(04-03-2013 05:43 AM)Tresdus Wrote:  Interessting graph showing how safe oil work is (summarized under "mining")
http://qph.is.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-cc3...50219b54e8

I don't know where that chart comes from as the website doesn't have a source but for any of you out there who want to see some hard numbers and statistics regarding work place injuries in the oil and gas sectors in Alberta, check out this website:

http://humanservices.alberta.ca/working-...a/274.html

This is an interesting and very relevant study about work-related injuries, illnesses and fatalities for any of you guys looking to get into the oil biz in Alberta, "Upstream Oil and Gas Industries, 2006-2010":

From the study, (Pg. 13) "In 2010, the lost-time claim rate for the Oil Sands sub-sector decreased from 0.21 per 100 person-years worked to 0.19, due to a 10.6% decrease in lost-time claims submitted. The disabling injury rate decreased to 1.66 per 100 person-years worked, from 2.04 in 2009. The lost-time claim rate was the second lowest of all sub-sectors in the Upstream Oil and Gas sector."

Very interesting read and you guys should check it out as well as the other topics on the Work Safe Alberta website I linked above, especially if you're new to industrial work because the majority of guys who are injured on site are the new ones with less than a years experience.

(04-02-2013 03:21 AM)Lux Interior Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:48 PM)vulcannomad Wrote:  Came across this thread searching for information on Fort Mac. Been thinking of transferring there for awhile. I have what they say is the best job in the valley(southern Ontario), steady maintenance for 7 years, same company for 12. They keep making changes and now I am down to two-4 day weeks a month. Happy Fridays aren't so happy. I would be looking at a 11/3 shift through my current company, but I have a wife and 4 daughters and would have to live in Fort Mac. I can't calculate what my wages would equal because I know there has been some messing around with O/T hours with the unions out there. How do they calculate your pay on these types of rotations? Is it crazy to consider this move knowing that I would have to live in town? I see most of the guys here commute from Edmonton or Calgary- that won't be an option for me. Does anyone know how much you take home on a 11/3 shift for a union journeyman scaffolder? Having a hard time getting any answers anywhere else. Seems to be a guarded secret.

I could also leave my company and work union in northern BC. Anyone have an opinion on that? I hear there's lots of work there too...

This thread has been very helpful. It's the best oilsands info out there. It is definitely making me consider my options. Thanks.

About $3500, roughly.
Most of the Union jobs in Fort Mac will provide you with Camp accomodation, some will even fly you back to Ontario every two weeks if you want.

Thanks for the info. I was thinking it must be about that. If I transfer with my current company, I have to live in town. This is part of the dilemna. A lot to think about.

(04-02-2013 10:00 AM)scotian Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:48 PM)vulcannomad Wrote:  Came across this thread searching for information on Fort Mac. Been thinking of transferring there for awhile. I have what they say is the best job in the valley(southern Ontario), steady maintenance for 7 years, same company for 12. They keep making changes and now I am down to two-4 day weeks a month. Happy Fridays aren't so happy. I would be looking at a 11/3 shift through my current company, but I have a wife and 4 daughters and would have to live in Fort Mac. I can't calculate what my wages would equal because I know there has been some messing around with O/T hours with the unions out there. How do they calculate your pay on these types of rotations? Is it crazy to consider this move knowing that I would have to live in town? I see most of the guys here commute from Edmonton or Calgary- that won't be an option for me. Does anyone know how much you take home on a 11/3 shift for a union journeyman scaffolder? Having a hard time getting any answers anywhere else. Seems to be a guarded secret.

I could also leave my company and work union in northern BC. Anyone have an opinion on that? I hear there's lots of work there too...

This thread has been very helpful. It's the best oilsands info out there. It is definitely making me consider my options. Thanks.

I've never heard of an 11/3 shift, that sounds crazy, I know guys who work 10/4 and it sucks, you work 10 days straight, go back to Edmonton or Calgary and barely have enough time to unwind, get drunk and sleep in for a couple of day, then you're back to work. I much prefer 14/7.

