My computer says that it's -39C in Fort McMurray. Unfortunately I know that it's colder where I am as it's ALWAYS 5 degree colder! Fuck.

Well I'm back from my two day whirl-wind trip to Houston, TX! Every year the company puts on a District Meeting that is compulsory for all employees to attend. As I'm mentioned before this company is extremely large and they take care of their employees like I've never seen before.

For example, this meeting probably cost the company well over a million dollars. Word going round is that the hotel facilities alone were just under a million (including food, lodgings, conference facilities). Adding to that the cost of getting 330 some employees and guests from all over North America to Houston... well you can see where the Million dollar number comes from. I have honestly never been to a function that was more lavish.

I actually learned a lot during the meetings and I am considering the whole affair as somewhat of a success. The reason I'm considering it a success is because I purposely set out to find the most influential people who could help me in my quest to find a long term career with this company and I just chatted them up.

Well long story short they all seemed to think that Business Development could be a very good place for me. Business Development is essentially the marketing arm of the company. They're the one the company depends on to find us clients that need us to build them things. So essentially winning and dinning! I'm going to be setting up meetings with one of my Managers when he's back on site this week to discuss that the steps are in this. I talked to him briefly at one of the parties this week (just to get him thinking about it) and he's pretty excited about the prospect for me as well.

I'm happy to have a direction in which to work.

So today was an incredibly bizarre and terribly exciting day at the same time. Wierdly I'm living vicariously through Sister for this one. I'd been harassing Pavel for some time now to take her out for a an evening of fun. Well he finally did the other night and from the sounds of it they had an amazing time. They started off the evening at the infamous 1181 and then went to a drag show at The Majestic. While at the drag show they ended up sitting with a random assortment of guys at a table. Well Sister starts talking to one of them and wouldn't you know it he's from Vernon. So of course they start that old Okanagan game of 'do I know you?' Sure enough they went to the same elementary school. Then realizing they were a 3 or 4 years apart in age Sister says well maybe you know my Brother. Turns out the random she met at a Tranny show was my best friend in Elementary school! CRAZY!

This morning not knowing about anything she had been up to the night before I checked my e-mail only to get an e-mail from Facebook saying that buddy had sent me a message. Well I was totally excited because I'd thought about him randomly for years and had even half-heartedly tried to find him when I lived at the Coast a number of years ago. So we ended up chatting on MSN just about all day today and we're planning on meeting when I'm down there the weekend of Feb. 7th (Matthew this is your notice that I'm coming to town. You need to come hang out). So I'm SUPER excited because one of the first people I ever considered a "best friend" is now possibly back in my life. Will keep everyone updated on the happenings of this.

In other news I'm feeling terribly unsuccessful at the moment. I'm going to start looking in the company's MBA sponsorship programs. If the company wants to pay for me to get an MBA or something I'm going to let them.

One of my girls in the office and I are going to start going to the gym tomorrow morning at the ungodly hour of 445AM so I'm going to watch some TV and go to bed now.

Night!


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Now playing: Madonna - This Used To Be My Playground
via FoxyTunes

I am SO tired it's ridiculous. I wish I could take Wifey's advice and take tomorrow and just sleep. I am looking forward to having a couple days off this coming week. Being home with no parents or distractions will be nice. I have a limited number of things that I have to do so I'm not going to be busy at all. I think the rest will be nice.

The few plans I have for my days off include going to Kal or Ellison park. I missed going to Ellison this year on New Years Day and somewhat regret it. I've also decided that I may have Raph's Mother and Step-father over for dinner as they often have me. I've also decided that it's time to watch Terminator as I've never seen it and figure that it could likely be a good way to waste some time. Yes, those are my plans and I plan on sticking to them!

I've been back at site for five days and things are busy. I'm sure if it's just because of all the craziness that went on in December or if it's just that it's January; but I'm having a bit of a hard time. Things are great and compared to the mess that I've been this month in years past I'm on top of the world. Thing is the thought of "I'm lonely" keeps winding it's way through my head.

Mentally I think I'm holding up pretty well. The last few weeks saw Christmas, a wedding, New Years and my 28th Birthday. Even if you aren't a part-time emotional wreck I think that combination would be hard to take. So I soldier on and keep looking forward to what's coming next.

