Well, just checked the stats again and I don’t know why I’m getting hits, but here’s an update for ya.

A lot has changed in the month or so since the last post. As you may or may not have heard, our union, Carpenters Local 1325, was involved in some labor disputes a little while back, with the majority of the action occuring at the job site where I was employed, and with good reason. The company I worked for, Bantrel, has got to be one of the worst companies I have ever worked for since I joined our hall. Although the job was less than 20 minutes from my door, I decided to quit. It was clear, after a few months, that Bantrel was more interested in making unions look bad than they were in actually building a plant. While this may have been under Petro-Canadas’ direction, it made little difference to me.

It just so happened that the commencement of these job actions coincided with a remarkable rise in the gold price – a position I was fully invested into by that point in time. Faced with getting up in the morning to go stand on the side of the road holding signs when, quite clearly, our feet had been kicked out from under us once again by Albertas’ unjust labor laws, I found myself looking at a fist full of dollars in one hand, and a cold morning on the pavement in the other.

I began making motions to get out of the shitty life of the trades six years back, and had made a decision about the future of my union, and subsequently, all trades in this province. While I support people who are willing to fight for a better life for themselves and their loved ones, I can’t help but think that the law of the jungle was at work here. Here I was with another option, and they with none.

I am glad I came to realize I was painting myself into a corner, and capable of more, or, as the pork’n cheese would say…more better. So, they can suffer the winter once again, and I will make money with my mind and convictions.

By the way. BUY GOLD, or have your wealth confiscated through central bank devaluation. It is happening now through the continual domino collapse of now unfunded “structured products” that are actually over-the-counter derivatives tied to worthless sub-prime mortgage paper. As these collapse, your/my/our central bank bails out each failure by printing money and loaning it out to the entity in trouble. This is happening world-wide. Europe, Australia, Canada, the states, Brazil, you name it. This eventually ends up as inflation, now being reflected in the price of gold. If you fail to listen, it’s your own damn fault. I have told those that know me more than a few times. If you have questions about this, I am more than happy to answer any of you through my e-mail or from this site. I will check back occasionally.

Rant off.

It’s now time to start thinking about heading down south again for the winter. The weather has started to turn cold here, and I really should book my ticket soon. As a change to the ordinary, I will be taking care of Kens’ place down in Panama for a few weeks while he is away in Brazil visiting his other son, Mark. Sounds good when you say it fast, but I will also be tied to the property for that amount of time. It will give me a chance to slowly acclimatize and get a decent tan before I roam out, not to mention get used to speaking Spanish once again. I will also have to get new plates for my car and do some necessary repairs I put off last year (does that sound familiar?).

Around here, I have completed my first project out of my work shop in the garage. I now have the nicest tool chest in Edmonton. 😀 When Mom sold her house, I took the old TV cabinet that we have had since I was a kid. I have now put twelve small drawers into it, a shelf into the bottom, and put it on wheels. This will house all my automotive tools, still has the original doors/hardware on the front so it looks just like it did, and will free up much needed counter space in my garage.

Yesterday, I put together a weight bench I have wanted for a while, and had quite a lesson on doing mortise and tenon joints. Man, I’m out of practice, but I have patience and it worked quite well.

My next project will be for the house. A sofa table, coffee table, and end table, all with inlaid stone tile in the center. Going around to different furniture stores gives a guy plenty of good ideas. :>> I will now hand it to my grade nine industrial arts teacher, Mr.Bustin, who coined the phrase “The best two tools you have are your eyes and your ears.” Thanks Mr.B! I cannot tell you how many times I have taken that advice.

After that will be an entertainment center for the living room, and you should see the idea I’m stealing from Future shop!!! It lists there for $4000. I figure I can do it for $600-800 in parts, and my time is free. It may be a crappy trade to work, but it is a very useful one to own, and that makes all the difference in the world. 😉