You shouldn't have a problem finding a company that has 14/7 or 21/7 or similar shifts. If they only fly to Etown or Calgary then you'll have to pay your own flights home, there's multiple flight to Tdot everyday from both cities (Fort Mac as well) and if your employer isn't willing to pay, then you can claim some of the costs incurred on your taxes, here's some info about that: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t2200/

Thanks Scotian. Ya 11/3 isn't great but I'd be living in town so home every night. That's the run my company is doing right now there in Fort Mac. I know I could go with other companies, and I might, but been with this company 12 years. Hard decisions ahead. If I make the move, I wanna work. 40 hours a week just isn't working out. When there's overtime, its good but then its catchup time. Been foreman here a couple years and still make less an hour then a JM scaffolder in Alberta. Time to get out of Ontario...everythings closing up and shutting down around here.

(04-02-2013 10:00 AM)scotian Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:48 PM)vulcannomad Wrote:  Came across this thread searching for information on Fort Mac. Been thinking of transferring there for awhile. I have what they say is the best job in the valley(southern Ontario), steady maintenance for 7 years, same company for 12. They keep making changes and now I am down to two-4 day weeks a month. Happy Fridays aren't so happy. I would be looking at a 11/3 shift through my current company, but I have a wife and 4 daughters and would have to live in Fort Mac. I can't calculate what my wages would equal because I know there has been some messing around with O/T hours with the unions out there. How do they calculate your pay on these types of rotations? Is it crazy to consider this move knowing that I would have to live in town? I see most of the guys here commute from Edmonton or Calgary- that won't be an option for me. Does anyone know how much you take home on a 11/3 shift for a union journeyman scaffolder? Having a hard time getting any answers anywhere else. Seems to be a guarded secret.

I could also leave my company and work union in northern BC. Anyone have an opinion on that? I hear there's lots of work there too...

This thread has been very helpful. It's the best oilsands info out there. It is definitely making me consider my options. Thanks.

I've never heard of an 11/3 shift, that sounds crazy, I know guys who work 10/4 and it sucks, you work 10 days straight, go back to Edmonton or Calgary and barely have enough time to unwind, get drunk and sleep in for a couple of day, then you're back to work. I much prefer 14/7.

You shouldn't have a problem finding a company that has 14/7 or 21/7 or similar shifts. If they only fly to Etown or Calgary then you'll have to pay your own flights home, there's multiple flight to Tdot everyday from both cities (Fort Mac as well) and if your employer isn't willing to pay, then you can claim some of the costs incurred on your taxes, here's some info about that: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t2200/

I'm doing an 11/3 shift right now lol

I've had my PM box open for 2 days to reply to Salmonfella and VP but I've been so busy with other shit that I literally can't sit down for more than 5 mins before remembering some other thing I had to take care of. It's getting better now. I got a car yesterday and took care of insurance, registration etc... Now I just need to get my internet sorted out. Been tethering my phone's data since I got to Edmonton.

I'm working at this Kinder Morgan site (Edmonton Terminal Expansion Project) and Mistras is taking care of their entire NDT needs. Unfortunately I haven't touched a single pipe and since 95% of all NDT work is pipe related I'm worried a bit. I don't think I'll touch a pipe for the whole year if they actually ask me to stay here. All our work is on 60-80 foot tanks. Sucks balls some nights but it's what it's. It will all be worth it in a few years.

For all you Canadian guys that are coming to Edmonton from another province, for fuck's sake drive if you have your own cars. Don't fly. This fucking city is a nightmare if you don't have a car. Reminds me of 3rd world countries lol.

I'm off to work now. Some of the guys at work think we're gonna be asked to work Friday too, if that's the case then we'll be pulling a 12-2 shift!!!! That's fucking nutz lol

Last week I had 72 hours on my timesheet haha

No bothers nima when ever you have a chance shot us an pm. i don't like the bit about not having a car in e-town not good bro i wont be able to afford a truck for a while.its good to hear your busy buddy i shall be over in a few weeks still not decided on where to go Calgary or e-town its good to hear your busy. chat soon dude.

