Managed to get one coat of paint on the wall last night. It didn't take as long as I had expected...but again it is only one wall. There will definitely be a need for at least a second coat and I am already banking on the requirement of a third. It is a pretty intense colour but will be worth it in the end.

Pictures of course will follow when it is completed.

I already have my sites set on decorating two other walls in the apartment...really making it mine. Yes, that means that in 12 months (if/when) I move out I will need to repaint but I am willing to take on that task. I have not had the ability to re-do my spaces in the past 5 years to really be what I would like them to be so I am going to take advantage of ______ and do it. What I am taking advantage of I'm not sure. They had paint up North so it wasn't like I couldn't have painted there. And Edmonton certainly had one or two paint stores. Huh. Maybe it is just PEI that brings out my home renovation desires.

It might seem like a lot of work to those on the outside--after all it is an apartment why bother? But I would like to really feel settled into PEI. And this is going to help me settle. It also isn't that much work.

Furniture moving tonight. Ugh. That is always the crappy part of the whole experience of moving--furniture. Luckily I purchased some super heavy furniture in Edmonton and only need to carry it up 3 flights of steps. No wonder my father cringes each time I say the word move. Although I think he has gotten off fairly easy the past few years. ;) With the help of a friend on Saturday I actually got all of the boxes and 'stuff' moved in so it really is just furniture to move tonight. Interestingly (is that a word) enough I managed to get almost all of the boxes and 'stuff' into my storage closet. I wanted it out of the way for the furniture movement tonight and just kept piling boxes in the closet. They didn't all go in there--nor did I try to get them all in there but I think I could have. Which is an interesting testament to how much stuff I presently own vs what I have owned in the past. I recall having this same size of closet STUFFED with stuff and the apartment full before.

Off to work.

It's all starting to come together....

I pick up the keys for the apartment today and with any luck Eastlink will show up sometime tomorrow between 8am and 4pm to hook me up with phone, cable and the all important-internet. I really hate these all day appointments. Like I have nothing better to do than sit at home for a full day waiting for them to show up. At least she agreed they could call me from the appointment ahead of mine to give me an idea--they better remember that part.

I will be the only HR person in Ch'town today and by noon today the only HR person on the Island--for my company. It will be great to finally take over the reigns. No keys, no files, no access has truly been getting on my nerves. Note to all you HR folks and Managers out there---4 weeks is 2 weeks to long for a cross over. The outgoing person should have a manual of 'how to' before they go...its just good practice.

BUT...the most exciting news is that after several months of delay and then a number of emails back and forth I finally have some rough idea of when my next overseas build will be...April! I will be leading a group of Habitat volunteers to Chennai India. For those of you with a super good memory that is the area of my last overseas build in 2008.

The details are far from being worked out so I'm not sure if we will be close to the last build or not but nonetheless I am looking forward to returning to the area I was in before--comfort zone for me. Who would have thought that I would call India a comfort zone?

Once some of the details are worked out the details of the trip will be posted on the Habitat-Global Village website and people can start to apply to go on the trip with me. I'll explain more later...going to be late for work!

My fish died. Sigh. I never get too attached to them because they have a short life expectency but this one seemed pretty healthy and then--dead. I am not going to get another one at least not another fighting fish. I am going to try and set up a proper tank with a filter, etc and get some of those really pretty big goldfish. At least that is where my thoughts have been lately. Maybe the fish had heard my thoughts and couldn't stand the thought of being the other fish. Once I am settled into the apartment I'll think about the new tank and set it up. Maybe.

Wow...where is the time going? I kept meaning to do updates but time seems to be getting away from me. Ah well.

I am cat/house sitting for the next few days. It is some well needed alone time for me. When one is used to being alone it is hard mentally to share your head space and physical space 24-7. I am surrounded by new people at work and it was a tough one this week. So many things going on and none of them are what I thought they would be. It will be great once the settling in has finished.

I have been having a number of those PEI moments lately. You know...how someone I work with and apparently went to high school with and who lives down the road. And someone who worked with my mom who is married to someone I work with....and so on. They are fun and funny and weird all at the same time.

I'm off to Sketch 22 tonight at the Art's Guild. If nothing else my life has been filled with activities and outings the past few weeks and the fun isn't stopping for a while. More get togethers planned for the next few weeks. I can't wait.

Hen and chicks found in the front yard of the house. Nice plant that likes to grow close to the ground and needs very little in the line of tlc.


Roses...the bush there roses are on has been in front of the house since we moved in 23 years ago. It never fails to produce a lot of blooms and again requires no work. That's my kind of garden.


