have started. I headed back to Edmonton yesterday in preparation for my much anticipated holiday. The trip was annoying, lots a rain at the airport, luggage took 40 minutes to come off the plane (Way to go Westjet) but I made it home around 6pm last night. It felt weird just starting a job and then taking off on holidays BUT the job is slow right now and now is the time to take holidays. I know that in 6 months I will be wanting holidays again and we will be extremely busy.
I am a pretty tired today with the last 3 nights I have been getting only 5 or less hours sleep. I think this weekend will not allow for much more with the reunion and all, and I think Monday Morning will be the time I will be able to get a good night sleep at my parents place.

It will also probably be Monday before I update this blog again as I will neither have the time, nor be coherent to be able to do it. I also am taking the week off counting calories and taking my vitals. I figure I might as well enjoy myself, and if I put a couple lbs back on, oh well. I will deal with it when I come back. I am pretty sure I will be ok, and that I will be eating more, but still following the same basic routine to try and lose (maintain) weight while on holidays. During the week won’t be so bad nor hard to do, this weekend will be VERY hard. We have a pig roast and did I mention copious amounts of alcohol to drink?

I notice coming home I have a few calls to make to sort out things that I had previously sorted out. It is amazing how incompetent people are in the service industry. My car insurance is all screwed up, WI didn’t pay me my last payment, my bank has not done a good job at setting up or maintaining my business account. I could go on BUT I am on holidays and for the next 8 days I don’t give a shit!
Oh by the way, I found the lost camera, sitting on my dresser, in plain view .......camera gnomes maybe??? Until next time...

It's just water under the sink

Work was ok yesterday. Didn’t really get anything done but I did have a chance to speak to the reginla procurement manager about the project. We kind of compared notes and amazingly we are on the same page for the way we want to run the job. I will be going to going Calgary in a couple weeks to do some introductions and to do some training on their MM system. I was tired of the lack of stuff at the work trailer so I went out and hit Costco, the Dollar Store and Wal-mart and brought in kitchen supplies, a coffee machine, a fridge and utensils so we can at least be comfortable until our supplies get in. Also the logistic guy was in so we got acquaintance, and touched base on how we wanted things done. He and I were also speaking the same language which means hopefully the project will be a success at least from a people stand point.
I was able to get one of the guys from work to help me go with a work truck and pick up my new TV. We dropped that at the house on Monday, so I would be all set for the cable and furniture people.
Last night was my hook up furniture night at the apartment in Regina. I had the Sasktel guy in to do the internet and TV hook up. Unfortunately the apartment only had one Telephone jack for some reason and the guy needed two for two boxes. We ended up stringing a cable wire across the living room floor. That was pretty much our only solution at the time. So I needed to come up with a way of protecting said cable either with tape to the floor or a runner across the floor. Well it doesn’t matter now because I have already tripped over it and ripped the cable out of the jack and broke the end. So I need to call the phone company to have them come and fix it. Hopefully it doesn’t cost much to fix and hopefully I can get it fixed in the next day or so.
My furniture I purchased from the brick finally showed up from my 6pm appointment at 10pm. I was a lil tired but understood sometimes things get busy. I actually felt more bad for the two young guys tha had to lug 15 pieces of furniture up three flights of stairs in the dark. Every time they would bring a piece in, I would hear a one liner from them. It was quite comical and they were actually pretty good sports about it, right up until the point we discovered that they delivered my couch to someone else, and I had someone else’s couch. Now I will need to call the brick today and try and arrange to have the couch replaced with the correct one. They also forgot one of the area rugs that I had ordered. I am assuming that it is sitting on a floor somewhere at the brick.
While waiting for the two guys to show up at the apartment I thought I would be productive and washed more dishes, Tupperware, bowls etc. Once completed I went to drain the sink, and I heard the distinctive sound of water running on the floor, I looked under the cupboard and sure enough the PCV piping was not even joined, Either the glue had dried up, or it was not installed right. Needless to say I called the landlord and hopefully someone will be there today to sort that out.
I celebrated my night with a big bowl of buttered popcorn last night in the apartment, kind of break in the new place. It was so good, and then I thought probably not a good idea for someone trying to loose weight , I figured oh well, I can always run up and down my stairs taking boxes and garbage from the furniture to the dumpster. The 3 flights of stairs seem to be a good source for a work out. Speaking of which, I actually have now surpassed my goal of losing 45 lbs and I am now down another 2, that’s right, 47 lbs! I may even hit the 50lb Mark by the end of the week, the way things are going!