One thing that I do know is coming next is one of "my girls" in the office is quitting. She hasn't informed me of this yet but she told my Boss, who told me. I'm sad to see her go as she's beyond excellent. I'm more scared of who I'm going to get thrown at me next. The hope that I've been carrying around with me that I'll be transferred out of here soonish rather than later don't look like they're going to bear any fruit with this new development. As my parents always say "God's timing is perfect" so I know that something will happen when it's supposed to. As usual things aren't happening fast enough for me and I always feel like I should further ahead in life's journey than I am now. All in due time.

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Now playing: k.d. lang - A Case of You
via FoxyTunes

Well it's almost over and done with. I think I'm going to look back at 2007 as one of those years that was entirely unremarkable and yet incredibly markable in so many ways.

I'm working on my second year in Fort McMurray and over all things have gone really well. I moved from Universal Aviation to my present company in April and it's been no where but up since. Aside from all the stress and an unpredictable boss I'm throughly enjoying my present company. I've been insanely lucky to get the team I currently have as 'my girls' are both super fun to work with and extremely good at their respective aspects of our job. The company treats their employees amazingly and I'm hoping to stay with the company for at least 2 to 5 years.

This summer my best friend J bought a house in Rutland, Raph and Wifey bought a condo in Edmonton, Sister moved to a place in Vancouver's West End and Marcia and Frank moved to Toronto. I almost bought a condo in downtown Kelowna but at the last moment decided it made more sense to remain homeless as all the people mentioned above now have lots of room and don't charge rent!

This year has been one of many memorable parties with all sort of friends. There was Matthew's super fun wedding this summer where I was given the honour of MCíng. Marcia
and I had a 'last Vancouver hurrah' together with my friend Pavel'. J and I had our "last" wine festival in Penticton. More parties in camp than I can possibly count (or remember). Time with Johnny in Edmonton and capping it all off Raph's younger brothers wedding a few days ago in Victoria. Yes, this year has seen lots of great times with friends.

I think it is possible that the most notable event this year though was the passing of my Great Uncle Frank. He was possibly one of the greatest men our family will ever have the privilege of calling our own. I learned more from him about how to treat other people and how to be a true gentleman than anyone in my life. I haven't been to Calgary for any length of time since his passing but even when I'm passing through on my way back to the Valley or wherever the city just doesn't feel the same. He will forever be missed and remembered.

This year was also notable in that I had two of the most amazing vacations I've ever had in my life. In November my friend M and I went to the Dominican and in December my friend N and I went to Las Vegas! Both vacations were beyond incredible because of the facilities we were privileged to stay in as well as the insanely gorgeous, intelligent and fabulous women I was lucky enough to have travel with me. I'm sure I'll remember these trips for a long time.

Wrapping up it's clear to me that 2007 was the year of friends and family. Every event of memory involved one or more of you, my friends and family and it's honestly because of you that everything was so amazing. I count my blessings and pray for each of you that you will be as lucky as I am. I value and treasure your place in my life more than you can possibly imagine!

Now I'm off with Pavel to ring in the New Year. Everyone stay safe and have fun. I'll see you soon!

Love,

KS

We traveled together wonderfully. You're everything a man could ever want. You pushed me to go places and do things I never thought I would. I learned a lot from you. Now it's over.

Despite the fact that as you put it "we were so great as friends, I think we should stay that way" it's just not going to happen. You see I'm not emotionally strong enough to do that. It hurts to be around you. The way you just went back to the way things were, seemingly without a thought, I can't do that. Not this time. My mind is too wrapped up in the things that could have been. Now they're to wrapped up in the things that I know never could have been.

Face it, we were in this journey together for completely different reasons. We want absolutely different things out of life. Our moral compasses point in completely opposite directions, they're just incompatible. Our journey's lead in different directions

The journey would have been amazing and having you would have made me the proudest, not to mention the most envied, man around but...

I'm done.

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Now playing: Jordan Sparks - Tattoo
via FoxyTunes

I think that I'm sort of crashing a bit now from all the excitement of the past week. I've finally started to catch up with my sleep that I missed and I think that going to bed early again tonight will help. The emotions I'm feeling tonight are a mixture of depression brought on by being tired and loneliness. I'm really struggling with the perceptions that people have. Who do I think I am and why does it matter what people think. The eternal question.

