New job, new location...new blog.


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I'm in Fort McMurray. Yep, I made it. The short drive (5ish hours) from Edmonton to Fort McMurray was very uneventful and I arrived around 6pm. The traffic lights were out at the one and only intersection I needed to cross, but the two RCMP officers were bravely directing large trucks in all directions. I had thought perhaps there was an accident and carried onto my hotel. At the hotel I walked into a dark lobby....yep, power outage. They were not sure for how long it would be out but assured me that power had been restored downtown and all would be fine soon. Well, three hours after I had checked in the power came back on. In the meantime the emergency lights in the halls had gone out, apparently they only have a battery life of 2 hours. I managed to order some Chinese food from a restaurant in a part of town that had power and it arrived about an hour after I had ordered it. All was good with the world.


I almost got lost today. Kinda. I generally knew the direction I needed to go in and knew I wanted to go from route 15 to route 63. Getting to route 15 was easy, its right off the Yellowhead, but route 63 escaped me. I found another route on my handy map and was searching for route 831. I took a mis-turn onto 830 and quickly corrected my mistake and then tried the next turn which turned out to be 45 or 29 or some other route. I was perplexed as the next couple of turns were these small numbers and 831 had disappeared. I finally found 831 and was once again on my way...but not feeling 100% confident of my selection--the map is after all about 8 years old. About 150ish km in to the drive today I finally saw a road sign for Fort McMurray and I knew that I was indeed on the right track. I was certain of my selection...but for some reason kept expecting to see a road sign pointing me in the right direction...which just proves that Fort McMurray is not the only destination for those traveling in Northern Alberta.

Tomorrow is move in day and I can't wait. Thanks for your patience and reading while I've been motoring down the highway the past few days...and does anyone know what it means when a turtle crosses your path? I ended up with 2 in my trip.

It was the right decision to stay in Kenora the other night as I drove for at least an hour the next morning before finding what would have been a suitable hotel for the night. I was zipping along enjoying the prairie highways after the torture of Ontario and the sky got dark and it rained. Rained. RAINED. Thunder, lightining, winds, more rain and then yes, wait for it...HAIL! It was awesome. NOT. Anyway I made it through with no issues and arrived finally in Regina. I literally checked into the first hotel I saw and after a nice supper I settled down for the night. The drive yesterday was long but fast. Long only because it is the prairies and you don't see a whole lot of change to the views around you. That said, I love the prairies and if you look closely they are not flat and have some amazing beauty around them.

When driving through Manitoba and Saskatchewan I saw a lot of sandbags left around homes and businesses, high rivers and a exit on the highway that was under water. It was a bit eerie driving over bridges where the water could be measure in inches from the deck, not feet. When I last drove these roads the was was feet, meters below the current levels.

I made it to Edmonton and popped in for a surprise visit with an old friend. She was shocked and delighted. It was great. I settled into my hotel for the night and am now planning out my morning/day. I have a small shopping list of things to buy in Edmonton--cheaper than in Fort McMurray. And I desperately need a hair cut which I know if I don't get it today I will be a shaggy dog at work on Monday. I'm staying in a hotel in Fort McMurray tonight and then move into my new apartment sometime tomorrow. YEAH!! Then the weekend to unpack and yes, pick up the fur babies on Sunday noon. So...I better get going.

I'm in Edmonton. I'll try and update in the am before I check out of the hotel.

I'm in Kenora....I've been here before...twice actually. I am only 60ish km from the border into Manitoba and while every ounce of me wanted to just be finished with Ontario...I stayed in Kenora. I'm not sure about hotels just inside the Manitoba border and I knew I'd be tired and cranky if I had to start searching for one....so I'm still in Ontario. BUT, tomorrow night, Tuesday as most of you read this I will be in Regina, Saskatchewan. Yep...two provinces crossed off the list. Whoo hoo!!!

Total distance today, about 950ish km. Total distance so far just over 3,200km...which means I'm over halfway there. YEAH!

Meant to tell you yesterday I saw a turtle. A really BIG turtle crossing the road the other day. It was well over a foot long and had rather long legs...which I have only ever seen in cartoons. I've also seen moose(s), deer, what looked like a wild turkey and a mother duck with a half dozen or so ducklings, plus a lot of birds.

And now...sleep.

Hello and welcome to my journey across the HUGE country of ours (some of ours)--Canada. Tonight I am in Wawa, Ontario...but first...leaving PEI.

A special thanks for my parents for helping me pack and wrap the truck (and totes) in preparation of my journey. Though only guaranteed to hold until the end of the drive way the many feet of rope holding my worldly possessions onto the back of my truck are still holding.