(04-03-2013 09:34 AM)vulcannomad Wrote:  

(04-02-2013 03:21 AM)Lux Interior Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 08:48 PM)vulcannomad Wrote:  Came across this thread searching for information on Fort Mac. Been thinking of transferring there for awhile. I have what they say is the best job in the valley(southern Ontario), steady maintenance for 7 years, same company for 12. They keep making changes and now I am down to two-4 day weeks a month. Happy Fridays aren't so happy. I would be looking at a 11/3 shift through my current company, but I have a wife and 4 daughters and would have to live in Fort Mac. I can't calculate what my wages would equal because I know there has been some messing around with O/T hours with the unions out there. How do they calculate your pay on these types of rotations? Is it crazy to consider this move knowing that I would have to live in town? I see most of the guys here commute from Edmonton or Calgary- that won't be an option for me. Does anyone know how much you take home on a 11/3 shift for a union journeyman scaffolder? Having a hard time getting any answers anywhere else. Seems to be a guarded secret.

I could also leave my company and work union in northern BC. Anyone have an opinion on that? I hear there's lots of work there too...

This thread has been very helpful. It's the best oilsands info out there. It is definitely making me consider my options. Thanks.

About $3500, roughly.
Most of the Union jobs in Fort Mac will provide you with Camp accomodation, some will even fly you back to Ontario every two weeks if you want.

Thanks for the info. I was thinking it must be about that. If I transfer with my current company, I have to live in town. This is part of the dilemna. A lot to think about.

Get a transfer to local 1325 (Edmonton & Fort Mac) if you can.
There is so much work up here now, you could take your pick....especially as a journeyman Scaff.
You are guaranteed to get a camp job with flights!

Lads what kind of licence do ye have ? Irishman i was in contact with e-town alberta services and they told me i would be only able to get a probation class 5 is this worth anything to me? they said i would have to drive on this 1 year before being able to go for the advanced class 5. any help be great it dosnt sound great but it sounds a lot better then the class 7 haha

(04-05-2013 03:46 PM)salmonfella Wrote:  Lads what kind of licence do ye have ? Irishman i was in contact with e-town alberta services and they told me i would be only able to get a probation class 5 is this worth anything to me? they said i would have to drive on this 1 year before being able to go for the advanced class 5. any help be great it dosnt sound great but it sounds a lot better then the class 7 haha

Im on my phone but Ill answer best I can:

Go to your county council before you leave and ask for a full print out of your driving record. Preferably get it since you got you provisional licience.

When you com over you will hqve to do you class 7 multiple choice and an eye test. Google class 7 driving preperation guide and there is a good website with sample questions etc. Read the guide too that you can collect at any Regestry (where you do your test). A couple of hours study will be enough to pass. I think I did around 40 minutes and guessed quite a few.

Right once you have that apply for your full class 5 road test. Again read online about what they will test you on. Its all kinda basic compared to Ireland I thought but make sure you know what they are looking for. If you fail no worries you can book again for the next day. No 14 week waiting list like back home.

Once tou pass demand a full class 5. Tell them you were told you would get one, that you cant work without it, that you have x amount of years driving experience etc. Dont leave till you get it. I argued for about 2 hours and got my 3rd provisional Irish licience turned into a class 5! I never even passed a driving test back home haha

Once you land PM me wth your number and Ill talk ya through it

Ya a provisonal class 5 is worth nothing to the oil companies. Full class 5 or nothing.

You have a full Irish licence though ya?

If so you will be grand.

sent ya a pm bud.

Finished my last shift with the rigs before spring breakup the other day. Worked 15 of the last 16 days. 12 hr shifts plus 2 hrs of travel time per day. My last paycheque showed only 4 of those days because of the payroll dates, and let me tell you, I made more money in those 4 days than 3 weeks at my previous job, after taxes too. Fucking amazing.

