Dollars at Work.

So I just placed the order for my new compooter. I'll still have to build it.
The sad thing is that I think it'll arrive before the whole dell-box fiasco becomes resolved.
It still hasn't come yet. I have no idea what's happening anymore. The next time I speak to them, I won't be very happy.

Work is very, very tiring. No, it isn't physically or even mentally stimulating. It is the shear amount of un-work I have to do.
1) There's no internet, unless I can justify to my boss that I need it. (Well, I can get to the cbc news site, but that only provides maybe half an hour of news articles. They really need to update more often.)
2) My job requires me to call people, wait for people to call me back, and then get some information from them. Most of the time is spent tracking people down when they're away from their offices. When I'm not doing that, I am spending time making documents (following the format), and going to meetings.
3) I'm dying here, of boredom.

My co-worker/fellow-coop-student has even less to do than me. It is sad, really.

Dell. You.

Dell box hasn't arrived it. They delivered it to Richmond. I specifically told them to ship it here.

I have a huge urge to cover my face with my hands in disgust.

Are you all North American?

Why yes, I am.

Today was the first actual day of work. I woke up at 5:08 am (that's 4:08am your time) to get ready for my 5:50 bus. I had to get up slightly earlier because I didn't know where the bus stop was. So I walked down the street looking for dorks just standing around. I found a group. Success.

The actual drive would have taken slightly over one hour, but the bus' movement ebbed and flowed in the traffic. By my estimate, it took 1h30m. Not that I care, I was sleeping on the bus.

When I first landed, I had no idea where I was supposed to go. There were no instructions or anything, so I went into the security desk and waited to ask the person.
"So you're a new hire? Go into the Consul."
"Where's the Consul?"
"Over there. Just follow the chains on the left and you'll see it."

So I go out and follow the instruction. The chain fence stopped about halfway. I didn't know where to go so I went ahead and asked someone.

"Excuse me for a second. I'm a new hire and I'm supposed to go to the Consul. Can you direct me to where that is?"

You have to understand that it is below -25 degrees out this hour in the morning. The guy didn't want to help me. He just wanted to go to the bus to go home.
" The what?"

"The Consul. Do you know where that is?"

"I've never heard of it."
"Well do you know where I should go as a new hire?"
"Probably over there to THAT building over there."

He runs off, and I went the direction he said.
I walked inside the building. Strangely quiet. I found a lady and said I was a new hire and I didn't know where to go. She has never heard of the Consul building. To her credit, she tried to help me get to where I'm supposed to, but she never actually found out. She just called for my 'leader', but he wasn't there. I was directed to go back into the main building. I instead went back to security.

I made her give me better instructions.
"You know that building at the vehicle gate? You go there."
"Thanks, that would have been a better description."

Again, I head out into the cold. I found the building she was describing. I saw a bunch of scruffy looking fellows and asked them if this where the new hires go. He said yes. Finally. The Consul.

Once I got inside, I met a bunch of other scruffy looking people. I tried to confirm with them. "Is this where the new hires go?"
They nodded.

A couple of seconds later, a guy walks in. "Are you all North Americans?"
I nodded.
"Anyone here a new hire?"
I said yes, along with another guy. The rest of the people were transfers.
"Oh you two are going to be staying for long." Queue laughter.

Something didn't seem right.

The instructor guy left the room after getting our names. He left to get a van. I stood there, listening to the people talk. They are seasoned veterans at... trucking? I don't think I'm supposed to be here. So, after about fifteen minutes of weighing the possibility of being in the wrong place, I stepped out. I saw the instructor.
"Excuse me, are Engineering new hires supposed to go through this too?"
"Engineering? You work for North American, right?"
"North American?"
"The company. Our company."
"No, Syncrude."
"You're in the wrong place, buddy."

To the security office I go.

"Hey again. I don't think I was supposed to go there."
"Oh. Let's see your contract."
I look around for my contract. I lost it.
"I lost it."
"Hm. What's your job title again?"
"Base Plant Projects"
"Base Plant... as in Mildred Lake?"
"No, it clearly said Aurora."
"I'm sorry. I usually work down at Mildred Lake. I'm just filling in for someone."