Reserve a place for me...

I did it! I made the goal and then some. I lost 45.8 lbs in time for the reunion(with 3 days to spare!) I was worried that I would not make it, and may even have put on a pound or two as I had cheated and had some snacks the last couple days. I think now that I have lost the weight, and now that I am back to work I am moving a lot more and burning more calories than I realize. I know I feel better during the day, and I am walking a lot more. I climb the 3 flights of stairs to my apartment with ease and my heart rate and BP have been in the excellent zone for the past while.
I have also decided I think I will go back and join the military reserves while I am in Regina. I have been out for about 10 years, and I have never really been part time. I think joining now will actually be fun, like being paid for a hobby. Also with the recent lifestyle change and weight loss, it would be good for me to be doing that and help stay in shape.
It will also allow me to meet new people here and since this project will be around 2-3 years, it would be a great hobby! And who knows, when I am done I can always work full time with them if I have no job to go to right away. I wonder if they will give me back my sergeants or demote me. I was actually even thinking that I may want to commission as an officer. That would be fun.
Anyways the job here is going really slow and getting things done is like pushing a rope! A couple more people have started and experienced the same level of frustration I did the first. Hopefully we will be able to come up with a package to send people before they arrive on site. I am also hoping to hire another warehouse supervisor soon to help get the lay down plans together.
It is 3 days before I head to Ottawa; I am so excited to be going on the reunion. Some people I haven’t seen in 15 years. The reunion is for a bunch of us that were with 1 Service Battalion in Calgary in the early 1980’s. Most of the guys are still in and there will be a handful that are civies like myself. All in all though, it will be a lot of fun. I am hoping to bring my camera and video camera so I can make a reunion DVD for everyone. I will have to make sure I get plenty of photos.
Work time, later doods and doodetes!

Casa Del Regina

Yesterday was one of those days that you felt like it was the last mile on a run, and you’re not sure if you can do it, but when you figure you can, it feels good to finish. It was pretty much my last shopping day for things for the apartment in Regina. I actually was up around 7am and out the door by 9am. I finished the majority of my shopping list by 11am and headed to the apartment to start putting things away and washing bed sheets and towels and dishes and putting together other things like my office chair.
I spent almost the whole afternoon cleaning and unwrapping and assembling. I even made me a salad, my first meal in Casa Del Regina. Of course by 4:30 I had discovered a few more things that I needed like a new shower curtain rod, a pressure cooker, a wall clock, some water, and a few odds and ends. I think I truly have bought everything so all I need is my furniture to show up and I am good to go. Well except groceries which I will do when I come back from holidays. I may pick up a few things this week, but anything fresh will wait til I get back. I did end up ordering a small 5 cubic freezer. I hate not having options and a small apartment refrigerator freezer does not provide enough room to have options. The great thing is it is black, and matches the rest of my appliances and I have a ton of space in the kitchen for it.
On the work front, I am looking forward to getting things going at work today. I hear the IT folks are in town and I may have a computer and the ability to print as well. I need to set up a couple meetings while I am in Toronto, and now that most of the people I deal with will be in Calgary as well, I will need to travel there in the next couple weeks.
So Thursday I head to Edmonton before my holidays. I have a few loose ends to clean up there in the night I am there, and then it is off to Ottawa to see some old friends and party and play some golf. And of course off to see the family, and play some golf. Well shower time….

Confessions of a Shopaholic....