There are always a few tears when I leave and set out from PEI...and this trip was no exception. The good bye to my sister, niece and nephew ended with a few tears on my part and then the hugs and well wishes from both my parents set me off--as it always does. Generally by the time I reach the bridge I have cried myself out and I'm ready to focus on the long drive ahead...Friday was no exception. I was able to get away around 8:30am and by 10am was ready to throw in the towel and either pull over for the night or head back to PEI. I felt tired and my body was aching from being in the one position for that long--1.5 hours. It's going to be a long week I thought if I can't even make the first morning. The rain started shortly after that and my mood turned a bit more sour. It would rain hard enough to need the wipers and then just as I turn them on it would stop raining. I stopped for lunch at 11am, a lot earlier than I had thought I would but I just needed a break. Back on the road and still more--why did I decide to drive again?--going through my head but then later in the afternoon I hit the Quebec border, the sun came out and my mood brightened considerably. I got my second wind and drove with no plans to stop.

CBC radio always keeps me company on my journeys and this was no exception. I was doing so well and the drive was going so well I started thinking about just driving through Montreal and being done for the day with the evil roads of Montreal behind me. But the radio was not making that sound like a good idea as they talked about bridge closures for the weekend and only one lane being available in both directions. I don't know my Montreal bridges very well but when the announcers are talking about being stranded on the Island of Montreal for the weekend and how they are not even considering leaving you know they are expecting traffic to be bad. The word was the traffic closures would start around 7pm, based on my location and expected ETA in Montreal I decided to call it a night and start out early in the morning once I had an opportunity to check out the bridge situation. Day 1, approx 1000km.

Turns out the tunnel was not scheduled for closure and my leaving at 7am would almost guarantee that I avoided most of the traffic that would be skipping the bridge and taking the tunnel. I sailed thru Montreal and was happy to stop just inside the Quebec border for a sit down breakfast where I could relax and read my book. Then off to the city of Ottawa. I had friends I wanted to visit in Ottawa and seeing as I haven't seen them in 3 years it was very important to me. I had friends in Montreal to visit with as well, but I just saw (and met) them in April, so I'm sure they understand why Ottawa took priority. I arrived in Ottawa to sunshine and blue skies. I went to see a movie, drove downtown and wandered around the market, then out to Kanata for the visit. It was a great day. I then got back on the road and headed to Pembroke for the night. I wanted to be outside of the Ottawa area and Pembroke at about 1 hour out was a good choice and I've stayed there before. Day 2, approx 450km

A later start to my day today, didn't leave until around 9am but still managed to cover just under 900km. Another great day of driving and the weather has been terrific since leaving New Brunswick. At this point I'm just under 1/2 way there. I'm in Wawa, Ontario...about one hour South of White River--home of Winnie the Pooh. That is really only an interesting point because I've stayed in White River the last two times I crossed the country. This time I decided to take a chance on Wawa and may I recommend it to you if you are ever travelling through Ontario. It is a small town with a lot of hotels. Great scenery and giant geese all over the town.

It is just after 9pm and this is the latest I've been up since setting out on my trip. Yep, party animal. Let's hope tomorrow is just as good as today.

is on the road. Talk to you soon.

The movers have come and gone. The cleaning lady was in and left everything sparkly. The minor break down I suffered yesterday morning as I realized that I might not get it all done before 5pm is over. But...I did. Thanks to my mom for helping out in the morning.

And thanks to a coffee/chat from a friend in the afternoon and a quick visit with the cats. :) Yep, went to visit them. They have adjusted nicely to life at the kennel...maybe too  nicely. LOL. The lovely Sarah says she scoops the litter twice a day, at home they are lucky to get it done every third day. She gives them fresh water 3x a day where I fill up their jug a couple times a week. They don't suffer under my care, but they are being a little bit spoiled at the kennel...with the treat, etc. Guess I shouldn't begrudge them their stay at the kitty hotel where they are....they will be experiencing the trauma of the plane in 11 days...that should be enough to make them happy to see me again.

As generally happens when packing and getting ready for a big move I didn't get to see everyone. But in Oprah's words to all my friends on PEI (and family who I could as friends) "I won't say goodbye. I'll just say, until we meet again." Cause you know I'll be back again.


I start the cross Canada adventure on Friday morning. I'll see you on the road!

The cats got off safely on Friday and after supper out with my mom I returned home to a very empty, very quiet apartment. I have thus far resisted the urge to go and visit them....in the end it is probably easiest on them if I don't visit. I'm sure they are happy in their kitty suite and are enjoying the new sights and sounds of life in the country. I'm pretty sure the sound of dogs was very scary when they arrived at the kennel--there are no dogs in the apartment building and the last time they would have heard dogs was when they were at the Humane Society.

And I have lots left to do before I leave...the second coat of primer has gone on and I am hopeful that I will be able to get away with one coat of paint. I still need to take the wallpaper down and am hoping that will go quickly on Tuesday morning when the cleaners are here. When I tell people that they all seem a bit unsure of the 'ease' with which I speak. I figure since it has only been up for a limited amount of time and it is 'new' wallpaper that it should come down easily. We will see.

