When it rains...

Some of you might not know this, but I was diagnosed with Asthma when I was a teenager. I never really worried about it, and I never had any serious attacks that I was not able to manage with simple Ventalin or Bricanyl inhalers. Well, all that changed last week.

Since the middle of February, I have been having various degrees of problems with my Asthma, but I was able to carry on with my daily life. But it got progressively worse. And Friday at 3am I found myself admitted at the Royal Victoria Hospital for what they diagnosed as an "Asthma Crisis". At 5am I was transfered from the Emergency Room to the Emergency Acute Care. I was on oxygene and getting Ventalin treatments through a mask. I had so many that at one point I felt high as a kite. Then they pumped me full of pills, gave me a chest x-ray and kept on monitoring me. Finally, my lungs were clear around Noon and I was discharged after seeing a lung specialist. I am now on Cortizone, and have a few puffers. I feel much better than I did before but my lungs are really week and I can't tolerate any irritants right now without scrambling to puff on my Bricanyl.

And I have one thing to say about the Royal Victoria Hospital: EWWW GROSS.!!

So, there was blood on the floor in the examining room I was in. Not too mention there was a tube filled with blood lying around next to my examining table. The floor was dirty. The Bio-waste bin also had blood on it. There was 1 nurse and 1 Doctor on duty when I got in. As I came in 3 ambulances pulled in. So. Talk to me about the ailing medical system in Québec. Its really pathetic.

Another great thing. When I arrived at the ER I was in such serious respitory distress I could barely speak a single word without taking a breath. I was weezing heavily and coughing constantly. So, I am directed to triage Nurse. Well, the triage nurse was outside smoking! So he (yes a male nurse) comes in to "triage" me, and he WREAKS of cigarettes. Do I need to explain that cigarette smoke is one of the BIGGEST irratants for asthmatics? I really don't understand how they can put a smoker in charge of meeting triage patients. I was not the only asthmatic who was rushed in that night, so I'm assuming this happens often enough. So here I am trying to communicate to my nurse what the problem is, but being in the same room as he, is making my breathing worse. *GRUMBLE*

Anyway. I`m fine now. Well, I'm better. I won`t be running any triathlons this week, but hopefully all will fall into place very soon.

The Wait Is OVER!!!!!!!!!

If I was religious, I would be praising the Lord. But I`m not. So I won't. But oh man oh man, am I ever happy that the wait is over. But what was I waiting for? What has me so excited that I was jumping up and down and screaming at the top of my lungs all by myself earlier today? What could possibly be so exciting that I started bashing in all the buttons on my telephone to call everyone I knew. (And of course, nobody answered their bloody phone)

Well. Its simple. I, Gabriel Robichaud, starting this coming Monday, will no longer be a welfare case. That's right. I will be dropping my Unemployment Checks for an actual PAY CHECK, because, I have been offered a job. OH JOY OH BLISS OH YEAH!

I do not have the details of the job just yet, because I will be meeting with Human Resources very soon, but I will be working with Oracle Database for a Pharmaceutical Company! Permanent Position. Full Time. Lots and Lots of benefits. YEEE HA!

Auf Deutsch, Bitte!

Heute schreibe ich eine kleines Blog auf Deutsch. Warum nicht? Nachsten Monat, ich beginne eine Deutschekurse an die Goethe Institute in Montreal. Ich kann nicht mehr warten! Sprachen machen viel spass für mich.

Ich denke dass es Zeit jetz fur meine erste Reise nach Deutschland ist. Ich möchte nach München in September gehen. Dort kann ich eine intensive Deutschkurse machen. Und, kann ich in einem Studentenwohnheim wohnen. Fur 2 wochen, das kostet nur 1200 Euros.

Also, genug für Heute. Bis später!

Wi-fi, wi-fi, where for art thou wi-fi?

Where in Montreal Can you get Free Wi-fi? Good Question. I will attempt to answer that question in the coming months. So, you may stay tuned to figure out this important question.

So far, I have discovered 3 wi-fi hot-spots that are free. I refuse to pay for wi-fi access in a coffee shop. I figure I'm already paying for food and drinks, so why should I pay for internet access when I already have it at home? So, I am going to add a new section to the blog. As I discover more wi-fi hot spots in Montreal, I will make that list available on http://wifimtl.gabrielrobichaud.com. Feel free to email me if you feel you know of a cool hotspot that should be on the list.

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Don't you hate it when you can't find an appropriate title for your blog articles? Oh well. If you don't like, tough.

It feels so good to be back to blogging. I am happy to entertain you people sitting at work pretending to work. (he he he) You know how you are. Certain people in Ottawa. Certain civil servants. Wasting my hard earned tax dollars. I smell a scandal!!

So. Today's blog is brought to you from the Second Cup on the corner of Milton and Parc in Montreal. Yes yes. The combination of free wi-fi and 1.55$ for a blueberry tisane is all you need to sit here for hours and waste bandwidth.

So what has been going on. Well to all of you who have been asking if I have found a job... The answer is.... A BIG... RESOUNDING.... (wait for it)..... Are you excited yet?....... NO NO NO NO NO.*sigh* Still no job. A few leads. But don't hold your breath.

So that takes care of that.

So, when I'm not scouring the web looking for the perfect employer, I try to keep myself busy. I just got back from a one week stint in Québec City. No, there are no jobs there either. There is my brother however. He is studying film at Université de Laval and he is having the time of his life... NOT! Oh my god. What a boring city. Its a lot like Ottawa, except its colder, has more snow and, unlike Ottawa where they roll up the sidewalks at 6pm, they roll up the sidewalks at 4:30pm in Québec. Oh, its very pretty there, so if you want to look at pretty buildings and soak up some history, you should really go to Québec City. But don't go for the night life or the cultural diversity because you will be in for the shock of you life! I did, however, star in my brother's latest film project. Some work in sound design for a class he did. Woo hooo, I'm a star.

Oh.. and for those who need to know the innermost details of my personal life, (why, I will never understand) James and I have taken the big plunge. Yup Yup. We are now domiciled at the same address. So, quit asking when we will be moving together, its been done. Its going well, I am very happy. Of course I am. Have you guys seen him? MMM MMMM good!

Do not expect an invitation to the housewarming because we are not going to have one but feel free to send presents, money or credit cards. We love presents ;)

So, that's it for today. I must go back to my Pimsleur German now.