A Musical Interlude

Yesterday was an extended office work kind of day which ended at midnight so I’m easing back onto the computer today. 

I printed off the documents for the Rocky Mountaineer adventure and we’re all set up now to enjoy ourselves. My friend and I took a few minutes before we parted ways on the weekend to book accommodation in Vancouver, a day tour to Victoria, a rental car for Jasper to Calgary and the airport hotel there. Those kinds of arrangements are more easily made while in the same space vs distant communication. I’ve since arranged a hotel in the city upon return as with the parking included it’s only slightly more expensive than the lot itself and a chance to catch some sleep before heading out on the road. A review of the trip itinerary leads me to believe that rest will be required when we get home. 

My friend and I spent a great musical weekend on the Northumberland shore. We met in Truro and made our way to Fox Harb’r Resort just after the check in hour of 3pm only to be told that the room wasn’t ready as they'd had full occupancy the night before and today (you’d think a hotel would plan for that) so we waited 90 minutes until my travel partner decided to speed things up. We were wanting to make the use of the facilities as we had less than 24 hours and a hefty price tag. The large room was lovely with a small veranda on the golf course, heated granite floors in the bathroom and a great shower. We quickly showered and dressed for the evening and called for pickup as instructed. A large event tent housing the buffet (one of the best I’ve enjoyed) complete with roast pig and hip of beef and the Jost wine flowed freely. We sat at a corner table with a young couple (she was a nurse who knew a classmate of mine as prof and coworker) and his parents. Very friendly and great company. It was casually mentioned that Donald Sobey (yes that grocery tycoon) was an uncle so rather upscale table mates. We settled ourselves in the event room for the songwriters circle and realized that Ron Joyce (owner of the resort and Tim Hortons billionaire) was settled next to the senior Mr Sobey in the front row. The musical evening was wonderful with Myles Goodwyn of April Wine (hadn’t heard him sing/play since the first concert I attended in Yarmouth arena the summer of 1974 and he’s still got it) Matt Minglewood, Charlie A’Court and of course Bruce Guthro doing acoustic sets. This is the way to enjoy these singers, very personal and informal. We smiled our way out into the warm summer evening and wandered back to our digs to sleep soundly. Up in time to enjoy the very swishy pool/spa before breakfast. I had blueberry pancakes with lemon ricotta and maple syrup and YES they were as delicious as they sound, although not included in the pricey room. No time to walk the trails before check out so we opted instead to drive over through the condos to the marina/lighthouse and oggle the very pricey motor yacht and Mr Joyce’s hacienda. Ahhh.

Off down the road to Malagash and Jost Winery for the music festival STOMP which had a great lineup of musicians such as Christine Campbell, Matt Andersen, Evans & Doherty, Sons of Maxwell, Lennie Gallant, Richard Wood, and Matt Minglewood, Myles Goodwyn and Bruce Guthro of the evening before. As such events go it was ok but some irritations….Security was very vigilant, our bags and chairs were thoroughly searched and my bottle of water was confiscated, my buddy had to pour hers on the ground. Can you imagine if we had bought one bottle of water less in that heat? At no point did I see security dealing with intoxicated guests (large numbers of them) crowd control, asking people to be seated or stop having yelled conversations in the middle of the crowd. In fact, Myles Goodwyn stopped in mid song (think his band was concerned as to what was happening as he is a senior musician) and insisted that women be moved from the front of the crowd as he was unable to sing as he couldn’t hear his backup with their noise. This guy plays rock n roll remember. My partner and I had thought the very annoying non  musical noise was because we were at the rear of the tent and would improve with VIP seating….apparently not. The food for purchase was good - a sausage on a pretzel bun with chips and salad and it was good to sample the wine before buying a bottle. At one point my buddy was showered with red wine and we saw tables with $400+ beverage collections. Jost winery certainly did well. At the end of the evening when we visited the wine store, security insisted we sit under their direct line of view with our purchases vs rejoining the crowd, I assume to prevent us drinking it although it was the same price in the shop and from the tent. There was no screening as large crowds of people exited the grounds and I’m sure designated drivers were not universal. We left as Sons of Maxwell wrapped up as to quote my travel partner “I’m just done with this now”. We made our way to the Balmoral Motel and checked in, it’s a Mom and Pop outfit originally from the 60s I’d guess, but modernized, immaculately clean, quiet, comfortable beds and lots of hot water and only $120/night per room with full breakfast for us both. We made a quick run to Robin’s to pick up some tea and muffins and climbed into our pjs after a full day. 