The boxes are littering all living space at the moment and it is a maze to wander through when moving from room to room. I have yet to finish a room....and I'm feeling the unfinishedness of it all. (I know that isn't a word.) I was hoping to finish the kitchen yesterday but quickly realized that I should put some paint on the walls or that would never get dried in time--and unsure of how many coats it would take I started. So the kitchen didn't get finished. Ah, the fun of it all. At the moment I am watching my usual Sunday morning Coronation Street and just kind of relaxing. My stomach is growling and I will need to feed it soon or suffer the consequences. My goal for this morning is to finish the bathroom--then one room will be done. I am having lunch/brunch with my friends at 11:30am and then need to head to my Grandmothers to clean up the spot in the garage where my belongings will be stored. Then back to the apartment to get it ready for the movers who will arrive on Monday, mid-morning to do the heavy lifting. As long as the stuff for storage is packed by the time I fall into my bed tonight then it will all be good...and actually even if that doesn't get done no biggie as I can move a few boxes on my own--the movers are really there for the big heavy things that I do not want to carry down two flights of stairs and then up one flight. I'm sure if I don't get it all done in time I can manage a few boxes on my own...and if I got off the computer and started packing I'm sure I could get it done faster.

But I won't for a few more minutes. I want a few more minutes of peace and relaxation...and maybe another cup of tea...what I really want is a diet pepsi...but no one delivers. LOL

The giant kennel is sitting in the living room waiting for 5pm. That is when I will attempt to lock the two of them inside it and ship them off to Mermaid for a couple weeks. I set the kennel up the day I bought it so they would get used to it and maybe occasionally sleep in it...this has worked a bit. I put the door on it earlier today and their 'bed' and since then they haven't gone near it. The cats know...they always know.

Met with my landlord yesterday regarding the sublet I have lined up for my place...she was more than a little bit *itchy about it. The line she was giving me was along the lines of we don't normally allow sublets. I merely pointed out that as per my lease (and the laws of PEI) I can sublet it. She isn't available now until Tuesday to meet with the prospective tenants--right....whatever. I'm trying to help out a young couple who are just starting out themselves and yes, in turn it helps me. Win win I would think. Anyway...

Awaiting patiently, or as patiently as I can get for my relocation cheque to arrive. It is a biggie. And I desperately need it soon. I am starting to run low on funds as I am in that wonderful spot of having put out a damage deposit on an apartment and am still waiting for the damage deposit for this one to come back...plus I need to pay the kennel fees up front, the movers must be paid in cash on Monday, the cleaning lady in cash on Tuesday, rent on Wednesday, etc, etc. The shopping trip in Moncton the other week also left a small dent in my bank account. It's all good. The money was scheduled to arrive today but due to a glitch it didn't leave until yesterday via courier so we are now expecting it to arrive on Monday. I hope it arrives in the morning when I am still here with the movers otherwise I likely won't see it until Tuesday and I suspect my bank is going to put a hold of some sort on it and I could really use that cash before I leave on Friday.

The packing is almost finished. It's odds and sods at this point and there is a lot of empty boxes sitting in the living room. I haven't used the drawers in the dressers yet so there is still lots of space for 'stuff' and I suspect I can still cram more things into the front of the truck should I really want to....once I get it cleaned. Must remember to add that to the list of things to do.

November 15, 2010

"No time this am for an update. Waiting for the fix it man to arrive as apparently my pipes are leaking into the apartment below. The girls are in the closet until after he leaves. They love to run and jump and play with anything that moves and I have a feeling he might not appreciate their help"

So back in November it was a big crisis in my apartment...according to one of the maintenance folks my bathroom sink was leaking into the apartment below me...well, not on my level it isn't so it must be between the floors. The guy came in and said it needed to be fixed right away. And then he never came back....until last week.

On Friday he showed up again saying he needed to fix the sink. I said why don't you come on June 1--the day after I move out. "nope, it needs to be done sooner than that." Which is why he is here again today--Wednesday and once again the girls are in the closet--wondering no doubt what they did wrong.

The packing is going well. I need to get a few things moved out of the apartment to really make a dent. There are piles all over the place and once a few of the piles disappear the chaos will disappear. My goal for today is to get the kitchen cupboards finished.

Movers--booked
Cleaners--booked
First class tickets for cats--booked (not really, they are going cargo--but same idea)
Kennel--booked
Am I ready? You bet I am....or, I will be.

The kids are off to Paws by the Beach a kennel in Mermaid. The owner seems fantastic and the girls will get their own bedroom to hang out in. I decided to move them to the kennel on Friday so I can finish the packing, have the movers in and get a bit of painting done before the move. Somehow their furry little feet and an open can of paint is spelling disaster to me.