All I have to say is that the Dominican Republic, specifically Punta Cana is amazing. We had a phenomenal time and I got certification for Scuba.

When I got back I bought a new lap top which as I get it closer to how I want it configured I'm enjoying more and more. All in all everything's good.

Holy Hell have I been busy. Tonight we carved pumpkins in the warehouse at work! It's been years since I carved pumpkins. Mine look like they were kicked in the face but my friend K's look awesome.

We're having a big Halloween bonfire at camp on Saturday night and as usual everyone's going to get tanked. The difference from a regular Saturday night though is that this time people are going to be dressed up while they're getting tanked.

Did I mention that I'm going to the Dominican in less than a week! Yep, we leave for the Dominican on the 31st and I could not be more excited. By total fluke one of the lady's that works at one of the lodges we deal with went to the exact resort that we're going to not even two weeks ago. She sent me some pictures and told me that we're going to love it. By the looks of the pictures I'm absolutely going to love it. We even saw a massage table on the beach. So as long as the natives don't mistake me for a beached white whale and try throw me back into the ocean we'll be fine!

I think that large construction companies attract a certain type of personality. Now I know what you're thinking... and you're probably right I do fit right in. That said dealing with that many strong personalities everyday is extremely challenging. I think that of all the skills I've gained while working up here learning to deal with those personalities is one of the most valuable lessons I've gained. Now as long as I can continue learning to deal with them by keeping them at arms length so they don't rattle me as much as they can I'll be doing fine.

Yesterday was possibly one of the most insane day's I've had in a long time. I had arrived back at site on Wednesday night (yes, just in time for steak night!), unpacked, watched some TV and went to bed. The next morning the shit show began.

I walked into my office and found a note from one of my girls that she would not be in until later in the afternoon as she had a Doctors appointment. No big deal. I then looked at my desk, or where I had left my desk, and all I could see was a large crested mountain of paper. My heart sank and I stood staring. Many deep breaths later I tried to get to work. The sheer volume of it all was insanely overwhelming. Had I not just been on a 10 day vacation I think I would have cried. I continued on working for about an hour and the sheer amount of work finally just got to me and I went down to my Boss's office and told him we needed to have a chat. He promised to be down in an hour before he left for his days off. An hour and a half later I went down the hall and reminded him that I was still in my office waiting.

Back in the office I continued working and getting myself more and more worked up. By the time my Boss walked in I'd had it. I let loose. How was I expected to run two departments with no Staff (one of my three girls had just been commandeered for another department) and insane expectations? There is no way I'm taking the fall for anything that happened in the future that I wasn't able to get done now because of their short sightedness. I went on and on. The essential theme of my rant was that I felt totally betrayed and let down by Management because I feel like I'm drowning and they're throwing buckets of water on me.

Boss sat looking at me frothing and said. We're not that kind of company. We know you're working extremely hard and we'll back you all the way if there are any problems. I was going to do my performance evaluation of you when I get back but be assured there is absolutely nothing wrong with anything you're doing. Then Boss's boss walked into the room said "Welcome back" looked at Boss and said did you tell him yet? Boss said no. Big Boss disappeared and comes back a few moments later with a piece of paper that he gave to me with the following words. "We'd like to inform you that you've been given a raise and your position title has been changed from Administraitive Assistant (I had no idea that's what it was) to Assistant Business Manager!" Well I tell you I was stunned.

The raise was so small it's almost an insult, but both Bosses made a big deal over the fact that this was a mid-year raise and is very rare in the company. Considering I had no idea what my job title in the company was getting the new one doesn't make any difference at all either... but the recognition of the fact that I'm working my ass off is nice. It's still not going to keep me from keeping my ears open for a job in the real world but it does mean I'll be a little calmer as a result of the fact that I know I'm pretty safe at the moment.

I may be getting a new job soon. I sent in my application today to a friend that has got me two previous jobs. I'm looking forward to the possibility here and hope that things go well. I'll update everyone on it when I get a chance.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tonight was the most exciting night in camp. Steak Night! Oh how I love steak night. One of the things I will absolutely miss about this place someday...