Up for scrambled eggs, wholewheat toast, bacon, juice and tea to start the day. I’d packed the computer to do the travel planning as mature eyes don’t manage as well with those little albeit convenient phone screens. We weren’t long choosing and booking and were soon on the road. Dropped my friend at her car and headed off down the highway towards the city and the traffic was if it were Friday afternoon at about 5 pm, at one point I was doing 80km on the 110km 102! I stopped at Michael’s for yarn (priorities) where I landed some great finds and good sales, before heading over to visit with a friend for the afternoon/evening. Back to for a visit with the pregnant teacher daughter and crawl into bed with my book. 

Nice surprise for the granddaughter that I was there in the morning and she got to hang out with me for the day. We enjoyed breakfast, read some books, played with the puzzles and tried on the minion backpack I found at Frenchy’s, did some laundry and took a stroller walk to the library to return/borrow some books. There’s a nice play area but there was a child who hadn’t been taught to cover her cough with a mother who was oblivious (I would’ve diagnosed the kid with either pertussis or at least bronchitis). This parent is on the phone inviting a group to join her and shortly after their arrival one of the preschoolers manages to fill a small round chair with projectile vomit. They clean him, the chair and the carpet up and we make a hasty exit. As we passed I glanced in through the window to see them all (pale child included) settling in for a visit….would you not take your ill child home??? Back to hang out the clothes, eat lunch and then it’s nap time. I did receive a phone call from Baffin HR - details to follow. By the time my son in law arrived home from work the granddaughter was up and had packed her backpack with stuffed animals and pretzel sticks and announced she was “going to Gramp’s house with Nanak in her blue car”. When I told my son in law this could be a plan for when the baby cried in December he agreed and said “I’d like to come too”. We discussed that this part wouldn’t be well received by the mother of the household though. I was on the road before 4pm and the heavy traffic soon thinned making it a routine trip home. 

The Baffin HR clerk in Pangnirtung apologized for the delay (not seeking an apology, looking for a January contract was my thought) and advised she’d be sending along documents to update my file because…wait for it….I have been previously employed with Government of Nunavut so they requested my hiring documents from the Kitikmeot region and no interview is required (basically an internal candidate). Since this was 2012 however I needed to provide a new criminal records check, copy of my RN registration etc. When I opened the email yesterday there were eight forms attached to be printed, completed and signed, scanned and returned and a long email requesting various supporting documents including my RN diploma. This last request required that I find the step ladder and climb up into the back of the closet for the 42 year old record! As well, a letter from a physician stating I was was mentally (debatable) and physically able to work in a remote northern environment. I messaged my Dr and he agreed to to provide this stating “I see you’re well from your FB pics” which is accurate. I worked my way through the paperwork as I collected banking info for direct deposit, various certifications, my SIN card and birth certificate etc etc, scanning the info and attached it to email. This process was repeated multiple times until each document was attached as a separate file and two emails were finally received. I was annoyed to think that most of the information is on file somewhere north of 60 but the left and right hand do NOT know what the other does.  I also noted with annoyance that my criminal records check will be six months old tomorrow as I obtained it at the beginning of this saga and so I’m sure that will be called out as the details sure get noticed but not the fact that this has taken over five months - not seeing the forest for the trees isn’t an apt metaphor in the tundra but…So today’s email from HR stated some documents were missing - the oath of secrecy and letter from the Dr so I got on the phone and set the ‘office minder’ on my GP and received the ‘I faxed it just now, sorry I forgot’ message from him this pm. I quickly replied that I forgave him and THANKS! I pointed out to HR that the oath was to be signed in front of a Commissioner of Oaths of Nunavut, could I have a Maritime version sign one?  The response was that I could complete the top portion and sign it when I got there. My thoughts run to…so I have to fill in my details, scan and email it to you why? But of course those thoughts are not voiced as this is becoming the longest running series since Bonanza and I am determined to have a January TB program contract. So, to that end I shall retrieve my letter and email those north tomorrow. 

