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| Easy to remember |
Friday the cleaning lady came and worked her magic while I was up and off for an early massage appointment and errands in town. I stopped at the dealership and one of the salesmen managed to successfully tame the bluetooth pairing issue between my car and cell phone - so now I am able to use it as hands free while driving. This is a tad more important with a standard (as is not trying to eat an ice cream cone while having to shift) than with an automatic. We figured out setting the radio stations while the mechanic installed my newly arrived license plate and another fellow cleaned the temporary license sticker off the rear window - I felt like I was at the spa. As you can notice to the left, the license plate is an acronym for a colourful metaphor used in texts and online parlance so easy to remember. As I am unable to drive by Frenchy's without stopping....I succumbed to a short (visit with neighbours and coworkers) shop and scored some good finds. A few quick groceries, including a purchased salad package for the social engagement of the evening.
Late in the afternoon I picked up a neighbour and we headed to Chebogue, which is a lovely small community outside of Yarmouth for a Red Cross volunteer BBQ. The sun cleared, the burgers and sausages were great, there was a mountain of wonderful food and good company. I was thrilled to receive my three year service certificate and pin. I mostly say I'm co-lead of the Disaster Team and my co-lead neighbour does the work as I tend to be away when action is needed, although I do take my turn on call. As I was socializing, my cell phone rang - since I'm now with only the cell phone (no landline) untroubled by telemarketers, a phone call is not a common event - and I answered it with an unfamiliar voice asking for me. "Who's calling please?" I screened the call and was advised that it was HR from GNWT. Oh, that got my attention! One moment and I'll just get somewhere quieter. The short version is that I was offered the 8 week Community Health Nurse job share position in a small Inuit community in NWT which I had interviewed for on June 24th. They had stated all applicants would be notified within two weeks, one way or the other and so when July 8th came without a call.....I packed my 'northern stuff' and left it in Taloyoak for my next contract in September. I asked for details so as to be able to compare apples to apples and agreed to the 48 hours to consider my decision as it seemed rude to decline on the spot. The main issue was that during the interview I had specifically asked about the schedule and was told "you decide that with your job share partner" but when the call came it included the statement "the start date is November 8th". This is the opposite of what I'm doing now as a casual, what works for my work-life balance and is not what was disclosed. When I compared the casual vs job share positions I found that the job share was at least $6000 less per year (not that I won't do something I enjoy for less but....that's a lot less) they don't pay salary for travel days (although you do earn vacation) the rent is $1000/month not $500 and if your job share partner doesn't show you have to work an extra month at least until the employer finds someone, but the biggest concern was that this
is an unknown community and coworkers to me which could turn out to be great or.......purgatory for eight weeks at a time. At this point my life I really don't want anyone telling me the dates I have to work - I want to be the one doing the choosing - while having fun, earning lots of money, having daily adventures and not considering stopping any time soon. Yup, just what's happening now. Why mess with a good thing? As I said to a colleague "I've waited most of my career for this job and now I'm offered it...I've gotten past it". As per Maxine on the right. So, after discussion with the life partner over the weekend, sharing with my daughters and friends the news, and admitting to feeling a real ego boost at being the successful candidate.......I called the HR contact at GNWT and respectfully declined the job share while not burning any bridges as I accentuated the work-life balance issues only as per scheduling. As a colleague said "at this point you can choose, so choose". So I did. It felt right.
Sunday was another lovely day and I began by making scallop eggs benedict for brunch - not as good as lobster but pretty tasty just the same. By noon time I was on the road to my writing group get together and potluck. A great afternoon of writing exercises, sharing, great food and socializing. Write Away always lifts me up and gives me the boost to write more regularly. Made me determined to register for the online creative writing course this fall when I'm north. Love that I drove two trips of about 400 km total and the gas gauge hasn't reached the 1/2 mark. When I filled it up at the garage on Friday the young fellow at the pump said "nice Dodge Dart you have there ma'am, I like that colour, is it a standard?" When I affirmed this and said "now that I can find reverse, I like it" he says "is it a six speed? that's the way all of those are" to which I replied "where were you when I was on the end of Cranes Point Rd last week?" and he grinned. I smiled when a friend emailed to say that a Dodge Dart had been her dream car when she graduated and began working.....in the 1970s. I had that mental image of the 70s too when I heard what the cute little car was called.
So, Monday was spent enjoying the sunshine, making arrangements to book myself in to Taloyoak
for the next year - eight weeks at a time which works for me but actually difficult to fit working in around the various vacations - and generally not over exerting myself, except for making plans to 'do lunch' with childhood friends and checking the weather forecast for u-pick blueberry picking. Had a visit from a neighbour with daughter (who used to babysit for us) and grandson - a 17 mo. old cutie who is very behaved for his age, who are visiting from out west. He was happy as long as he had keys to play with - a real farm boy. Stayed up until 2 a.m. to live-stream a documentary from CBC about lobstering in Lockeport. Why not?
http://www.cbc.ca/absolutelymaritimes/
As I listened to the local accents and familiar faces I was reminded of this link:
http://theplanetd.com/the-great-canadian-word-unique-phrases-and-words-of-canada
Us Maritimers always think we don't have an accent, folks 'from away' do, but when I work 'up north' a flight paramedic from central Canada will ask "what part of the east coast are you from?" as soon as I open my mouth. It's a good guess as about 3/4 of the staff north of 60 would be east of Montreal.