Well it was another busy whirlwind shopping day for me. I managed to hit Bestbuy and pick out a TV. I had been to The Brick the day before and picked out all my furniture including a really great deal on a mattress set. So I was down to the basics for the house. I had also already did a couple runs to the Wal-Mart and Dollar store and picked up several Jeep loads of stuff (A jeep load is not much!) One thing I did fail to do was do some comparison shopping so when did take some time and sit at the computer and look at a couple flyers from Canadian Tire and Zellers, I discovered several Items I had purchased was more from Wal-Mart.
For example Canadian Tire have a Black Decker coffee machine on for half price, programmable etc. I picked up the cheapest one at Wal-Mart (Sunbeam I believe) for 30, double the sale at CT. I also picked up my food scale from Wal-Mart, but CT had the one already have in Edmonton on sale as well. So I packed up my Wally World stuff and took it back! Yes I did! I stood in the customer service line with the rednecks and returned stuff at Wal-Mart. You know you can return just about anything at Wal-Mart. When your that big and make that much money, what’s a few returns between friends.
Anyways when I was at Bestbuy they had a great deal on a TV that is a 120hrz and 43” Sharp Aquos. SO I bought it and asked for it to be delivered because it will not fit in the Jeep In or out of the box). The soonest they can deliver my TV is 2 weeks. Now why would I go into a store and buy something that is stock and wait two weeks to get it. So I asked them to use another delivery service, surely they can find someone to deliver this damn TV. Nope! No can do! So I cancelled the delivery told them off, and now have to try and get a vehicle to pick this thing up and deliver it to my apartment.
So today I will be heading off and picking up the last few items I need. I forgot how expensive it was to outfit a place again; it has been a while since I needed to have two complete houses. And this time I have nothing just like the first time s I had given it all to my niece when she moved out to Edmonton. But the good thing is enjoy shopping, the bad thing is I have to lug it up three flights of stairs; the good thing is I am trying to lose weight so that helps, the bad thing is I have to lug it up 3 flights of stairs.
The Brick guys are coming with the furniture on Tuesday, man they are going to hate me as there is no elevator and they have to lug ALL my furniture upstairs Tuesday night. They will be tired puppies. I most likely with give them a $20 for a tip but still, not sure if they will use that to put out a hit on me!
I have 4 days this week to make the apartment livable. I head out Thursday afternoon on holidays(Back to Edmonton Thursday and Ottawa Friday and Toronto Sunday), and I will need to have the apartment pretty much set up for when I get back here on the 20 July. I may take an extra day off when I get back to do any final set ups, but we will see what I get done this weekend.
On a health note, I am .8 lbs away from my goal of losing 45lbs before the reunion Friday. I figure another hectic day at shopping, burning calories and stair lugging, I will reach my goal by Tuesday, with a couple lbs to spare by Friday, then I am going to pig out at the pig roast!

Birds, Jeeps and all things neat

SO what an exciting day yesterday was. I got up and headed off to pick out and pick up a new vehicle. Yes I got a brand new Jeep Wrangler! I was like a teenager in love. I walked into the showroom of the dealership and our headlights and eyes met, and I knew she would be mine! Ok Ok , kind of sappy, As I said yesterday I wanted a vehicle and I got it. I am posting a picture on this blog for you!
So it was a very busy day yesterday. I went and picked up the vehicle had to fight to register it as they wanted me to change my Alberta license into a training license, That’s a Saskatchewan licenses cause they don’t know how to drive here haha (jk my SK friends) So needless to day I picked it up, paid the price and drove back to the city. I had two complements from strangers yesterday on nice Jeep!
So after that I went shopping and picked up a load of stuff for the apartment, house stuff, and then the afternoon I spent at the Brick buying my furniture and and more stuff. I managed to get a smoking deal on furniture. And it is all nice stuff. Dining room set, couch loveseat, coffee tables, end tables, 7 pc bedroom set a $2100 mattress for $900, a computer desk, 3 area rugs, BBQ, TV Stand all for $4100. Not bad eh! The guy was really good and I figure I can toss him some more business. On top of that I just put it on the brick card for no payments or interest for 8 months, and that way I can get paychecks in the bank before paying it off. All the furniture except the dining room gets delivered on Tuesday and the Dining room when I get back from holidays. The Phone/internet/Cable guy also comes Tuesday night, So Tuesday and Wednesday will be spent setting up furniture and cleaning out the packaging and stuff.
A side note, a bird flew into the windshield of my new jeep, luckily it didn’t break BUT this didn’t happen on the highway, this happened on the main drag, of the city doing 50kmh. Needless to say I was not impressed. Dumb birds!
I also did another Wal-mart run last night and picked up a jeep full f things, small appliances, kitchen stuff, bedroom stuff etc. I made my list and every trip I make it is getting smaller. So I figure by tomorrow I will have most of the household items picked up and all I will need is to pick up groceries, which I will do when I get back. I picked up 7 bags full at the dollar store, and one more run there as well I should be good to go as well. I also have a box full of stuff need to bring back from Edmonton for here, phones a blender etc.
On the weight loss front, I guess all that running around and shopping is paying off as well, as I am now 1.2lbs away from my Friday goal of being down 45lbs(244lbs) by the time I get to my reunion. I am so excited! I need to run a couple times this week and get to the driving range a couple times as well before the tourney in Ottawa on Friday.
Ok I am getting too far ahead of myself, I will update this more later…….

Jumping Jeep-party!