After spring breakup, I will be working a 21/3 shift. Insane, I know. These guys were drinking 4-6 energy drinks/day, popping cold medication like candy, yet you could see the exhaustion pouring out of their eyes. At the same time, these guys barely slept, drank every night and ate the worst food (non-camp means taking a ride to the gas station to pick up lunch) like microwaveable Chinese food, TV dinners, chocolate bars, chips, etc.

As for myself, though I was eating from the gas station, I picked up tuna, egg salad, or ham sandwiches for lunch. Plus at the hotel I was staying at, I made sure to take 4 servings of either bananas, apples and oranges every morning, along with a morning meal of a bowl of plain Cheerios, toast with peanut butter and a banana (hotel provides breakfast every morning). Taking multi-vitamins, eating 4 eggs/day Rocky style, and protein shakes also helped. I also made sure to get as much sleep as I could, which is usually 6 hrs, or 7 hrs if I'm lucky.

By my last shift, my energy level was still good. There were some very late nights where I only slept 3-4 hrs but the clean diet was definitely the game changer here. I'll probably have to work a few rotations under this arrangement to see if it will work long-term, but I think I have a good system here.

Working on the rigs requires extremely tough skin, being physically strong and the ability to listen.
I've heard of so many other fucked up stories but I don't wanna discourage people from coming to the rigs because these stories are just very specific cases. There's a reason why the financial rewards are so high here.

I plan to work the field for a while to build myself physically and mentally. The money I will make will be used to invest in some real estate, which I believe is the safest place to put my money towards. Once I become more financially sound after that investment, I'm planning on pursuing some higher education in the oil & gas industry. I hear Petroleum Engineering is a good place to start where I can make loads of money, so I will use my rigging experience to leverage my degree in Petroleum Engineering, or any relevant degree for that matter. Maybe I can talk to my company and see what they can do for me down the road.

In the mean time, I've been hitting the gym like crazy to build my body. 2-3 times/day. On the side, doing some reading on oil rigs, this book called "Titan" about John D. Rockefeller, and also about acquiring my gun license, because I've always wanted to shoot guns.

(04-06-2013 01:58 AM)Albertron Wrote:  Finished my last shift with the rigs before spring breakup the other day. Worked 15 of the last 16 days. 12 hr shifts plus 2 hrs of travel time per day. My last paycheque showed only 4 of those days because of the payroll dates, and let me tell you, I made more money in those 4 days than 3 weeks at my previous job, after taxes too. Fucking amazing.

After spring breakup, I will be working a 21/3 shift. Insane, I know. These guys were drinking 4-6 energy drinks/day, popping cold medication like candy, yet you could see the exhaustion pouring out of their eyes. At the same time, these guys barely slept, drank every night and ate the worst food (non-camp means taking a ride to the gas station to pick up lunch) like microwaveable Chinese food, TV dinners, chocolate bars, chips, etc.

As for myself, though I was eating from the gas station, I picked up tuna, egg salad, or ham sandwiches for lunch. Plus at the hotel I was staying at, I made sure to take 4 servings of either bananas, apples and oranges every morning, along with a morning meal of a bowl of plain Cheerios, toast with peanut butter and a banana (hotel provides breakfast every morning). Taking multi-vitamins, eating 4 eggs/day Rocky style, and protein shakes also helped. I also made sure to get as much sleep as I could, which is usually 6 hrs, or 7 hrs if I'm lucky.

By my last shift, my energy level was still good. There were some very late nights where I only slept 3-4 hrs but the clean diet was definitely the game changer here. I'll probably have to work a few rotations under this arrangement to see if it will work long-term, but I think I have a good system here.

Working on the rigs requires extremely tough skin, being physically strong and the ability to listen.
I've heard of so many other fucked up stories but I don't wanna discourage people from coming to the rigs because these stories are just very specific cases. There's a reason why the financial rewards are so high here.

I plan to work the field for a while to build myself physically and mentally. The money I will make will be used to invest in some real estate, which I believe is the safest place to put my money towards. Once I become more financially sound after that investment, I'm planning on pursuing some higher education in the oil & gas industry. I hear Petroleum Engineering is a good place to start where I can make loads of money, so I will use my rigging experience to leverage my degree in Petroleum Engineering, or any relevant degree for that matter. Maybe I can talk to my company and see what they can do for me down the road.