And speaking of getting away....I had been discussing with a friend about travel to the southern USA the first week of December. Why? Because I've read lots of southern novels? Want to eat fresh shrimp or BBQ? Because I've been intrigued with that area of the world for some time. The flights are fairly direct and reasonably priced and the meal/accommodation cost is comparatively low. When an online site that watches for low airfares out of Halifax:
http://www.yhzdeals.com
posted a deal for return (taxes and fees in) airfare Halifax to Atlanta for $318....I took it as a sign. After a brief (very brief) discussion with my soon to be retired friend we were of the mind that we could see a plantation - always wanted to do that since we'd seen Gone With the Wind at the local musty Goudey Theatre as pre-teens, take in the Georgia Aquarium;
http://www.georgiaaquarium.org
which is the world's largest, and in fact the websites are for 169 things to do in Atlanta etc. so I'm sure we'll have to parse the list, not look for activities to fill our days:
http://www.citypass.com/atlanta/things-to-do-atlanta
So, as she headed to bed to get ready for a second 12 hr. day shift, I booked our flight from Halifax to Atlanta (via Chicago) December 1 - 8th. Merry Christmas to the both of us, nice way to decompress before the holidays. And my travel buddy will have to bring along the new iPod that she won this week (with a $25 iTunes card) at the local garden centre. I'm not being unkind when I describe her as a decided technophobe but she does need a spot to store those photos of her cute granddaughter to show others when travelling and some relaxing music for the flights.
"Your attitude is the deciding factor in whether you're happy or not" I advised the shore captain as he whined about the weather forecast for Saturday when we've planned the Moncada Day Pig Roast. Why a fisherman would think he could control the weather is beyond me, not to mention that in Nova Scotia, the weather = forecast ratio is pretty poor. At any rate we shall have fun that day, no matter the weather - if necessary he will roast the pig in the barn then we will eat in the house while we enjoy the company of family, friends and neighbours and that is all there is to it. So, if you're within travelling distance - you are most welcome.
www.marcandangel.com/2013/07/04/7-effective-ways-happy-people-think
http://www.cbc.ca/absolutelymaritimes/
As I listened to the local accents and familiar faces I was reminded of this link:
http://theplanetd.com/the-great-canadian-word-unique-phrases-and-words-of-canada
Us Maritimers always think we don't have an accent, folks 'from away' do, but when I work 'up north' a flight paramedic from central Canada will ask "what part of the east coast are you from?" as soon as I open my mouth. It's a good guess as about 3/4 of the staff north of 60 would be east of Montreal.
And speaking of getting away....I had been discussing with a friend about travel to the southern USA the first week of December. Why? Because I've read lots of southern novels? Want to eat fresh shrimp or BBQ? Because I've been intrigued with that area of the world for some time. The flights are fairly direct and reasonably priced and the meal/accommodation cost is comparatively low. When an online site that watches for low airfares out of Halifax:
http://www.yhzdeals.com
posted a deal for return (taxes and fees in) airfare Halifax to Atlanta for $318....I took it as a sign. After a brief (very brief) discussion with my soon to be retired friend we were of the mind that we could see a plantation - always wanted to do that since we'd seen Gone With the Wind at the local musty Goudey Theatre as pre-teens, take in the Georgia Aquarium;
http://www.georgiaaquarium.org
which is the world's largest, and in fact the websites are for 169 things to do in Atlanta etc. so I'm sure we'll have to parse the list, not look for activities to fill our days:
http://www.citypass.com/atlanta/things-to-do-atlanta
So, as she headed to bed to get ready for a second 12 hr. day shift, I booked our flight from Halifax to Atlanta (via Chicago) December 1 - 8th. Merry Christmas to the both of us, nice way to decompress before the holidays. And my travel buddy will have to bring along the new iPod that she won this week (with a $25 iTunes card) at the local garden centre. I'm not being unkind when I describe her as a decided technophobe but she does need a spot to store those photos of her cute granddaughter to show others when travelling and some relaxing music for the flights.
"Your attitude is the deciding factor in whether you're happy or not" I advised the shore captain as he whined about the weather forecast for Saturday when we've planned the Moncada Day Pig Roast. Why a fisherman would think he could control the weather is beyond me, not to mention that in Nova Scotia, the weather = forecast ratio is pretty poor. At any rate we shall have fun that day, no matter the weather - if necessary he will roast the pig in the barn then we will eat in the house while we enjoy the company of family, friends and neighbours and that is all there is to it. So, if you're within travelling distance - you are most welcome.
www.marcandangel.com/2013/07/04/7-effective-ways-happy-people-think
As I've had online chats with my co-worker aka adopted daughter vacationing in California, she shared that her (very tall handsome) German 'friend' (who emails daily, sends cards and packages regularly) had phoned her and they had chatted for 20 minutes. She has been studying German and is in fact researching language schools in Germany near to where he lives. Yeah, sure it's all about the studies - I was that age once too. The good thing is that she will have to continue to work north in order to fund any cross the pond excursions.
Meanwhile my other daughters are 1) moving to a new job as quality control on an electrical project while still an apprentice 2) running in the NS 1/2 marathon this weekend here in the area and looking forward to teaching P/1 at her favourite school in the fall 3) working her way through orientation as a new RN and all the changes moving provinces mean to your practice. The only son is raking irish moss, readying lobster gear and keeping a low profile while the girlfriend raises him - this is a good thing. The little birds are out of the nest and flying on their own.
Meanwhile my other daughters are 1) moving to a new job as quality control on an electrical project while still an apprentice 2) running in the NS 1/2 marathon this weekend here in the area and looking forward to teaching P/1 at her favourite school in the fall 3) working her way through orientation as a new RN and all the changes moving provinces mean to your practice. The only son is raking irish moss, readying lobster gear and keeping a low profile while the girlfriend raises him - this is a good thing. The little birds are out of the nest and flying on their own.
