Life Is Not Purgatory

2007-10-23T17:39:00.000-06:00

Changing Roads

I have pretty much decided to kill my blog and start a new one at my registered domain that will be more issue focused in preparation for my run for MP and possibly MLA in the coming elections. Facebook has already taken the place of the networking aspect of my blog, and it's a good platform for doing - so why compete?

2007-08-15T10:10:00.000-06:00

Chopping Block!
... I feel like Robespierre!

Yesterday it was officially announced that the owners had received and accepted an offer to purchase the hotel, conditional upon satisfactory completion of a 60-day due diligence process. The prospective buyer also owns the other two properties and the management contract would go to the existing holder for the other two properties, which means that likely if this goes through, the GM and the three division heads (myself included) will likely be out of jobs... although there is a chance that the GM will be be offered the Director of Operations position for the complex, and I could be offered a similar position there, but it's unlikely. Everyone else should be just fine... but there is a lot of resentment of the other property amongst my staff so holding on to them for the next three months could be tricky.

We'll see, I was headhunted once last week and I started putting out resumes when I first heard we were for sale and have receive two interview requests already (one in Sherwood Park), so we'll play it by ear for now.

2007-08-01T06:13:00.000-06:00

Catastrophic Data Loss
... three words that strike fear into anyone who has a clue.

At 3:00pm yesterday afternoon, the file server at my hotel suffered a one in a million failure of the main drive and the mirror which has resulted in a massive and irreparable loss of data. While our IT person was able to retrieve data from an uncorrupted backup – that backup was around 11 months out of date, destroying every document and application installed/created/modified and stored on the file server since September 2006.

Fortunately, through an EXTREMELY fortuitous circumstance, my new auditor performed the night audit on a different station 5 days ago and the backup was stored locally on that machine. Which meant we only had to jury rig four days of transactions from the time the server came back up (and remained stable), and 7am this morning… which would have been much easier, were I not in Spruce Grove. However, I am extremely happy with the leader of my Front Office team, who pulled an all-nighter acting as my eyes, ears and hands for almost three hours over the phone. It worked and although I have about a weeks worth of work just fixing the jury-rig waiting for me… that is the least of my problems.

I am leaving for K-Country this morning, and walking into a nightmare… God help me.

2007-07-23T01:42:00.002-06:00

Dishing it Out
.. Some people in the news don't deserve the spotlight.

I really don't like Buzz Hargrove (the head of the Canadian Auto Workers union), and while I understand that it is his job to look after the continuing welfare of his members, I just wish he would be truthful when he gets on syndicated radio show and whinges about hosw how Canadians aren't doing the patriotic thing by supporting thje Big-Three Auto Makers. This, of course, is in the wake of news that Toyota has surpassed GM as the largest auto manufacturer in the world.

He whined that while Toyota and other Japanese Manufacturers were allowed to sell thier products in Cananda and the US, the big North American companies wer not permitted to sell thier products in Japan... which is nominally true. Except he left out the principal reason why - exhaust emission standards. North American vehicles don't meet the emmision standards for most Asian markets (inlcuding Japan). While Asian vehicles even the brand-new KIA brand of Korea more than meets the existing standards of North America (including California which has the most strigenet of reglautions in the USA).

What Mr. Hargrove should be doing is pressuring GM, Ford and Chrysler to actually make progress in fuel efficieny and compete against foreign cars that are delivering the hybrid technology that people want rather than lagging behing the innovative Asian producers...
... shouldn't he?

2007-07-23T01:42:00.001-06:00

65%

Mingle²

2007-07-23T01:42:00.000-06:00

Interesting Developments
... a lot can happen in only a few weeks.

Well, there is no doubt that I have been remiss in posting to my blog, as Arthur pointed out it appears that 'Facebook has eaten my blog'. Which isn't entirely incorrect. Since the move back to Kananaskis, my only internet access has been in my office at work, and given I already spend too much time there I really don't want to spend any more time than required, and with Facebook I can at least update by text messages from my BlackBerry. I make no promises, but I will endeavor to keep this updated, otherwise, I will likely end up closing it down.