In the mean time, I've been hitting the gym like crazy to build my body. 2-3 times/day. On the side, doing some reading on oil rigs, this book called "Titan" about John D. Rockefeller, and also about acquiring my gun license, because I've always wanted to shoot guns.

Come on Albertron, let's hear the fucked up stories! Good job on toughing it out on the rigs and good idea to bank as much money as possible and going back to school.

21/3 is fucking brutal but if you can handle it, do it as long as you can and just watch your bank account grow. I worked 24/4 for about 8 months straight once, it ruined my social life and was one of the longest dry spells I've ever had but it was worth it.

Yeah go get your gun license and shoot some animals, you're an Albertan now, it's a basic requirement....what kind of monster jacked up rig pig truck do you plan on buying? haha

yeah Albertron lets hear the fucked up stories, we already know that the rigs are not for pussies.

By the way guys, how easy is it to find a canadian woman interesting in marrying a foreigner to exchange nationalities (with a brit). I am considering moving to a canadian city where women are easier in general and fuck lots of girls till i get one that wants to marry me for papers. I am going to be direct to them about my objectives.

Also, i have been told that Canada has a law where if you stay in Canada for more than 6 months, the government makes you legal after your visa runs out. A friend was telling me that is very hard to find people in Canada who are illegal because this law makes everything really easy in terms of becoming legal. How true is this? I am still not convinced that this law actually exists.

Pitt i very much doubt that is trough as i no a few people whos visas ran out and were sent home or went home themselves. after the 2 years on the iec you can go for pr via the skilled route application. this by far is the easyiest way to get pr unless ya marry a local chick or get her pregnant.haha

21/7 is a solid shift, your social life takes a hit surely, but you will be making solid cash.

10/4 lacks the financial incentive of the 21/7 shift, doesn't give you time to adjust your body clock, and simply isn't great for travel if you're working steady all year round.

14/7 or 15/6 is a good shift, a little less money than 21/7 but you can take time to build a social life and you're still making good coin.

Then there's the oddball shifts; 24/5 for the super busy tight deadline projects, 5/2 on the other end of the spectrum for many city located projects, this is the closest you'll get to a 9-5 without working in a shop.

And my personal favourite, 2 21/7 shifts consecutively including the 7 days in between at 12 hours per day.

Hey guys one thing I'd like to stress out about the job search is its best to go and apply in person when the office opens. Meaning get to the offices of the places you want to work at around 9am. Don't go applying in the afternoon, because its rare that they'll have people with decision making power there. Often it'll just be secretaries who take your resume, sometimes they can help you and give you information, however meeting with supervisors or operation managers is much more important as face time is 1000x more important than calling or emailing a resume. Also don't go in applying around lunchtime because almost no one is there. I think this is even more important getting entry level gigs.

(04-06-2013 03:29 AM)scotian Wrote:  Yeah go get your gun license and shoot some animals, you're an Albertan now, it's a basic requirement....what kind of monster jacked up rig pig truck do you plan on buying? haha

And taking a dip of chew

(04-06-2013 03:29 AM)scotian Wrote:  Come on Albertron, let's hear the fucked up stories! Good job on toughing it out on the rigs and good idea to bank as much money as possible and going back to school.

One story I heard was from one of the guys at the HI Hostel in Edmonton. We shared a room and we were both looking for rig work so we exchanged advice and shit like that. Anyway, he was telling me about his cousin's son who came out to Alberta from B.C. to get some rig work. Apparently this guy is a jacked-up 20-year-old dude but not exactly the friendliest guy. He gets into one of the drilling company's offices in Nisku and gets hired on the spot. On his first day of work, the crew gave the usual treatment to all the greenhands: grabbing/filling the water cooler, grabbing their lunches, sorting out the coveralls for the crew to wear, cleaning, all that shit. The guy didn't like it so much and started giving attitude and shit. Because of that, the driller made him go outside with a washboard and a bucket full of water and detergent (in the winter cold) and told him to do his laundry. I don't know if he actually did the laundry, but what I do know is that he cussed out the driller and almost got in a fight with him. Boom, fired on the spot.