What a difference a day makes. I had a nice long meeting with my boss at site yesterday, and although I still feel a little bit out of place, I think that a lot of that is from being new with Worley Parsons. I honestly think that once I start going I will be very comfortable and I will also feel like I have the control of my position and responsibility on the project.
I also decided, after confirmation that I will not be getting a vehicle, I am going to buy a vehicle here. The hard part was deciding on what vehicle I wanted. I stopped at the a couple dealerships last night and looked at the cars, and decided I wanted to buy a Jeep Wrangler. Something fun, something cheaper, something unique, and something with 4 wheel drive. I found one today at a lil town north of here called Southey Sk. AND the great thing is, it’s a great deal. I had my buddy Bill who buys a new car every 3-4 weeks scope out all the dealers in Edmonton, and the cheapest we could get was $27k. The one I am looking at is $23K and I plan on getting it for $24K all in. I figure the wiggle room on the vehicle is about $2k, and being that the 2010 are coming out, they will want to sell the vehicle. The tax on the vehicle will be $2k if I register it in Saskatchewan and $1000 if I register it in Alberta but then I need to drive it back within 2 weeks. I am going on Holidays next week so I won’t have time to register it. My other option is, to drive back to Edmonton tomorrow afternoon, and register the Vehicle on Saturday, and then drives back here Saturday. Not sure I want to do that. I have a lot of things to but to get the apartment set up here. I will decide at the last moment as always.
Speaking of vehicles, I called the agency I work for and vented at the account manager on how they dropped the ball on me not getting a vehicle after they told me I would, Even after I asked 3 times(I know I am anal) they confirmed I had a vehicle. Sooooooo he felt bad and sent me an email and upped my rate by a few bucks! So now, that extra money is enough money for a car payment, and thus will pay off the Jeep in the 24 months I will be here, and at the end, well I will still have the Jeep!
So I update my blog in the next day or so with spiffy pictures of my Jeep! On a final note for today, I weighed finally after being here for 5 days and I am down 2.6 more lbs!. I am 3.4 lbs from reaching my goal of loosing 45 lbs by next Friday. That means I have 8 days to lose 3.4 lbs. I plan on going hard running the next week and as long as I keep my eating in check which is getting easier and easier, I should be there.
Til Tomorrow………

May the Force be with you.......

Well I did it, I found an apartment! It is 4 minutes from work and is 4 blocks from a mall and Safeway and a bunch of restaurants. It is even 3 blocks from the Brick where I will be looking to buy my furniture from….well most of it. I gave the guy a list at the Brick last night and asked him to get me a good deal. I do have a friend that works at the Brick and she can get me some good deals as well, but she is really busy and I suspect I would get the furniture in time. So as long as this guy locally does me a great deal I won’t bother my friend too much.
There is also a rink right around the corner which is good as I am hoping to play some shinny hockey this year. It has been a while since I strapped on some skates and I am looking to go out and have fun playing. I am also looking to play some racquetball or squash as well. I am going to sign up at the YMCA Friday and get some exercise in a few times a week. I like the Y as it has a lot of what I am looking for. I may even hire a trainer in a while to help me get back into toning once I lose some more weight. I don’t want to be down 60-70 pounds and have skin folds. I want to be able to work out and hopefully tone up as I go along.
I actually drove around the city yesterday without a GPS. I am starting to get a feel for the pace after a couple days. I am figuring out the main drags and (N to S and E to W) it is getting easier to find stuff. I only went shopping on Sunday when I got here so I have a lot more exploring in that area to do. I imagine now that I have a place, that I will be out shopping Friday to Sunday for stuff for the apartment.
I want to do it in bunches as it is on the 3rd floor so I will have a lot of hauling to do. I will be getting lotsa exercises as there is no elevator. 6 months ago that would have been a problem; today I am looking at it as part of my exercise program.
So we are work today, here on Canada day. The site decided to work today and take the Friday off which is ironic as we work 4 days here and technically have Friday off. I am actually looking forward to being off work on weekends now, and my plan is to be home 3 weekends a month. The weekend I stay here I will work the Friday.
My friend Jason called me last night from the Middle East(ern part of Saskatchewan). He is ok guy but a little scatter brained most of the time. I don’t suspect I will see him much unless he is looking for something.
My friends in Edmonton are helping me out a lot while I have come to Regina. I hope I can repay them for their help. I will have to do a couple more BBQ and fatten them up , and make them happy….and fatter than me….and then I too will be happy haha Kidding !!
I Am a happy Jedi Worker now and the Force is strong in me now,…The Work Force….
Til Tomorrow,….