Eventually, she called someone who knew someone who knew where I was supposed to be.
Someone came and picked me up.

I didn't feel too bad about this though, they didn't know they were getting student workers either, so it was kind of a surprise.

Communication rocks!

State of half-dead.

I'm not sure what's happening with my computer, but it kinda works again. Sure, the power-charger is broken (doesn't detect battery), and the monitor is dead, but it still works when attached to an external monitor. What I find very curious is that 12 hours ago, it wouldn't start at all. It isn't because the machine wasn't dry because it was working the night before.

I'm just kinda glad I can still use it, for you know. that reason. withdrawal

I find it kind of funny that when I can't play WoW anymore, my second urge is to write something. Blogging, or short story, or whatever. I see things and think to myself: T"his is interesting, I should write it down." When I do get a chance, however, I go back to playing the game. Well, not anymore! I'm putting that on top of my priority list... just after I finish that jewelcrafting daily.


-
On a side note, it is a baumy -20 degrees centigrade outside. Absolutely beautiful weather. I love it, except for all the driving in town that I have to do. It is incredibly annoying to have to plug/unplug my block heater, then clear my windshield, then wait for the car to warm up. It adds about 4-5 minutes to any trip.

I'm not sure what kind of heating they use in here, but I think it involves dehumidifying. I am finding that I need to drink a lot more liquids, or my lips chap. Because of this dryness, I get 4-5 static shocks everyday from interacting with things in the apartment. Hella annoying.

Water is bad

Protips: 1) always backup. 2) keep room and floor clear 3) secure a
place to put computer / keep away from nightstand. 4)don't spill water
on to computer in the dark of night( or whenever)

--
Sent from my mobile device

Alive and well in Fort McMurray.

1) It is cold here.
2) My room-mate's name is Tyler. He is a geek. Star Trek, Star Gate, Battlestar. Plays Counterstrike Source mostly. He sometimes plays World of Warcraft (He has a level 40 paladin).
3) I can get just about anything here in Fort McMurray. What I can't get, I can probably acquire via the Internet.
4) There's nothing to do here except hide inside my house, which I kinda enjoy, but when the house involves pretty much nothing...
5) There's no part 5.
6) I've been dreaming a lot lately, mostly involving people from High school (Gary, Oliver, people I don't talk to anymore, etc) and mostly in Richmond. Strange that I still have such vivid memories of something that's 3-4 years ago now.

Freezepop

Driving in subzero temperature is pretty fun. I had a lot of fun today.
Everything was cool when I was driving, but when I wasn't... things got scary.
The car lost control three times, and the driver opted to stop the car completely.
I'm not letting anyone else drive my car anymore.

Oh, and my pristine glass is broken again.

Fistibop Day

aka Boxing Day, for all you gents.

I find the entire concept of the day to be hilarious. Waiting an entire year, people are willing to camp out hours early to save maybe 30% on an outdated product. Would the opportunity cost of having the item be worth it? Depends on the person, I guess. Maybe I'm thinking this way because I'm not willing to go out this time. I don't have anything to buy. And I hate crowds of people. And I hate people. And I hate people driving like idiots on the road.

I wonder how long this day of fistibopping can last, especially with the 'economic crisis'. Sure, Black Friday this year had a decent (profitable) turnout, but we've all had a little more time to digest this inevitable economic collapse. I can't really imagine next year's to be really busy. The reason why this year's will be successful is because people have this pent-up rage the entire year to wait until Fistibop Day to splurge their money all over the register. It'll be the last insane buy they will do. Anyway, I hope you all had a good hunt and bought what you wanted.

I'm leaving on January 1st. I will be going alone, and I will take 3 days to drive for a total of 21 hours towards Fort McMurray. This should be good assuming no delays or accidents. If I do die, well.

The Interview

was a huge success, apparently.
I gauge this on the fact that I was hired for the position. Though the details haven't come yet, (they were late with the HR, so the contract is coming on Monday), I do know some things.

1) 8 months total. 4 at one mine, 4 at the other.
2) Alberta.
3) Pay is pretty good, considering rent is free. (paid by company)

I'm gonna be missing for some time.
Have fun, guys.