I was in the bedroom this morning packing a few things into my travel suitcase that will sit in the front of the truck with me. The suitcase has old clothes in it that will be tossed out at the end of each day of wearing. You know the stuff, the socks with the toe missing, the undies with the elastic that stretches just a bit too much, those kinds of items. The suitcase will get lighter as the trip goes on and I still get clean clothes to wear each morning. Yeah! Anyway, I was sorting clothes and looked over to find Tundra sitting in the suitcase..I know cats can't speak and I'm certainly not able to read their minds but she seemed to be saying 'take me with you this time'. I feel bad sending them off to the kennel a full week before I go but I think it is for the best in the long run.

I am leaving here on June 3 and hope to arrive in Edmonton by June 8 or 9. I will spend that night in Edmonton and do some grocery shopping the next day and arrive in Fort McMurray by early afternoon on the 10th. I have the weekend to unpack and start work on Monday, June 13th. The cats will arrive around noon on Sunday the 12th. The wonderful owner of Paws by the Beach said she was willing to drive them to the airport on my behalf....YEAH!! The flight leaves at 6am, which means they need to check in at 5am. Bless this women for her kindness.

This is leaving me LOTS of time to drive across the country. I did it before in the same amount of time but with the Uhaul so I know I will have an easier time of it without the Uhaul and will likely be able to drive longer each day, but I am hoping to stop and do a bit of visiting along the way. The no Uhaul already makes my load feel lighter. So...if you live along the trans Canada highway between Charlottetown and Fort McMurray...get ready!

The girls and I never seem to be on the same schedule. They wanted me to get up at 6am, since I don't need to get up for work I wanted to sleep in a bit. At 7:30ish I got out of bed. It's 8:30am and they've been napping for the past 1/2 hour or so. They are soooo cute.

Here's a couple pics of them from the past few days helping with the packing...

Suffering from fur mom guilt for not bringing the cats back anything from my overseas travels (like they would care) I decided to buy the cats a few new toys. I bought tiny balls with bells in them--bad idea. They love them and want to play with them at night. I would prefer to sleep and not listen to the tinkling of the bells at 11pm.


Knowing Tundra's love of the red feather boa purchased at Christmas I decided it was time for a new boa...this one with very colourful feathers. She likes it and it goes so well with her fur.

Not be be left behind the cats decide to pack themselves the other afternoon as I started to do some sorting of items in the living room.

The mid-way mess. Preferring  to work in the living room where there is more space--though that statement is debatable at this point in the project--I have many piles of my stuff--I swear it is somewhat organized.

Tundra gets tired and needs to take frequent naps.

The living room looks worse today then it did a couple of days ago but the piles are growing which means I have more stuff sorted. I am proud of myself as I am getting more items in the to toss or give away pile. Proving that no matter how many times I move I still have more stuff than I need/use. And I am still packing away a few items that I want to keep--for sometime in the future.

I am taking 'stuff' with me but in limited quantities. Books--yes, one box. Dishes--yes, enough to serve 4 people a proper meal. (My dining area consists of 2 bar stools against a counter top, plus I could seat two people on the love seat and that would be the end of my seating...so 4 seems about right). Art work--10 pieces. I have them almost all selected already and believe me choosing only 10 is proving to be VERY difficult. I'm up to 8 already so the last two will prove very difficult.

Now...I guess I better go do some packing!

So much to think about and do when moving. I'm a pro of sorts but this move has me a bit mystified. I was going to take all my stuff with me but the more I look at apartments in Fort McMurray the more I think that is not a good idea. The unfurnished units are for the most part in the bad parts of town and I would prefer to live in the 'safe' parts. The downtown core isn't a good place to live apparently, the cheaper apartments tend to have more than 1 or 2 people living in them in an effort to save $ and the over-crowding is evident, plus they are noisier.

The more I look and talk to people the more I realize I want to live in a certain part of town. If I live 'across the bridge' I could have up to an hour commute in the evenings to get home. I'm not so keen on that.Living in the part of town that is my top choice means my options are a bit more limited...but that can sometimes be ok and help in the decision making process.

At this moment I am leaning towards putting my 'stuff' into storage and making a decision later. A number of people are suggesting I just sell it and start over but I think that will be a decision for down the road. Having to try and find a home over the internet is tricky. I had some time on Friday when I was in Fort McMurray to look at apartments but it was limited and I only saw the inside of one unit....I wasn't impressed. In the long run for about the same amount of money I can have a new furnished unit vs the old, scuzzy apartment that won't fit my furniture. I think....at this moment....and I reserve the right to change my mind 5 minutes from now....that the best idea is to take a furnished unit. Move most of my belongings into storage and once I am on the ground and a bit settled make the decision. The money to help with the move will still be there 6 months from now and really it is hard to tell from a picture on the internet if your 'stuff' will fit into the bedroom you are viewing.

So...yep, decision made.


Well...for the moment.