Currently, until the end of July I am working in Spruce Grove covering graveyard shift for the sister hotel that lost thier management couple and thier night auditor. It's dull, but I am being paid for this work in addition to my normal salary so the double dipping will help th pay the obscene repair bill from my Neon.

By far the most interesting news has been a reconnection with a former girlfriend from more than a decade ago, at the wedding of two of my friends last month, and sicne that point we've been dating... It was really strange how we clicked again immediately, almost as if the intervening decade never happened at all. We'll see how this develops, but I am hopeful, despite my hectic schedule and the long distance relationship issues.

2007-06-09T12:12:00.000-06:00

The End of LRPS
... a long time coming.

This Thursday I drove up from Edmonton to chair a meeting of the Live Role Playing Society, in the wake of the resignation of the President and Vice-President. As Past-President, the chair falls to me, then the others of the Executive in succession. When the Secretary and I talked the day after the resignation, I was surprised to learn that she of all people had been convinced that the Society needed to be dissolved, given that I had asked for the very same thing 18-months earlier.

I half expected to be greeted with acrimony and resentment amongst the members, as it was sure to be a bad sign when I drive 3.5 hours to Edmonton, and walk into the meeting holding the gavel. What I got was a unanimous vote to disband the Society, ceasing day-to-day operations immediately, and wrapping up all financial an bureaucratic requirements within six months.

It is my hope that a Phoenix will rise from the ashes in some form, and already there are discussions as to what the successor organization may look like. I think that is a good sign, perhaps with the vibrant and active gaming community in Edmonton we can form some form of gaming network that can help the hobby, without all the baggage that LRPS carried for so long.

2007-05-16T16:54:00.001-06:00

Athabasca Universalis
... I'm a student again, at least sort of...

On the 6th, James came to visit me here in the valley, as the one hour drive here is far easier than the three hour drive to Edmonton now that he is back living in Calgary for the summer. We went on a three hour walk and although I cursed him and his marathon running lungs, I really enjoyed it... to the point of incorporating a walk into my near-daily routine. In fact, once my most recent case of cellultis clears up I have committed to walking and/or cycling from the Golf Course (where I live) to work and back every second day (and hopefully once my body recovers from the shock - daily).

At his urging, I have enrolled in Athabasca University as an Unclassified Student and will be taking one course starting in July to get the rust off the gears in my brain. I think my first course will be a Philosophy 'Critical Thinking' course that James says will be something right up my alley.

Things are good!

2007-05-02T19:48:00.000-06:00

Settling In
...Kananaskis is just as beautiful as I remember it.

I am starting to break the rust off the hotel skills I haven’t used in over a year. It appears that my plans of commuting to Edmonton on a bi-weekly basis will hold firm although for the next little while until I establish my equilibrium here it may not be as often as I would like.

Eric and I are looking to recruit a few VGAP players for a computer hosted game, so if you are interested please let me know, as I know Eric has been itching to play for quite some time.

2007-04-11T13:05:00.000-06:00

A New Chapter?
... or is this just a sequel?

Yesterday, I received legal advice that the lawsuit against a defacto Director of my former employer does not have any reasonable legal founding. As a result any reasonable chance I have of recouping any of the $12,900 owed to me is negligible. On the positive side this does put some measure of finality in place and this would allow me to move on to bigger and beter things. On the negative side this does mean that the resources I intended to use in my return to post-secondary education have dissapeared... which will delay my plans to return to the University of Alberta for another year.

Today, I received and accepted an unexpected offer from my old hotel in Kananaskis. My mentor is leaving to take a position in Calgary and the Director of Operations is taking over his post as GM, which means that I will be taking most of his old position. I can't say no to the salary, or the benefits, or the scenery and now that this isn't a temporary position I am certain I can make it work for me... socially.

Thats about it. Now that a dark period of my life is over, I can find myself again.

2007-02-20T23:39:00.000-07:00

Listless Meanderings
It has been a very long time since I've done... well much of anything really. I've never been one prone to depression, but I have found myself hovering on the cusp of - what I can only assume from my time around friends who /are/ prone to - depression. Not a massive, opressive, life-draining depression but one that feels as a weight upon the motivation and takes the lustre out of things that should otherwise be enjoyable.