Officially done

Today, I had my final final. It feels great to be relieved of this burden. I can relax now, and do what I want when I want. I don't really want to think about school anymore, mostly because thinking about it won't change anything. What's done is done.

Curiously, I received a phone call from the Engineering Co-op office today about an interview with the company Syncrude for a job in the Oil Sands. Strange because I never sent in a resume. They sent it in for me. Even more strange is that I've left the Co-op program for ~8 months now, with no contact with them. The interview is at 8am. This means that I should have had it by the time this is done.

It is a little bit early for me, but I guess that's fine. I don't really care if I work during this upcoming semester or not. Not going to screw up this interview on purpose either.

Haircuts

They're terrible.

I guess I've had a sheltered life or something because I always have difficulty getting my hair cut. I usually never go until I can't stand the constant badgering of people around me concerning my long hair. The problem is that I'm not used to getting them.
Never quite know what kind of hairstyle that I want because I don't know any of the style's names. I'd tell him to but my
standard, except they might not know what standard is. I just tell them to cut it short, which is so vague that I never know what the outcome would be.

Ugh, sometimes I get the urge to shave it all off.
I actually want to see myself go bald for a short while.
I want to dye my hair to something grey/whitish.

Maybe next time.

World of Warcraft.

I'm not sure why there are people who believe lining up for a midnight launch of World of Warcraft is especially pathetic. I think it is no different than lining up for an iPhone, the Nintendo DS, Halo 3, Gears of War 2, or even the Wii.

Honestly, what is so different about this product that automatically puts it in the shit-tier of respect?

That said, I'm going to be lining up tonight in the hopes of getting a Collector's Edition copy.

Cruelty Creating Chris

There's been a bunch of stuff that I am just not too sure about...
I've been thinking and writing about this fun little story, but I'm having trouble finding a rational explanation of why a person would kill. So far, I have envisioned the murderer as a religious fanatic, but it seems a little unrealistic for an ultra religious but sane person to decide to take up arms against others. I mean, I just don't see how I can make the religious person seem sane and have him kill a bunch of people. I guess... religion, sanity, and murder... choose one.

Second thing is that it feels like there are a lot of negative forces aligning, all with the sole purpose of making my life difficult. I dislike this.

The woods are lovely dark and deep.

My spirits are going way down as the hours for natural light continues to shrink. My only consolation is that thus far, it has been a fairly dry autumn.

The end is in sight though, and I shall soon escape again from all of this.

Going trick or treating at our age is absolutely pathetic. I hate anyone doing that and imagining it'll be a good time.

ISLAND MURDER MYSTERY

MAIN CHARACTER IS DISORIENTATED, MISSING MEMORY.

A DETECTIVE CHARACTER COMES UP, QUESTIONS HIS WHEREABOUTS.

MAN CAN'T REMEMBER, CLAIMS INNOCENCE. HE SELF DOUBTS.

DETECTIVE GOES ON TO QUESTION THE WIDOW. HE TAKES MAIN CHARACTER WITH HIM.


SHOCKING: THE LAND SURROUNDING THE MANSION SPLIT AWAY FROM THE REST, FORMING AN ISLAND WHICH IS MOVING AT AN INCREASING SPEED.

ONCE THIS HAPPENS, THE MAIN CHARACTER REALIZES HE IS THE MURDERER. HE TRIES HUNTING DOWN THE DETECTIVE AND THE WIDOW BEFORE THE ISLAND 'DOCKS'


AND THEN ZOMBIES SHOW UP, ONLY THEY AREN'T REALLY ZOMBIES.

THEY'RE PEOPLE FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION.

Sounds like a great story idea to me.

No Aliens.

I'm somewhat disappointed that the aliens failed to show up. The rational part of me knows that Aliens won't arrive, especially not in a 2000 mile long ship over the skies of Alabama. I was just hoping in the deepest darkest part of me that it would turn out to be real. It would be super awesome if true.

It would be the first collective undeniable proof that everyone's problems are trivial.
Wars would stop. Religion becomes trivial. Maybe people will finally start helping other people in a semi-unrealistic-utopian state.

The aliens could tell us why we are here. Maybe they have some secret knowledge on science and philosophy.