Another story I heard was from one of the drillers I was working with. He was telling me about this one driller that had a serious problem with meth and coke and all that shit. He wasn't doing it while at work but during spring breakup or whenever he went on vacation, he'd abuse that shit. This guy was so fucked up, whenever he was bored, he would throw those 36" pipe wrenches at greenhands just to see if he could do it. He got one greenhand in the arm, didn't break anything but enough for him to get a drug test, which he failed. The other fucked up part was that they still asked him to work later because there was a shortage of drillers at that time.

(04-06-2013 02:21 PM)Zeus Wrote:  

(04-06-2013 03:29 AM)scotian Wrote:  Yeah go get your gun license and shoot some animals, you're an Albertan now, it's a basic requirement....what kind of monster jacked up rig pig truck do you plan on buying? haha

And taking a dip of chew

Yeah pretty much everyone on the rigs dipped on chew. They said it helped with dehydration but I dunno if they were fucking with me. I don't do that shit anyway.

And the trucks that these guys got? Damn, I felt so out of place with my '97 Honda Civic. All these guys were talking about their huge ass trucks and arguing about which brand of truck is better. If I were to become a driller I'd probably pick up a Ford F-350. I'm told that Ford's make some awesome and reliable trucks.

Double post

Haha good story but i am sure this happen's in every trade i no they do in Ireland anyway. i was working on a site where an journey man electrician and an apprentice did not get on at all. this was a big job with maybe 50 electricians and about 20 apprentices. so it came to the week where the apprentice had to go to the local shop to get the lunches so the apprentice got the electrician his lunch but instead of getting brown sauce on the roll the apprentice got red sauce.when they got back to the canteen the electrician lost the head and headbutted the apprentice which resulted in a broken nose needless to say the electrician was quickly guided offsite

Nice site stories Albertron and Salmonfella, this thread needs more, I think this thread has reached the point where all the information that a guy needs to make the move is already on here (or maybe that happened 20 pages ago?). I think its story time, I have lots, its time for me to start trolling my own thread with oil sands horror stories!

Guy takes a cab to work in the morning because he's too drunk to drive. Pretends he's not drunk.

Guys who look hungover with shaky hands after not drinking the night before. Withdrawal.

Drinking beers in the car back from work.

Burning down furniture.

Cocaine cowboys becomes literal.

Ok its time to spice things up a bit on the old oil sands thread because its becoming a bit boring answering the same questions over again so I'm going to write some OIL SANDS HORROR STORIES!!!

Now understand guys that I'm writing these tales to inform you of the crazy shit that you may encounter throughout your career and I hope that they also give you an idea of what its like to work in the oil biz around a bunch of rowdy oil trash type of people.

My first out-of-town job- November 2008: Still early in my career, I started out in January of that year so had about ten months experience but it was in Calgary where I was working M-F, 50 hours per week, so I had a "normal" life, I went to work then went home and work and life were separate. This all changes when you work on the road or up north in a camp where work is your life 24/7.

Due to the economic shit storm of late 2008, I was laid off from my cozy Calgary gig and took a new job which required me to work out of town. I did the new company's orientation, passed the piss test and was ready to go. First assignment: pipeline gig in Swift current, Saskatchewan. I'm pretty nervous as I don't really know what to expect, new company, new gig, first pipeline job, etc. They flew me to Regina and the supervisor, a guy named Dave, picked me up and drove me 3 hours or so to Swift Current. He explained to me how the job was going, all I needed to know and do, etc. I mentioned that I knew a guy he said he worked with, a fellow from Ghana, the first thing he says when i mentioned that guy's name is "ya I know that fuckin' n***er", what a redneck I thought.