Lots of lunch plans, supper plans, tea/coffee dates being made. I am already starting to regret giving two weeks notice at the movie theatre...as no doubt the shifts are going to start to get in the way of socializing! I wanted something to keep me grounded over the next couple of weeks while I get ready to leave and I have enjoyed my time at the theatre. If I have all the time in the world the packing will take forever, if I know that I only have certain days/times to pack it will get done. If you told me I had to have it all ready for tomorrow--I  could do it. If you tell me I have two weeks to pack--I could do it....and I'd start a couple days before.

I'm back in PEI. This is Sunday and I was able to sleep in until 11:30am...which is really only 8:30am Alberta time. Last week was a whirlwind of activity.

Sunday I flew from PEI to Fort McMurray. I left in the evening and arrived around 11:30pm in good spirits. Considering it was 2:30am PEI time my good mood was a bit surprising. I had a great sleep and went to an interview at 11:30am on Monday. Spent until 3pm being interviewed and meeting staff. Everyone was wonderful and they seem like a great group of people. Flew to Calgary Monday evening.

Tuesday I had the pleasure of visiting with friends all day. My 9:30am coffee chat lasted until almost 12noon and if I hadn't already booked lunch plans for 12 I'm sure the chat would have lasted longer. It was one of those chats where you cover a variety of topics and just enjoy the conversation and where it takes you. Thanks K. The lunch was also wonderful...catching up with a former GV'er and chatting about India then and now. She 'gets me' and my career choices/decisions so it was nice to chat with someone about that as well. I headed back downtown after lunch and wandered for a bit...then I did something that still surprises me a bit...I got a battery for my watch. This may not seem like an extraordinary event but I haven't worn a watch since January 2005 so for me it was quite out of the ordinary. The afternoon ended with meeting up with another pal from Edmonton who gave me a lift to the airport--which is a HUGE thing considering the distance and he even hung out with me until my shuttle to Banff left. Thank J--hope to see you again soon. Then I boarded the shuttle to Banff and met up with my friend Kim who quickly shuttled me off to supper with 8 of her friends.

There was lots of laughter coming from our table and again the conversation flowed so well covering a number of topics. The only time we could be silenced was when the next course came out and we took the first few bites. I crashed shortly after supper and it was an early night for us.

Wednesday we hiked up Turtle Mountain. It was really nice and the views of Banff are terrific. I highly recommend it. It isn't a really difficult hike but it is a lot of vertical movement. In the afternoon we wandered around Banff proper and made a couple of purchases...a box of chocolates for my kitten sitter and some of my favorite tea. Then a trip to the local Cold Stone Creamery at the local Tim Hortons...OMG...it was SOOOO good. I must go again...soon. I had the cake batter ice cream with brownie, pecans and caramel in it...WOW. I was in love with each mouthful. It's an expensive treat but worth the price of admission. The evening ended with a trip to the hot springs..my first...finally! It was a great Banff day.

Thursday Kim and headed to Calgary where we did a wee bit of shopping and then off to a movie in the afternoon. Then the long road back to the airport. I hopped a flight back up to Fort McMurray. Another interview Friday morning and by noon I was free. I rented a car and spent the rest of the day driving around Fort McMurray looking for apartments. I viewed one and wasn't overly impressed with what I saw. The view was nice but it was on the small side and old. There are two types of places in Fort McMurray...old and new...this was old. Old means cheaper....so guess I will be looking at the new.

Yep, you probably read that right. I'm looking for an apartment in Fort McMurray! On Wednesday morning I received a verbal offer from the company I met with on Monday and I verbally accepted. When I arrived back from the interview Friday morning I had the actual offer in my in box. I am happy to accept it. I'll pass out the details later in the week...once they have the actual documents signed and sent in....but for now, yes, I have a new job in Fort McMurray and I will likely be starting on June 6. Whoo hooo!!!

It's 1:30pm on Sunday afternoon here in PEI...I work at the movie theatre in 45 minutes and should really get my act in gear.

Today, Monday...I am in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo...better known as Fort McMurray. I flew in last night for an interview and will fly to Calgary tonight. I'm excited and nervous. I'll be in Alberta all week. More updates later in the week...I'm hungry!

As usual this will all be a bit backwards and not necessarily in any order...but here it is...you may want to go to the bathroom first, grab a cup of coffee, etc it's a long post. The writing is taken directly from my journals and is not edited for content, spelling or sense. Anything appearing in [ ] square brackets is something I have added to the notes after the fact.

The notes start with the Friday before my trip..April 9th (I think)

Breakfast in Montreal.
Taxi. Wait. Doors open. Emerging from the interior of the plane that had cradled me to sleep for the past 1.5 hours. The horizon is a very deep pinky orange the kind of colours that point towards a sun filled day. Montreal is silhouted against the canvas of colour and the hill with the statue of Mary stands tall.

I make my way through the airport to Gate #1 it all looks very familiar. I sigh. It's good for my soul to travel. With 1.5 hours before my next flight I have time for a proper sit down breakfast. I enter the restaurant and the smell of ketchup accosts my nostrils. For some reason I find that odd.