The last few months have been emotionally draining and even the time off from employment has not helped to recover anything from the last few months of work at the market, I am not even sure that I can recover until the business either makes it or fails so that I can actually move on.

I am a bit of a financial wreck, although I have sufficient credit to last me a few more weeks - perhaps even until the end of March. However, the lack of a decision from Service Canada, the lack of a callback from the Red Cross, and the general lack of response to the dozen or so resumes I have circulated in the hospitality industry are starting to undermine my confidence. I am sure things will work out, but it seems that /nothing/ is going my way.

I feeling the need to do something... perhaps something drastic to change the direction of my life... but I don't know what it is.

2007-01-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

Resignation
... Even loyalty has its limits.

As of 4:50pm this afternoon my resignation has been in a sealed envelope on my bosses desk, I will be emailing him the contents of the letter this evening after the store is closed, and I will await the inevitable phone call that will either be angry, hurt, or resigned... and I am not sure which.

I haven't been paid in 12 weeks, my staff in 4 weeks and the insovlent company is circling ever closer to fiscal oblivion. Even if today's hail mary actaully succeeds, I simply dont' have enough left in my mental and emotional batteries to continue any further. Perhaps with this off my chest and out of the way I may even have the strength to blog again.

Who knows....

2006-12-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

Stolen from My Dark Corner of Hell

You scored as Storyteller. The Storyteller is in it for the plot: the sense of mystery and the fun of participating in a narrative that has the satisfying arc of a good book or movie. He enjoys interacting with well-defined NPCs, even preferring antagonists who have genuine motivations and personality to mere monsters. To the Storyteller, the greatest reward of the game is participating in a compelling story with interesting and unpredictable plot threads, in which his actions and those of his fellow characters determine the resolution.

With apologies to Robin Laws.

Storyteller

100%

Character Player

95%

Tactician

60%

Weekend Warrior

40%

Specialist

30%

Casual Gamer

30%

Power Gamer

10%

What RPG Player (Not Character) Type Are You?
created with QuizFarm.com

2006-12-04T12:14:00.001-07:00

Daily Meme
... stolen from the bunny!

2006-12-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

Politics According to Me
...

By the end of this evening there will be two new political leaders in Canada. One will be the Premier-designate of the wealthiest province, the other will be the leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in Parliement as the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

In Alberta there are three choices:
- Jim Dinning, former Alberta Treasurer, heir-presumptive for a decade, centrist.
- Ted Morton, UofC political science professor, rookie MLA, hard-right idealogue.
- Ed Stelmach, former multi-portfolio cabinet minister, right-centre.

The showdown of course is between Ted Morton and Jim Dinning with Ed Stelmach who placed a distant third on the first ballot seen as the spoiler candidate. If Jim Dinning wins it will be a victory for the power brokers of the party, all the backroom party hacks who control the policies of the Tory dynasty. If Ted Morton wins, it wil be a slap in the face to every 'Red Tory' and centrist conservative that made the PC dynasty possible. In either case, the likelyhood of the PC party continuing it's dynastic rule over Alberta will be in doubt... as the centrists will leave en-masse if Morton wins, and the rural power base of the Tories will defect to the Alberta Alliance if Dinning wins.... and all bets are off if somehow Ed Stelmach manages to squeak up the middle in this convoluted interperetation of preferential balloting.

Personally, I hope Ted Morton wins - not because I like his politics, but because I would love to sit back and watch the spectacular fireworks and the party implosion that will surely follow. It's time for some fresh air in the Alberta Legislature and it's not going to be the Tories who bring it - well it's not likely to be any of the provincial parties... but one can hope.

I have recently started the process to seek the nomination of the Green Party of Canada for the riding of Edmonton - Strathcona. Having recently looked over the platform and found only a few specific points I disagree with, I am capable of supporting the broader goals of the Party while dissenting upon certain points (like proportional representation). The email exchange has just begun but I wasn't immediately scoffed at, so we shall see. If it happens, I am certain that this blog and it's archives will be expunged and a new political blog will be created.

2006-11-30T00:39:00.000-07:00

Weekly Update!
... a little tardy and pre-dated...