So I arrived at the shitty motel we were staying at and was given the cell number of the guy I'd be working with, my direct supervisor and told to be ready to go by 7am. I was ready to go at 7am and soon after heard the rumble of a big diesel truck outside of my door, I stepped out and met Bob and we got in the truck and drove 2 hours to the site of the pipeline we were working on. Basically we sat around for awhile, then did about an hour of work, after that the site supervisor told us we were done for the day (at 11am, right on) and we had the weekend off (it was Friday), paid of course.

So we're driving back to the hotel and Bob reaches into his pocket and pulls out a big zip lock bag full of weed and throws it in my lap and ask me "you know how to roll a joint?" Of course I oblige and roll up a fatty, which we burn as he drives us down the highway. We then stop at a liquor store and Bob gets out and a few minutes later comes back with a dozen of those shitty beers all the Sask boys drink, Pilsner. He puts the case of bottles by my feet and after about a minute asks me "what the fuck are you waiting for" I ask him what he means and he says "crack some fucking beers man, I'm thirsty".

So there we are driving down the highway, high as fuck on weed and drinking and driving and its only noon. His bottle is empty and when we stop at an intersection, he throws it out his window and it smashes on the stop sign, "Saskatchewan Olympics buddy" he says and roars laughing. We arrive back at the hotel where I meet the rest of the crew, thankfully the racist supervisor isn't staying at the hotel and we proceed to smoke dope and drink tons of vodka all night.

It was quite the introduction to the pipeliner lifestyle but that story is very typical and very tame, especially compared to the adventure Bob and I went on the next night.

To be continued.....

i just been to Edmonton so i only have some stories of my arrival,
on Superbowl weekend before going to do my tickets on monday i had the weekend off to visit the city, i remember the first day, first impression of the city after been picked up by a complete stranger from the airport since he was my host from couchsurfing i didn't know they live in Leduc which is 30 min from Edmonton, so i left the next day , first impression with the hosts was good until i decided to move to Edmonton to visit the city during the weekend i took the 590 bus with 2 suitcases and a backpack from Leduc i was the only one at the bus , just when i was a bout to ask the driver for directions to go downtown, some labourers were jay walking in Nisku the driver said ''i wish i can run through all of these dumb fucks , they think just because i'm driving a bus i won't do it '' at the end he took 5 mins showed me where to go, he said he was a driver on the road for 20 years and now driving a bus coz he wants to live in Edmonton
next day i went to a pub to watch the UFC some rednecks totally wasted uninvited sat next to me and started ranting then as soon as he saw a black fighter he started yelling the N word , i changed the table so i won't be affiliated with that racist prick and also before i get stomped in the face by the black guys sitting next to us for something i'm not
and Scotian's data sheet on the other thread and this one were really accurate , (the rednecks with Ed Hardy shirts, partying in the purple onion lol, public transit etc ) i was wondering why he and other forums about work in the rigs were shitting all over the lifestyle in Alberta and the type of people they were working with until i got here
meeting with forum members was cool,
Alberton is a cool cat we had some drink hen he got here and we met with some of my friends and 2 rappers lol
and driving to Nisku with Zeeman's broken car in that snow was crazy can't believe we made it haha

Hahaha. Nice one Scotian. Keep it comin'

Caught a few whiffs of that familiar aroma the other day walking past some guys down the street near where I live haha.

Yeah that sort of 'initiation' you had seems to be the same the world over. Let's get the new guy as hammered and stoned as possible - see how he holds up.

When I got up to the pipeline in Oz, it was the same deal.
About 15 beers and 20 bucket bongs later, it was safe to say I was proper fucked, but still conscious (just about) which they seemed quite impressed about.
It's a type of friendly pissing contest - they were quite proud of their beer and weed in Queensland and were determined to show it off for the out-of-towner.
When you're in a situation like that and being challenged, sometimes the best thing to you can do is shit your pants, dive in and swim: Slam your fist on the table, point your finger menacingly around the room and with a wide-eyed look on your face snarl something like "I'll drink, smoke and snort...fucking DOUBLE what any of you motherfuckers can, and still run a mile!" It's a great icebreaker.