Me playing a bit with the colour. The soft pale pink is so very nice.


Part of the family. She looks happy because she was about to go for a drive in the truck--one of her favorite things.


Heather. Found along the beach in Victoria. Dries as is...makes great filler for bouquets.


A couple of other members of the family. Who doesn't like a walk on the beach?

The part-time job is not for fun--though I am hoping for a fun job--it is to supplement and augment my salary. I have taken a rather large drop in salary in order to return to PEI. I knew it would happen and I knew I would need a ptime job to get me through. I'm not looking for more than 10-12 hours a week. Probably a retail job somewhere.

When I was in Calgary I had a p-time job while I did my f-time job and it was fine. In fact, better than fine--it energized me.

On to PEI news...

I have spent the past couple of nights walking the beach in Victoria. The tide has been super low in the early evening which has allowed for nice walks on the red sandy beaches. The dog has come along on both occasions and she seems to enjoy it but I also get the feeling she enjoys sniffing around the buildings on shore a bit more than helping me look for starfish. Go figure.

There had been a tentative camping trip on my agenda for this weekend but I think I will end up passing. It has been an interesting week...and not necessarily in a good way. I was sick on Wednesday. So sick I had to call my mother to come pick me up and drive me home. That is sick. Apparently I was not the only one feeling sick though I seemed to have the worst symptoms in the house. 3 out of 3 humans sick. Sounds like a food issue to me. Everyone is ship shape now and I am hoping to never experience that again.

Weekend plans--maybe some yard sales and or popping into a few antique/junk stores. I am in search of a kitchen table and a craft table...plus a chair for the living room. I have a brilliant idea for the living room chair--patio furniture. Some of the patio chairs have these huge puffy cushions on them and man are they comfy. :) I may have tried a few out. I was thinking about getting one (or two) for the living room. They are nice looking and are pretty solid--think wrought iron not plastic--and on sale at the moment.

That's my plans for the weekend...what are you up to?

Now...PEI.

Since I am no longer living in Calgary or Edmonton the blog title seems a bit off topic and I had debated changing to a new one but since I am lazy and can't be bothered...why throw away a perfectly good blog when I can just keep writing? So the blog will not be changing sites just topics.

Many of my readers are from PEI so the information about the Island will not thrill, amaze or entertain. Hmm, come to think of it my witty (in my mind I'm witty and an awesome writer) writing may not thrill, amaze or entertain any of you...anyway....now that I am on the Island I will attempt to educate people about PEI. As I wander around the Island and get in touch with my roots you can wander with me.

It is too early in my day as yet to get into anything interesting or factual--I never trust my ability to recall facts before 9am. For this morning you will  need to be satisfied that I am planning to continue blogging and that you will not need to bookmark a new site.

Oh, and happy days...I got my apartment! Yeah!! I decided to take the one I viewed on Saturday morning. After much thought and debate with myself it is the best possible location for me. It is super close to the Charlottetown by-pass--which means easy access to work and yet is is close enough to being 'in town' that my bike should get a good workout. It is in a nice building. The walls and floors are straight, there is no peeling paint, mildew stains or cracks in the plaster. The appeal of living in a rustic Victorian building is not there at the moment--I want straight walls--a box if you will that is a blank slate I can call my home.

I have plans to paint the bedroom and put up a new shower rod in the bathroom. :) Within a month it will be mine and not even resemble my neighbours.

Went to sign the papers yesterday--that was easy! I had forgotten that I was on PEI. I went in references in hand--personal and from previous land lords, copy of my letter of offer proving I a) have a job; b) make enough to pay rent. I was ready to write out my 12 post-dated cheques and hand over a months rent as a damage deposit. In the end I gave him my mom and dad's address, my damage deposit and a phone number for my office....and that was it. No references, no job information no hassle. It was super easy. Yes, I lived in one of their buildings before but that was 5 years ago and I don't think he looked up my file to 'check me out'. I'm very happy. What made me even happier is that as soon as they are finished the painting and cleaning of the unit I can get the keys--and not pay anything for the remainder of August. I was clear that I wanted something for September 1 and when he asked if I wanted in sooner I said no, can't afford August. 'Oh no we wouldn't expect any money for that. Just whenever the boys are done the work you can move in. Take your time, no rush on September 1.' OK!  In Edmonton everyone would pro-rate rent and if you moved in on the 25th of the month they wanted rent for those 5 or 6 days.