Speaking of sagas, the quest for my 2018 RN reimbursement continues and last week I applied for 2019 registration! Since I hadn’t received the deposit I emailed my former manager and clerk asking about the $930. No reply from the manager so I email her manager and get an ‘out of office’ reply followed almost immediately by a reply from the clerk that ‘the receipt never made it to Yellowknife’ and she instructs me to contact the association again for another receipt. She suggests I may wish to use the GNWT credit card and the following day provides me with the details. I contact the registrar and explain that my employer has lost my receipt twice (once last fall, once this summer) and insists I must have the original for reimbursement. The registrar replies with an email copy and advises that as of August 1 there are no longer paper copies issued. I forward this email with the receipt to the clerk with the expected dialog of…you must provide a paper receipt, you have to contact the association, did you receive an email from the manager as we are handling 2019 registration. I try my best to clarify that the email clearly states the association is NOT going to be providing paper copies from August 1 onwards. No budging from her position. I phone the registrar the next day, thank her for the email and explain my dilemma. She tells me that GNWT has been advised of the change and agreed to it, but she notes they require some further education and she will discuss this with the Executive Director. After suggesting that I contact the Deputy Minister of Health (even quoting the webpage) and advise them of how badly I’m being treated by my employer, especially as northern locums are so difficult to fill the registrar asks for the clerk’s name and phone number and apparently straightens her out because I receive an email from the clerk within the hour asking me to send the email receipt. I think…you mean the one I sent yesterday and you refused to deal with it? The one in the very email you’ve just replied to? Instead I forward the email again. I receive a reply stating this is only a logo, not the receipt so….I download, save and email the receipt two different ways. Although I have had no further correspondence I am hopeful of a pay deposit at some point in the not too distant future…maybe even before my credit card payment for the $945 2019 registration is due. I am such an optimist. 

The remainder of yesterday afternoon/evening was spent creating a photobook as my Picabo voucher for three 9x11” books was expiring at midnight and feeling a little like Cinderella I put a rush on it. Not going to repeat that anytime soon. Selecting over 100 photos from my Dropbox backup, uploading them (on this wi-fi the painful part) and then creating the book under time pressure isn’t recommended. Last week I managed to put together the New Years cruise book and yesterday resulted in one on Argentina. I had originally aimed for the third on Chile, then revised it to just Easter Island and eventually missed both targets as procrastination was not my friend, but…at least I didn’t lose my entire voucher. 

Last Tuesday was less stressful as I spent the day being a lady of leisure and joined my friend at rug hooking which is held weekly at the local yacht club. Caught up with some former coworkers I haven’t seen for a while, checked out all the beautiful crafts and crocheted while I visited. Off to get my license renewed and walked in and out of DMV without seeing a soul but the clerks. Back to the library to crash book club as my friend attends monthly and I used to years ago. Decided I’d find the October read as I’ll be here for the meeting and it wasn’t available at the library - usually they read a listed book or one where there are owned copies to share. It’s The Interpreter by Suki Kim and I used the free wi-fi to download a copy from ebook.bike (apologies to authors as it’s a kind of a pirate site) and then corrupted the librarians by admitting what I’d done. I have no shame and don’t plan to obtain any. As in…today I downloaded Reese Witherspoon’s recently released biography called Whiskey in a Teacup. We finished off our Tuesday afternoon at the Beandock with a cup of tea and cookies in the lawn chairs while we chatted with tourists from Ottawa about our lovely unspoiled area. 

Today I found a bottle of fava beans from the cyclades which were a parting gift from our host in Schinoussa two years ago and since they are approaching their best before date, I opted to make them as an appetizer for supper. The recipe I used made them too watery but I reduced them and they were fine. The shore captain didn’t arrive with pitas though and tortillas do NOT substitute. The fish tacos with the tomatillo salsa verde were fine and sautéed garden veggies cannot be topped. We had zucchini brownies for dessert. Yum. 

We got some much needed rain yesterday and although more was forecast for today, that appears to have missed us. Many in the area with dry wells although we’re still hanging on. I was reading through a journal I kept in 2016 and yesterday we had run dry, although we hadn’t been checking and weren’t being careful then. To think that two years ago I was doing chemo - grateful to be so well and have it behind me. I was chatting with a fellow survivor as there was a local ‘walk for the cure’ event this weekend and although everyone’s journey is different, we both agreed that those sorts of things are depressing to us. As he said “I don’t need to have a t-shirt and flowers to remember the fight’ and I agree that seeing ailing warriors and candles for those who haven’t made it is just a downer to me. Now lots of folks get a real boost from such things, enjoy posting every little update on FB, asking for prayers etc. so I’m not judging but….not my style. 