Things in the office are fucking insane. The crazy Manager decided to take one of my girls away so now there's just three of us taking care of over 800 people. I can't even describe the feeling on that. I'm really frustrated because of all the insane things that are going on to. Management doesn't seem to want to listen to me and yet they don't bother me either. No support at all. Essentially as long as I keep holding things together they'll leave me alone and let me do my own thing, which I like but there's a point where it's getting to be a little bit much...

Can't wait to get out of here... as usual. Going to Vancouver for a few days this time, hoping to see Matthew and L. Then it's back for Wine Festival! Whooooooooooohooooooooooooooooooooooo!

I talked with our Big Boss today about what he thought I should do about the survey that was sent out. He suggested that I put my first choice down as the Corporate Office in Calgary, then Edmonton, then a camp. He told me that he figured I'd do really well in contracts or estimating which is awesome because I'd been planning on putting those two fields down as my interests anyway. The only downside of the whole thing is that I won't be making the crazy money I'm making in camp if I go to a city. Good thing I've always been here for the experience not the money.

Got a thought provoking e-mail today from the company. Essentially they were asking what our preference was once our current job wrapped up. Do we want to work in the Calgary head office, the Edmonton yard or in another camp situation? Even though I'm sure I'll be on my current site for another couple months I've got to make this decision and get my response back to them by the beginning of next month. Ugh!

It's been an interesting couple of days. My department is being audited and it's finally coming to an end. Essentially everything is good and we're rockin' things. Yesterday the guy doing the audit had me wound right out though because he was asking questions that made no sense and was "giving me advice" on how I should be doing my job. For some reason I was doubting myself and he had me so upset that I was at the point where I was thinking I was going to be fired. So eventually I went to his office, which he shares with our Assistant Business Manager, where I was asking some questions about the audit. The Assistant Business Manager heard what I was asking and his responses and blew-up. She FREAKED on him for "being stupid" then she got up, marched down the hall, me trailing behind, and we went back to my office where we went over the audit. Turns out that his audit didn't understand what we do on a daily basis so I had nothing to worry about.

As I was so stressed out from my day and it was our regular Saturday camp fire night I proceeded to get excessively drunk. First time I've done that with this company. It was exactly what I needed. Today was calm and quiet.

Thursday night my friend M and I bought tickets to an all inclusive in the Dominican Republic for November. I'm really excited as this will be my first Southern trip. Looking forward to November!

So the Tooth Fairy is getting her revenge on me for having a Dentist extract my wisdom teeth and not leaving them for her to collect. Well that Bitch is doing a great job of making me uncomfortable. Up until yesterday everything with the surgery had been fine. Then two days ago the sutures started to dissolve and ever since then I've been fighting the battle of the ever swelling gums. Ouch. I went to the clinic today actually because I was worried that my gums had somehow got an infection. The nurse figured that they weren't infected but wanted me to go to the Dentist tomorrow if possible. Well I don't think that's going to be possible so I'll see how the rest of this week goes and if things aren't better I'm flying home for a Dentist appointment.

After the nasty surprise that was my fat pants fitting I broke out the new running shoes last night and went for a run. Then just for good measure I got up this morning and ran again. Tomorrow morning I'll be doing the same. For some reason there's a number of sick individuals who get up to go running here every morning or so, so I make sure to make plans to meet the next morning so I don't just stay in bed. So we'll see how long I can handle this running thing before my knees or my sanity gives out.

I think I almost had a Britney moment today... I'm so tightly wound and frustrated that while I'm getting a hair-cut I wanted to tell the woman just just gimme a buzz cut. Thank God I just told her to cut it short and spike it! Either way I think that maybe I should have just gone with the buzz cut. Maybe next turnaround.

So feeling yucky I couldn't figure out how to get rid of the nastiness that was surrounding me so I decided to go shopping. $400 plus a hair-cut later I felt better but am thinking that shopping's probably not the best way to make myself feel better. Maybe I should look into this...

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Now playing: Britney Spears - Gimme More
via FoxyTunes

The weather here is phenomenal. That perfect blend of warmth with a crispness to the air. Warm enough for short sleeves but pants are recommended. My favorite time of year.