Job--check
Apartment--check
Part-time job--next on the list.

Just below this post is the end of the cross Canada road trip. You may notice that it isn't a very big entry...I think as the trip wore on my enthusiasm for writing disappeared a bit and even now as I write about the trip the second half seems like it happened a thousand years ago. Each day seemed like the last.

But...on to new stuff.

I survived my first week of work. I found out on the first day that the lady I am replacing--the position was to have been a one year mat leave--is not returning. So there is now definitely the possibility of having the position for an indefinite period of time. I admit that information threw me for a bit of a tail-spin on Tuesday when she told me. I was not expecting that at all.

Considering I had 3 months off the first week back was not as exhausting as I would have thought--physically. Mentally it was a bit of a challenge but only the first couple of days and then I was a small bit bored. It is always difficult the first couple of days to take on another persons role. If people really liked that person they are looking at you that you took the role away from them if they didn't like them you are often seen as a miracle worker. At the moment I am neither. There will be 4 weeks of overlap. Either they don't think I'm very bright and need 4 weeks to catch on or there is a lot more to this job than I am aware of. 4 weeks is a long time and I am very surprised that the company wanted to spend that much money on it...but that's ok. I'm working and adjusting to my new gig.

Everyone seems great and the whole thing seems like a good fit. I'm not going to say too much about the ins and outs on here.


I made a few inquiries on Friday for apartments and went to view one on Saturday. My plan was to call another place on Monday and see how it went from there. I had decided before I even made it to Charlottetown that morning I wouldn't take it based on location. BUT...after getting there and seeing it I think I have changed my mind. It is interestingly enough the same landlord I had in Ch'town before and the apartment while in a different building is the same one I had before. Same layout, same part of the building, etc. Kinda funny. I had my sister, niece and nephew along for the viewing and the kids both gave it a thumbs up. After viewing it--its a standard 2 bedroom apartment and driving by several times after leaving my sister's house I think my final decision was made--but not fully voiced as of yet.

I'll finish the road trip before I tell you about life on PEI or I will never finish the road trip!

When we last spoke I had completed my experience at the amethyst mine and day 3.

Day 4--more of Ontario
It was to be a long day of driving and for the first time on the trip to PEI I wasn't sure where I would end up for the night. I knew I wanted to get as far as I comfortably could but not push so much that I wouldn't be able to handle a long day the next day or two after that.

The weather was still holding and as I pulled out of White River heading East I enjoyed an open road all to myself for the first couple of hours. Now, as much as I might dislike the drive through Ontario it is only because of the distance and lack of change. What you get to see lots of is trees, rocks and lakes. And in the area this morning--beaches.  Like the one above. After a few hours and staring longingly at the beaches I could glimpse through the trees I decided to stop. I pulled into a parking lot and went--crap. I thought it was a big parking lot with lots of space. What I got was a lot with 12 spaces and no where to turn around the uhaul. Hmmm. Ok, don't panic. All you need to do it go straight back and then pull out the driveway. Simple. I parked confident that I had it all in hand.

The sand felt so good under my toes, the water was cool and clear and very enjoyable. My little stop (no more than 15 minutes) left me rejuvenated and ready to get back on the road. I started to back up and quickly found out it wasn't going to be that easy. The trailer started to turn so I pulled ahead, straightened up and tried again....about 5 times. The last time I thought I had it when I felt a slight bump at the back. I looked in the mirror and wondered where the post had gone...apparently on a slightly downward angle. Oops. By this time I had just enough room to swing the front of the truck around and up the driveway and I gunned it. I looked back to see if I had damaged the post--nope, just pushed it over a bit--no harm done so I left the scene of the crime. Who I would have told anyway I don't know as there were no park people around and at the time I did it no one else in the parking lot. On my next gas stop I checked the truck for damage and could not even find a mark in the dirt where the post had been.

The rest of the day went smoothly and as darkness fell I decided it was time to find a hotel. I ended up in Petewawa. It is just west of Ottawa and put in excellent placement for arriving in Montreal the next day. When I pulled in off the highway I went 'I recognize this place.' I had supper at the restaurant on my way out to Alberta...funny how I continued to stop at the same places that I had two years earlier. I was exhausted by the time I arrived, checked in and made it to my room. I was so tired that I found myself on the elevator going up to the third, down to the basement and then back on the main floor (which was floor #2) where my room was. Yep...it was time to be off the road.