Taxi. Wait. Doors emerging now at the Toronto airport and the recognition that I flew out of the gate I am arriving in when I went to India in 2008. That must be a good sign.

I stop at the Foreign money exchange giving up my precious Canadian dollars for Euros to spend in Paris. I contemplate taking a taxi from the airport this time--to see Paris from the ground. Much more expensive then the metro but one I may indulge in--for the experience. I will spend my other days emerging from the underground (in Paris).

In a flash my Euros in hand I head for the taxi stand and am off to my interview. The VP can't meet with me for a couple of hours and I settle in to do some work from what is still my day job. The interview passes in a blur and I'm not sure if I'm just tired or tired of interviews. This makes 4 for the week and I have another one tonight that is scheduled to start the minute the plane touches down. TIRED.

When the lunch interview is over I quickly move towards the airport. 'final boarding' meets me at the gate. BUT, I've made it and I know for certain I will be in Ch'town at end of day. [Which was a good thing considering all I had left to do before my trip.]

As I write this I'm sitting on a Beech--not a BEACH. It's a small aircraft 19 seats I think. 2 seats per row--every seat a window and an aisle seat. I've flown on a lot of these up North. They are cold, drafty, noisy and reliable. Tomorrow I leave for Paris and I can  hardly wait. I am looking forward to the break from work. Next time I decide to take on a Habitat trip I must have a steady job. [Last minute travel details and trying to interview, research, etc for interviews is not a good mix.]

***
(from memory). I got off the plane and called my 7pm interview to say give me 5 minutes to get home and we can start. I get home and open a bottle of wine. I pour a glass and take the call for the interview. She asks if I want a few minutes to grab a coffee. I smile to myself and say, 'I'm ok, I have a cup of tea brewing.' I enjoy the interview which might seem like an odd statement, but the conversation is good and I'm feeling relaxed. Which was the total opposite of my lunch time interrogation. I had time to reflect on the interview in Mississauga when flying back to PEI and it didn't feel like the right fit. The new boss reminded me too much of the old boss....out of the frying pan...into the fire.

It turns out I didn't need to worry about the opportunity. During my travels they emailed and said I didn't get the job. While it would have been great to stay in the Maritime's I was relieved to not be getting into a work environment that would certainly have eaten me alive.

***
Saturday...the day I was to leave for Paris/India.
I was up early and managed to get most of the things on my to do list done. What I didn't get done was a few of the things I had told my team members to do...get copies of passport, etc and leave copies of credit cards somewhere. LOL. Do as I say, not as I do. My sister, niece and nephew showed up early afternoon to take me to the airport. They showed great patience as I was still not able to leave. I needed a shower and a couple of last minute things to do before I could lock the door and leave the cats behind. I had a chat with them privately before I left...about behaving, not destroying the apartment, not getting us kicked out of the building and that they would be well taken care of. I also said I would be back. I don't think they fully understood.

***
(from notes in Paris) It's Monday just before noon. I'm eating at Chicken Corner. I saw it 5 years ago. It's handy. I'm hungry. I've just spent the better part of two hours wandering around a cemetery. The same one I found last time by accident--this time on purpose. It's fabulous--which may seem like an odd way to describe a cemetery. I'm in the Paris groove today. Yesterday was wretched. I spent the equivalent of 1 nights accommodation on a taxi ride to my hotel. I haven't had a tour of Paris and I thought it would be nice to see more of the city--I was wrong. Lesson learned. [The drive was around the outskirts of the city and most of the view was hidden behind tall concrete walls. The driver had no idea where he was going and kept looking at the small local map I printed from the hotel website and I wasn't in the mood to help him practice his English.]

I couldn't check in at the hotel so I changed into a t-shirt in the breakfast room and hit the street. I spent the better part of the next hour looking for a toilet and an open restaurant. I saw a great open market and some nice buildings but after lunch finally made my way back to the hotel--checked in and took a very long nap.

Cooking chicken at the open air market. mmm, smelled good.

You could buy almost anything here from bras to ribbons to food and more.

Olives by the bucket full.

When I woke it was to go look for a flea market--antiques--which disappointed as it was just a flea market. Oh well.  Everything was starting to close and I quickly headed to a market for cheese, meat, grapes, water and then to a bakery for a loaf of fresh bread (baguette). I sat on my bed in the hotel and feasted--then slept for 12 hours.

Today[Monday] is much better and I am finding my bearings. For breakfast I had a pain au chocolate and coke 'light'. Leave it to the French to take the high calorie croissant to the next level by putting chocolate inside and serving it for breakfast. It's afternoon now and I am simply wandering.

