Alberta time, that is! Yeah, right! Like that's going to happen. I still need sustenance! Food, darn it!

Holy ever-loving cow have I been busy! Whacky busy, y'know? I usually start work at 5am and end when the work's done. That's usually around 7 or 8pm. Today was special, however, as all our jobs went seamlessly. Five before noon! Hurray!

So when I say I start at five, that consists of getting up at 3am so as Derek can freshen up (powder my nose, so to speak), eat a little breaky and pack a lunch. Also, when I say I start at five I really mean 4:30am. I want to get there early to ispect my equipment to make sure I'm not the cause of a whole convoy leaving late. That would be bad!

The guys I work with are, geeze, how should I put it? They're fun to work with, but quick to point out that you can't swing a hammer properly. I missed that class at university, I guess. However, the swing is coming along well, and I seem to be hitting the iron target most of the time. I just tell everyone that I hammer like lightening....because I never strike the same place twice. Better than hammering like thunder, I guess. Making a lot of noise without anything to show for it afterwards.

So, yeah, everyone seems to be cool. Definitely a lot harder around the edges than most of the people I've hung out with. Being a dad, I have to bit my tongue so as not to correct anyone's grammar or chastise them for using potty talk. No! I'm pretty sure I would be frowned at if I did something like that.

I did something today that I've never really done before. I strong armed an auto dealership. I took my van in to get a list of items fixed, and as I was well within the 3 month warranty since purchase, they are covered at no cost to me. The list of things are as follows:

1. My front windshield washer fluid pump doesn't work. I found this out while driving in Calgary during a slightly wet evening. I actually had to pull over, press the rear spayer, run to the back and grab some to put on the front windshield. That didn't work too well so I just ended up spitting on my windshield and wiping it with my touque. Did you know saliva leaves a cloudy film?
2. I smell antifreeze when I start the car. This shouldn't happen! All my mechanical knowledge, which doesn't amount to much where automobiles are concerned, tells me this is so.
3. The heater doesn't heat very well. It should! This is another thing I know about cars! The heater provides heat. Go figure!
4. Beyond all reasoning, the stereo heats up so hot you can fry an egg on it. I was actually considering using it as the van's heater by setting up a fan to blow across it, but all my thermodyamical education tells me that I'd probably have to rig up four more stereos to adequately heat up the van. However, the one is still working better than the heater. It's just the annoying crackle from the speakers and the constant skipping of the cds and my constant worry that said cds would melt while in the stereo that made me bring this to the attention of the car dealership.

So I went in with my list of problems, said that I needed a vehicle, and since I had just bought it that could they please provide me with a vehicle to boot back and forth to work while they fixed mine. They told me that it was against a brand spanking new policy that was implemented the minute I walked through the door this after noon to lend vehicles off the lot. However, they said they could get me a good rate on a rental from the guys across the street while the tinkered with my van.

Derek got cross!

Derek said that he didn't want to be paying anything above what he was already paying for the van that THEY sold him and THEY assured him was in proper working order. Derek wanted to see the manager and tell him this. Derek thought that the vehicle should have been checked for these little hiccups and was given a list of the items that were check, most of which cover what I've mentioned as being my, I mean Derek's, problems.

Derek was asked to sit in an office and calm down while the manager was approached.

By the end of it, they are paying for the rental and fixing my concerns. So I guess I won, eh? However, I think they got me back a little. I am responsible for the gas of the rental which is understandable, and the vehicle they got for me is a huge Dodge Ram with a 5.7L Hemi under the hood. A gas guzzler, I'm sure! Oh well, I guess I won't drive it too much. I'll just sit in it and make "Vrooooom vroom!" noises.

Well, I need food! Just know that I'm not dead. I will just be updating sporadically till I get a computer....Which might, I stress "might," be this weekend. Until then, keep well all!