Day 5--Montreal!
With a good nights sleep under my belt I headed towards Ottawa and Montreal.
Under different circumstances I would have enjoyed stopping in Ottawa for a couple of days and just relaxing...but maybe some other trip. I quickly saw the end of Ontario and happily crossed the 'border' into Quebec. Finally Ontario was behind me.

I arrived in Montreal around noon which I think was the best time to be there given the traffic one can run into. I had no real traffic to speak off and while the ride through Montreal is never pleasant or quick it was as good as could be expected. Shortly after leaving Montreal behind me I stopped for a break. I grabbed my book an ice cold diet pepsi and read a few chapters in my book. I was making good time and was happy to have Montreal behind me.

Back on the road and heading for New Brunswick. I was very much hoping to get into NB that night and after what was a long drive I made it. I checked into a hotel in Edmunston around 10:30pm and promptly fell asleep.

Day 6--PEI
I guess it was a bit of nerves and a bit of excitement but I certainly did not sleep in nor did I get on the road early. Hmmm. I had lost two hours from the previous evening. One in the time change and one in trying to find a hotel. That seemed to throw me on Wednesday morning as I was getting ready to leave but leave I did.

PEI was but a few hours before me and while I was hoping to make a couple of stops at a couple of favorite shops along the way I didn't. I crossed the bridge around 3pm and was in my parents driveway by 3:30pm. Safe and sound back on the Island.

6 days
4671 km
countless stops for gas and to pee
Would I do it again--you bet!

Ok...I'm back.

Arrived on the Island Wednesday and then spent the majority of Thursday in bed sleeping. It was bliss. This is Sunday morning and while I am still a tad tired it is likely just a combination of tiredness from the trip, sleeping in a different place, a minor bit of anxiousness before starting the new job and the adjustment to living in an environment with humidity.

Tuesday is my first day of work. I'm actually glad to be starting on a short week. It is going to be a long one. After having 3 months off and maintaining my own schedule I'm sure it will be a bit of a challenge....not to mention learning all the things there are to learn about a new job. And don't forget to times that by 2. I have two work locations--one in Victoria and one in Charlottetown. Two sets of new co-workers. Two offices. Two lunch rooms. Two buildings to memorize the layout of so I don't get lost on my way to the loo. I'm not really concerned about work--in fact I need to keep reminding myself that I have a job and need to get to work. After 5 years of visiting PEI it has yet to fully hit me that I am living here--not just stopping over. The realization will hit on Tuesday morning.

So...the road trip.

I had great weather the entire way. Two small bits of rain for less than an hour each time. Once just outside Regina and once in Northern Ontario. The rain in NO was well worth the rainbows that appeared. One was so wide I couldn't fit it all in the camera but I could see where it ended. There was a second half rainbow beside it and one almost peeking out from behind the big one--like a double rainbow. Very nice. Photos of course do not do it justice.

Edmonton--Packing Day
Picked up my uhaul early in the am and headed back to my apartment to await the two strong men I hired to help me pack the trailer. I brought a few items outside before their arrival--pillows, blankets, etc and generally wrung my hands with nerves hoping that it was all going to fit in the trailer...and trying to imagine what I would do if it didn't. The movers arrived and in just under two hours we had everything inside the trailer. I was left with an empty apartment and some cleaning supplies. I had 9 hours until my landlord would be available to do the final walk through and since it wasn't going to take 9 hours to clean I showered and headed out for a nice lunch and a couple glasses of wine.

Book in hand I headed for another outdoor deck to eat some lunch and have the wine. It was great. I was there for about 2 hours and finally dragged myself out of the restaurant for one final walk down Whyte Ave--and to get an ice cream. The ice cream was so worth every single penny. It was pistaschio (sp?) and almond. Bright green with little bits of nuts in it. SOOOO YUMMY!!

Back at the apartment I cleaned, scrubbed and surfed the internet. I had finished the cleaning within an hour and then had time to kill. Luckily my nieghbour from downstairs arrived and we took her dog for a walk. Then I finished the cleaning and sat down to await the landlord and the lady who is subletting. The checkout went quickly--connsidering he was almost an hour late and I was finally on my way.

So, it's 10:30pm and it is pouring rain, no, not pouring, torrential downpour. Funny, I had forgotten that until just now as I try to remember how I felt that night. I was rather concerned actually as I pulled away. It was the kind of rain that the wipers don't seem to help with and it was dark and I just hoped that the entire trip wouldn't be like this. I was very relived the next morning when I awoke to sunny skies. Start as you mean to go on.