So I just moved into my 'new' place which denied me access to my computer in the interim, so while I had every intention of doing the first installment of my personal update on schedule the I was pretty much SOL on that until I got my computer up and running, which I have! Although, it should be noted that everytime I move some piece of computer hardware dies... And this time was no exception, fortunately it was only my speakers (which I was likely going to replace anways) and it was entirely my fault to boot! In my haste to assemble my computer I connected the wrong AC adapter to the speakers and instead of giving them the 9volts they wanted I provided 120 at roughly thrice the amperage... Which explains the high pitched (albeit short-lived) whine they emitted.... Oooops!

Current I am typing this on my Blackberry while awaiting the arrival of the Mystery Girl who texted me two weeks ago. The identity was confirmed by a call to that number from a landline so I could listen to the voicemail message... and even though the mystery was revealed there is still a great deal of humor involved because this is an individual I was trying to get to call me for weeks and finally texted me... but without any introduction on her part! I am meeting her for a couple of drinks after her last day at work, I hope there is some mutual interest there, we shall see and I will update later!

Work, well... there was an incident. One that has been resolved but not to my satisfaction. I sounded out my old Director of Ops in Kananaskis as to what he would do in my situation, as well as my parents and got conflicting recommendations. I think once the latest bundle of stress dies down, I will need to take my bosses out for a drink and lay my cards on the table and see how they are willing to accomodate my concerns... I had hoped that our fiscal pressures would be alleviated a bit by now but like all thing nothing ever goes according to plan.

The funny thing about where I have moved is that I am replacing my Ex on her old lease and have moved in with Tim... which seems odd as she replaced me as his roomie when I moved to Kananaskis and he moved out to the new place and now things have come full circle...

2006-11-26T00:33:00.000-07:00

A Global Conscience
... from Rwanda to Darfur and uncomfortable places in between.

The collective memory of the world is in desperate need of massive doses of Ginkgo biloba for treatment of its memory problems. In 1995 we stood idly by as a UN Mission to Rwanda was under-funded, under-manned, under-equiped and hamstrung by assine rules of engagement that allowed for the rampant slaughter of 500,000 people over the course of 90 days of pure hell known as the Rwandan Genocide. In the aftermath of that the wolrd took stock of the situtation and vowed that it would never happen again... we failed, or at the very least are failing right now.

Darfur is rapidly degenerating and showing disturbing glimmers of Rwanda's past in its own future. The Government of Sudan is resisting attempts to put a UN force on the ground, to assist the under-funded, under-manned, under-equipped African Union forces already stretched beyond their limits how much more blood do we need the global community need on their hands before we actually put our foot down?

Afghanistan, unlike Iraq was clearly tied to the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Centre, it's Taliban regime aided and abetted the likes of Osama bin Laden and his ilk, individuals whose fundamentalism poses a threat not just to the equally fundamentalist beliefs US neo-cons, but to all those who do not subscribe to the same very narrow, strict, and regressive interpretations of the Koran – in which women are little more than breeders, hold no political or personal rights and whom can be raped without consequence – perhaps even stoned to death for adultery unless they can prove ‘rape’ under the Islamic law that requires four witnesses.

I thought that Canadians had the stomach to do the right thing, to send our soldiers to fight for what we believe is right. However with a majority of Canadian’s now wanting to withdraw our troops from Afghanistan, I am forced to wonder if anyone will ever have to courage to put their foot down about anything… ever…

How many more millions are going to perish by genocide or starvation, be raped, intimidated or brutalized into submission… How many?

2006-11-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

All for Naught!
... insert witty subtitle here.

So the mystery date was cancelled by the other partry three hours before the planned meeting, there is a rain check however, so who knows.

In regards to the blog I have decided to set myself a schedule, with certain special interuptions when they tickle my fancy. Starting every Saturday there will be a political commentary on some issue that has crossed the media radar in the past week. Every Wednesday will try to be a non political blog post likely belly-aching about my lack of a life, until I can get around to trading mine in for a new fancier one.

2006-11-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

Obligatory Monthly Blg Post
... I wonder if I should scrap the blog entirely?

