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.