A short break in a nice park and I'm off to wander more. I just did something stupid. I popped my bag over my back going up the escalator out of the subway and except for a nice man who shouted I would have been the victim of a pick pocket. I generally keep the bag up front when people are near--they managed to get the zipper open. Rookie mistake on my part. What they didn't know was that my wallet was attached to the bag and they would only have managed to get my notebook--not my cash. I'm now sitting at the top of the Arc d'triumphe (sp?) the view is great in all directions. I just paid 9.50 euros for this view and the privilege of getting dizzy while walking up the steps. Worth the walk? Yep. I wandered down to the Eiffel tower, took a look at the crowd and said 'non'. It sounds a bit cras but--been there--done that. I may go some morning but I'm not concerned if I don't. [go up the tower for the view]

View from the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

Everyone was hamming it up for the cameras.

Some of the 284 stairs I climbed up and down during my visit...dizzy.

Ate a crepe with chocolate at the bridge covering the Sienne at the feet of the Eiffel Tower. It was good. More wandering and a stop for groceries and back to the hotel.
***
The most expensive thing in Paris--liquids. My tea is 4.20 euros [which is about $5.90 CDN] But if I have guessed correctly it is my favorite tea. It is. Not as strong as I would brew it...but my familiar smoky taste is there. I'm sipping tea, sitting in a cafe in Paris. Life is good. It's a bit chilly today enough that I have though of going back to get my coat--but haven't yet. [I did go and buy myself a scarf though and wrapped it around me for warmth. I had on bright pink sneakers, blue jeans, a soft green t-shirt, my travel backpack and a bright green scarf. I'm lucky I didn't get kicked out of Paris for having bad fashion sense.] There are a few hardy Parisians sitting outside today. They huddle together and whisper for warmth.

I've picked up a couple of small souvenirs for others and a trio of prints for myself. [I will later regret this decision--they are mass produced and I have shoppers regret even now.] Everything reminds me of India and I'm waiting to score in country. Scarves, fabric, spices. A few hours later and I'm at the Notre Dame Cathedral. The sun is finally out and I'm soaking it in. I'm not sure why I'm here--I didn't want the tour--I will just sit and relax. There are tons of people around including a group of kids wearing those glow in the dark safety vests.

A woman on the train had a gorgeous coat. It was a black trench coat but then there are sections of colour and these great buttons--different buttons in the same jewel tones on the coat. I want it. As she gets up and I see the back is different too. [I drew a sketch of the coat. Not that I will ever get this coat but I still remember and like it.]
****
[I'm playing with the kittens while re-typing my notes. They are having a wonderful time. I have windows open and they run and jump from one window to the next up and down the hall chasing their feather boa or just each other...ah, kittens....love 'em.]
***
[Tuesday in Paris] In some ways today was a bust. A couple of things I was looking for are either closed or were not all they were reported to be. As tomorrow--Wednesday is my last day in Paris I'm heading back to a friendly area with cobble stone streets and a very 'Parisian neighborhood' kind of feel. At the moment I am on the subway headed once again to the Eiffel tower. It will be dark in an hour and the lights are quite nice. I'm not a fan of being out at night in a strange city but I have my route mapped out and I feel confident. My feet are killing me. A lot of walking today and considering how flat Paris is--a lot of hills and stairs. Supper was what should now be known as--the usual. These people cater to singles [single people] lunch meat with 2 slices in a package. Yes!

The park I hung out in for a bit on my first day.

 The Cemetary map.

I'm early and the sun hasn't set yet. It's chilly again though this time I am wearing my coat and new scarf so I resemble a pumpkin. I will need a warm drink before this is over..or before it starts. There are other people around bundled, huddled and waiting. The hawkers are by every 30 seconds or so. They have ET's {Eiffel Towers] on round chains and jingle them as they walk. I passed a dozen or so enroute from the subway and from here on my cold bench I've said no to a dozen more. The first few lights are on but it is still too bright to see anything. I'm sitting at the bottom of the West pillar. The number of people is less than during the day but still a good crowd. The sun has dipped below the horizon-barely. My head is getting sore from shaking no. [to the hawkers/vendors who kept walking by offering me great deals] The military is on site. They are here during the day too. They do a lot of picture posing and the gaggle of girls at the next bench are whistling at them--which makes one of them strut more. It is comical. I'd move around if I thought I'd get my seat back--and the stone under my bottom is now warm. [so I stayed put]

It is as I remembered it--Paris. It is a beautiful city and every metro station I emerge from looks like Paris. I have avoided one section that has modern high rises. I have no need to visit so I will continue my old Paris tour and enjoy my last few hours as I try to mentally prepare myself for the next stage--leading the group in India. The employment situation for the most part has been forgotten and since I've only checked email once--Canada is forgotten.

***
Wednesday morning--I think.I know its Wednesday but I really do not know what time it is. At the moment I am sitting at the Sacuer d'coure (sp???)[Basilique du Sacré-Cœur] I went in a round about way to get here--3 trains--the 1st and 3rd belonging to the same line. Last nights metro trip was partially above ground and I had hoped for some photos. That didn't happen--but the view was just as good.