Planning on having the grandson this weekend and looking forward to hearing how grade three is going. He has the daughter of a former coworker as his teacher and she's very capable so hopefully...Will be nice to spend a few days doing fun stuff with him. 

Only six more sleeps until our girls getaway. Woohoo!

Gimme All Your Lovin'

Grabbing a few moments before I head out to watch the first game of the grandson’s ball tournament this weekend. Each team is guaranteed two games so Friday evening and Saturday morning are on the calendar. Will be good to catch up on his review of grade three thus far. 

Last week was a busy time of hanging out with my granddaughter while her mother set up the French Immersion grade primary classroom she’ll teach in until November. We had a great time on our urban field trips to playgrounds, library, friends, duck pond etc and I am missing my little buddy. On Saturday we managed a three generation girls morning and had pastries at Two if By Sea cafe, then took in the Farmers Market on the waterfront, picking up local corn, blackberries and blueberries ahhh. I managed to spend some time visiting with a friend who is a bit under the weather and this made for a full but well spent trip. I accomplished a number of projects I’d set out for myself including crocheting a mobius shawl for my friend and one for my daughter, a crown to go with the Supergirl costume, sewing curtains for the nursery, yarn shopping and some which were assigned to me such as assisting with classroom materials prep. Not too shabby considering the heat and humidity were at peak measurements. But first an end of August recap. 

We managed our extended weekend getaway to Ottawa/Montreal and a great time was had by all. Good thing the grandson is a calm traveller as we landed with a firm bang, bounce and then quick reversal of engines in Ottawa on Friday morning. I’d just looked out the window and thought ‘we’re coming in at about double speed of what we usually do’ and apparently we were. Northern pilots wouldn’t have been amused with that landing. We were picked up at the airport by our oldest daughter and enjoyed a great brunch, settled our things at her place, then the shore captain and I headed off for an overnight in the daughter’s car while she and the grandson hung out. Due to rainy

ZZTop at age 70...woohoo

weather they enjoyed the afternoon/evening at Funhaven an indoor park which included laser tag, bowling, rides and more.  The old folks braved the traffic down to Laval and took in ZZTop at Place Bell. It was a wonderful evening from the meal at the hotel, the immigrant Uber drivers to and fro the venue and the event itself. The Damned Truth (rock n roll band from Montreal) opened for ZZTop and were a great start. The travel partner commented that Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill “didn’t spin their guitars like they used to” and I had to point out their advanced age. Not to mention that I’d never noted the drummer’s name is Frank Beard and ironically he is the only clean shaven band member. More to the point is that these three (plus one who died five years ago) are original members from 1969. That is impressive in the throw away world of rock music. The weather cleared for the remainder of our travels and we enjoyed a lovely buffet breakfast then back out on the highway to Ottawa. You would think an early Saturday morning run would be straight forward but until Mirabel it was nuts! Who would expect a complete standstill on a four lane highway?

We spent a great weekend as tourists indulging in the Greek Festival a showcase of all things

Fireworks competition

Greek including a delicious meal, music and dancing. A stroll and meals in Byward Market, then wonderful fireworks over the river. We visited the Canadian Agriculture & Food Museum aka experimental farm in Nepean and it’s a wonderful spot for kids - they were hosting summer camps and birthday parties from the ads. Lots of critters, plants and things to learn - the gentleman farmer felt he’d done well while comparing crops. We took in Northern Lights on Parliament Hill which tells our history in a great light show projected on the centre block of the parliament buildings. Lots of new Canadians enjoying the outing. In the three years it’s been running over 1 million have attended. Our final day was a stroll along the Rideau Canal, a visit to Little Italy with a great lunch and being dropped off at the airport. A few tears, a seamless checkin, uneventful wait, flight, drive home and immediate bedtime.

The grandson stayed on for a few days to hang out with visitors next door. It’s a complete circle of life when the kid who used to babysit, drops her sons off to play with your grandson while she gets a haircut. Lots of shared interests including Lego, cars, swimming and archery so they amused themselves well. Good to catch up with their mother too on her annual family visit. 