I want to blog, I just can't seem to find the time or the energy to do so. It must have something to do with the 60-70 hour work weeks I guess. And it looking like that wont last mch into December... one way or the other.

Amusing anecdote time! I am meeting someone at a pub tommorow evening, the only problem is, I am not sure who it is I am meeting! I had sent a email to someone askng them to call me bcause we hadn't talked in ages... and I though she was avoiding me... and about 10 minutes later I got a text message from a cell number I didn't recognize asking me how I was and remarking that we hadn't talked in a while... so I assumed it was her with a new cell #. Except that after we had made plans to meet up, I received an email from the person I thought it was, saying that she had lost my cell number and could I give it to her again...

... so, who was I talking to and who am I meeting for a drink tommorow evening...
... and do they read my nearly-nonexistant blog?

... I'll keep you informed.

2006-10-10T11:52:00.000-06:00

Ponderings
Why do I continue to do this, become ‘interested’ in people whom are taken, rebounding or otherwise sabotage the relationship before it even begins?

I recently have come to realize how badly I have botched my previous relationships, as I attempt to diffuse conflicts with my beau… even when it is these complications that helps strengthen the emotional bonds within the relationship, nor am I generally willing to fight to win the affections of the people I am interested in. Why is it that I continue to fail to learn from my mistakes?

As October progresses and I inch ever closer to my twenty-ninth birthday, I am feeling more and more discontentment with certain aspects of my life… sigh.

2006-09-28T19:49:00.000-06:00

A Eulogy
My father called my today and told me that my godmother passed away in her sleep quietly and peacefully as she would have wanted it. Now, for those who know me it would probably surprise them to find out that I actually have godparents – that when I was baptised Anglican the cathedral didn’t get struck by lightening or some other ill-omen of foreboding doom.

Linda was a wonderful person, the kind of person who in the last stages of her life is someone I could look towards and see someone whom I can hope I would be able to exemplify should I ever go through what she did… diagnosed with a terminal cancer with precisely zero chance of survival – bone cancer.

She was diagnosed in the autumn of 2004, and was told that she would be lucky to survive till Christmas, this despite her husbands employment with the Saudi Aramco – the world’s largest oil company with literally the best medicine that money can buy… but survive she did. In fact, she saw two Christmas’, came back to Canada to for a surprise birthday party for friends earlier this year that everyone knew would be the last time any of her Canadian friends would see her alive.

I regret that fate conspired to prevent me from see her in any of her last trips to Canada, despite my best efforts. But with grace and poise until the very end, I can only hope that in my final moments I will be able to show even half the composure she did. Goodbye Linda.

2006-08-22T02:55:00.000-06:00

The State of Modern US Media
... I can't beleive it!
Just simply watch this. Enough said!

2006-08-08T07:49:00.000-06:00

Costuming Assistance Required
... Victorian Stage Magician?

I have taken up an acting role within Purgatory that will allow me to keep tabs on the development of the game, however I do not have access to Victorian-era costuming for the characater, the formerly druidic protege of Caitlin Dubhcoille - the last of the druids and was sired into the Tremere clan in a spectacular incident that caused a massive purge of the Tremere clan in London.

Anyways, I am looking for either Victorian formal wear or a Stage Magician's costuming by Aug 25th... I am of course willing to pay for cloth and labour as required and of course you will have my undying gratitude!

2006-08-07T15:38:00.000-06:00

Open for Business
As of Saturday evening, around 4:30pm we opened the doors to the market and got that particular monkey off our back. Now it is simply a case of working out the not-inconsiderable number of bugs from the operation before our official GRAND OPENING on August 24th, 2006.

Yay!

2006-07-28T10:55:00.000-06:00

New Pay Grade
... 33% raise and we haven't even opened yet!
I accepted this job realizing that it was going to be alot of work and a whole pile of new challenges. I also mentioned in my blog a few days ago how nice it is to feel appreciated and to have my hard work noticed - and yesterday I was informed that as of our opening day, my wage/salary will increase by 33%. Which given the respectable 50+ hours I expect to work each week means I'll be making very good money plus bonuses. Wheeeee!

Purgatory is tonight... and we'll see how my first evening not being an organizer goes.