Day 1
Short drive from Edmonton to Lloydminister and Alberta was off the list of provinces to cross. I had a lovely drive that first day. I remembered getting used to the feel of the trailer and how to adjust gears when going up or down a hill and the feel of the whole thing at 110km/hr.I had booked a hotel for the night in Regina and when I pulled in around 5pm I was a tad disappointed that I hadn't decided to drive a bit farther my first day. But once I was settled in for the night decided it was the right thing that first day to only go a short distance.

Day 2
Regina to Kenora, ON. Another great sunny morning and I was heading East across the praries. The driving of course was super easy and I was enjoying my jaunt. The praries are flat yes, but they are also filled with hills and valleys around the rivers that wind themselves across the province. The fields of yellow mustard. The fields of purple flax. The golden wheat. All very beautiful and very colourful.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba were crossed off the list as I entered Ontario just before supper.

I filled up with gas just outside of Kenora--a bit of a touristy area and the gas was 120.9 per litre. The most expensive gas the entire trip...and of course the largest fill up of the trip as well. 65 litres. Funny how in Edmonton when the gas light came on I could get 60, maybe 62 litres into it but on this trip when the gas light hadn't come on the lad at the pumps managed to get 65 litres in. Why couldn't we squeeze 65 litres in when I was in Alberta paying 88.9 a litre? Ah well.

I had a lovely view of a lake from my hotel room that night and after a nice meal I was fast asleep.

Day 3

Ontario. Ugh. I started off early and headed out for another day of driving. I had a destination for the night in mind and was quite pleased when I arrived in White River that night. I stopped in White River on the way to Alberta--two years ago. It is where the Winnie the Pooh story starts. Well, sorta. That is their claim to fame anyway. The soldier who brought the bear over to England which started the whole books series came from White River...that is where he bought the bear.

Now...before I arrived in White River I had a brief stop at the Terry Fox memorial in Thunder Bay AND decided to go mining for amethyst! I remembered from my trip West that just to the East of Thunder Bay there was a place (or two!) that I could go and see an amethyst mine. I convinced myself that I needed to stop this time. I mean, how many chances am I going to get? How many times will I be driving across Ontario and get the chance?...on second thought, don't answer that. LOL.

The lady at the tourist info centre warned me about the road into the mine...'it's a bit bumpy, potholes and such.' No worries I said, I'll go slow, the truck can handle it. What she didn't mention was the 15 degree angle of the big hill I had to get up. I was driving nice and slow, enjoying the ride and shaking my head at the girl--the roads were great. No potholes and I was feeling a bit cocky about the whole thing when suddely the truck slowed to a crawl and I down shifted to accommodate the hill. 4 to 3. We continued on slowly until I realized I needed to go from 3 to 2. I was starting to get worried when I realized I was going to need to go into 1st gear. This is not a good gear to be in and suddenly the tires did that sort of stop turn they do when you are stuck. Panic crashed into my head. I'm on a huge incline with a trailer weighing thousands of pounds attached behind me pulling with the help of gravity towards the bottom of the hill. If I start to slide backwards or need to go down this hill backwards I might as well get out of the truck now. I reached over and clicked on 4x4--4 wheel drive. The tires gave a small lurch and the truck slowly started to move forward. I was able to get up into 2nd gear as the truck continued the slow climb upwards. It was running high and the sounds coming out from under the hood had me a bit worried but I knew we needed to reach the top of the hill...or I wouldn't make it to PEI.

I was driving up the middle of the road and was praying that no one would be coming down the hill...I wasn't sure I'd be able to move to the side of the road. As I rounded a blind corner and was hoping that this would be the end of the climb I knew I would make it. And I finally did. My hands were shaking when I stopped the truck but I had made it. I was at the mine. I suggested to the girl inside that she post a sign at the start of the road 'large inclines ahead'.

I paid my $6 and had the official 3 minute tour and explaination then was set free to mine for amethsyt. You pay $3/pound for any you wish to keep. It was a bit of fun though not really difficult to mine. The amethyst is all over the ground and one just needs to walk along and pick it up. You can dig and get bigger pieces and I did a bit of that but mostly picked up a few pieces that were sitting on the ground. After my hour break it was time to get back on the road. I put the truck into 4X4 low and slowly headed back to the highway. When I was at the end of the road but not on the highway I turned off the truck and hugged the dashboard--good truck.

This is the actual mine where they don't let the tourists..they expect the mine to last another 60-70 years.

<><>Cleaning off the treasure we had collected.

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The rest of the trip will be posted in a day or two. Tomorrow is my first day of work. Wish me well.