We’ve enjoyed the pool all summer, especially with the warm, dry weather. In our area of the province, it’s close to the drought of two years ago with lots of wells dry or very low levels, folks showering at the provincial campground and using the laundromats. We’re being careful and the garden is being sustained by water transported from the fish plant. The lawn hasn’t required much mowing and in fact is brittle and dry. Sure could use a good long rain in this area. The zucchini continue to flourish and I’ve experimented with both zucchini brownies (delicious) and lasagna (delicious but required draining) in order to manage the harvest. The gentleman farmer has been freezing bags of tomatoes to use for future salsa and we are eating garden fresh daily. 

Had a nice visit with the former coworker who’s heading north to work as a homecare nurse. She had the usual packing, travel and contractual questions and I remembered my nervous excitement of six years ago. Surprised myself by how many of her questions I could answer without pondering too deeply. I’ve been in contact over the past two weeks as she immerses herself in the new culture and discovers the quirkiness of the north and recalled my own journey.  Am sure she’ll do just fine and they’re lucky to have her.  

The saga of northern nursing has continued and although I’ve i ignored it for the most part, the developments have reached beyond ridiculous. My former job share partner had resigned, her resignation wasn’t accepted, she was offered a ‘too good to be true’ position and rescinded her resignation, the job ‘unfortunately wasn’t available’ so she reinstated her resignation and opted for a casual contract with the neighbouring territory, the manager advised a replacement couldn’t be arranged (although a coworker was able to leave immediately) so her departure was prolonged several times and….the contract in Nunavut was held for a week or so but eventually was filled and since my buddy needs to work she now finds herself doing a casual contract with her former employer in…wait for it….the original community we worked in. Still hopeful for an indeterminate position with GN she is awaiting an interview. The summer season usually sees a mass exodus of HR staff and almost complete cessation of hiring. 

No further word from HR on my TB contract plan. A colleague suggested I contact one of the more likely to respond HR staff as she’d seen her in the airport flying in. I emailed yesterday  - it hasn’t yet elicited a response. Moving up the chain I’ll contact the Baffin managers by next week. I am particularly ticked off as a CHN coworker (without my infection control, tropical medicine, occupational health qualifications) was able to score a 4week TB casual contract in Baffin for mid September within 90 minutes. I’m looking at a January contract now as the October target has clearly slipped by with all this dysfunction. Although I’ve been working on this over three months I’m no closer to the goal and yes, there is a large nursing staff shortage in the north. 

Have been fortunate to find someone to houseclean and she does a wonderful job, equal to some former greats from over the years. She’s the third over the past six months and the others have only lasted a couple of visits, so fingers crossed. We’ve settled on every two weeks and work around her schedule at a local nursing home. Can actually think of inviting folks over with that part of the entertainment puzzle taken care of. 

Dropped in to a former coworker/neighbour’s for tea and a visit, had another in for the same and attended a nursing school classmate’s 90th birthday party this past week where former coworkers converged and caught up on life news commemorated with a lovely group photo. When I commented on the much younger lovely photo of my friend she confided it had been in her trunk and she’d planned it to be displayed for her wake then decided the party was also a great venue so she said “this is my wake/party you know” and I explained that there’d be lots of music, food, beverages and stories at any send off for the life partner and myself and she nodded in agreement. Speaking of himself….a coworker noted him with his white beard, sitting with a high school classmate (a home support worker of many years) and said “Sherry, you brought one of your clients with you to the party did you?” Our giggles increased when he (deaf as he is) said “whaaa?” Ahhh nurse humour I guess as mister wasn’t as amused. 

Meeting up with a buddy to take in music on the north shore the next weekend and perhaps put the final touches on our Rocky Mountaineer trip. Friday night is buffet and songwriters circle at Fox Harb’r resort which is an upscale spot….will have to review the wardrobe choices and perhaps a Frenchy’s run is in order. At $450 each for the one night, the reviews which state ‘phenomenal’ best be accurate. We’re moving on Saturday to Stomp at Jost vineyards in Malagash and more modest accommodation with room/breakfast at $120 for two. I’m planning to head out by 10am on Sunday to attend The Crochet Crowd Stitch Social in the valley that afternoon before heading in to the city. I’m scheduled with the granddaughter on Monday as a day the sitter isn’t available. Have pencilled in lunch that Wednesday with former coworkers. Will be an eclectic social calendar that week. Ahh the life of the semi retired.