I'm walking up and down flights of stairs over cobble stoned streets and thru throngs of tourists but the views are worth it. I've bought a couple pieces of art and told myself no more--but indulged once again--a portrait of me. It's a water colour and I really like it. It was odd to sit out on an open street surrounded by tourist and to be staring off in one direction while this man stared at me and created art. People stopped to watch and I very much wanted to see how it was coming. There was a young boy beside me having a drawing done of himself he sat stiff and looked awkward--I quickly figured I must look the same. I was so very happy with the portrait I could have boarded a plane and flown home...trip complete. LOL.

It must be noon. I've starving but much warmer since I have been sitting in this church warming up. I've finally made it back to the bottom of the hill and found a place for lunch much to the delight of my stomach. I've opted for a Tex mex restaurant--the realization of no beef for the next two weeks has sent me craving a burger. It will be interesting to see what the French do to a hamburger. [I will quickly realize just how true that statement was.] I order the burger well done. With the purchase of the portrait today I'm almost out of cash. Lunch should empty my walled--no biggie, a trip to the debit machine and I'll be good to go, I was just hoping to avoid it...but I just had to have my portrait done. [I still do not regret this btw, and even as I sit here I am debating having it professionally framed ASAP.] The French are not concerned with carbs. The bread is SOOO good and everyone has some. You buy it fresh from the bakery every day and it comes in different lengths and you can get different flavours--last nights had olives in it. It was yummy. If you watch them [Parisians] closely sometimes you can catch them sneak a bite of the fresh loaf as they walk down the street. They buy sandwiches at the bakeries, sweets and of course bread. The bread is sold in a paper bag and generally shows out the top end. The prices and styles vary so I expect finding 'the' bakery for you is a process.

So...the burger. LOL. My mistake...should have read the menu better. I had ordered hashbrown patties instead of a bun. What I thought I had ordered was a burger with french fries on the burger. It was greasy and not worth the 12.50 euro I paid for it. Oh well...I'll get a crepe later to make up for it. Mmmmm, crepe. And now...hmmm, more wandering I guess and then to try and get to bed early--I have a 5am wake up call. UGH.

***
And that basically ends Paris. I wrote on the other blog about the am wake up call, etc....so the next installment will probably be on the other blog...with pictures and more text added to what I had already written.


That's enough for today. Between my laziness, sickness, waffles at my sisters and the general slowness of the computer it has taken all day to get this much done...more pictures at some point.

Hi! You might remember me...I used to post here. Well, I'm back in Canada and still alive and will resume posting in the next day or two. Lots of photos to share and lots of tales to tell.

Hi. I haven't forgotten you...I am sooooo busy. And not even busy getting ready for the trip--although today, Saturday I am finally doing that! My flight leaves at 5:30pm tonight!! Whoo hoo!

What have I been up to? Interviewing. I had an interview in Mississauga yesterday. I flew up early in the morning and back later that afternoon. It was a long, tiring day and I'm interviewed out. By the time my day ended I had done 5 interviews this week...5. I won't have an offer of a job from anyone before leaving on my trip but I am feeling optimistic that I will find something shortly after I arrive back from India. I have a whole post about the past few days but may not have time today to get to it...it's 12:30pm now and I started this note rather early this am...so it isn't looking good that you will get the full update on the past few days from me.

Thanks for all the well wishes and emails. I am very much looking forward to the trip and will do my best to leave the 'job thoughts' behind. Now I just need to focus on my trip and enjoying what Paris and Pondicherry bring me.

Monday again. The week/days are going so fast. I didn't get my laundry done on the weekend--yikes! I simply ran out of time on Sunday due to company. I had friends over for a tea party and it was delightful. Great to see my pals.

It's a busy week leading up to the start of my trip. I have supper at the folks tonight, I work Tuesday night, supper with co-workers on Wednesday, supper with Grammie on Thursday night and hopefully nothing on Friday cause I'm going to need to get my laundry done. LOL. Plus work during the day and of course some last  minute habitat things that I need to do before the trip. Oh the fun! Good thing I already have most of my travel clothes and things set aside. The only day that will be S-L-O-W is going to be Saturday. My flight isn't until 5:30pm so the day is likely going to move in slow motion.

The amount of prep I have put into Paris is so tiny as to not be significant. I even need to double check that I know where the hotel is and what subway stop to get off. All I want to do in Paris is wander around, take pictures and simply relax. No itinerary required. I can't wait. I'm so excited.

No news on the job front yet. Still working on all that. Yes, it would be great to stay on PEI but that is looking less and less likely. I think I came to accept that on the weekend. It's ok. I will try again in a few years. In the meantime wherever I end up there are sure to be more adventures and exciting things to see and do.

A nurse that I knew in Nunavut passed away on the weekend. She left behind many, many friends. It was sudden, but yet when I look back over the last year I don't think it was. In the last 12 months she and her husband took a grand vacation on the Queen Mary (I think) the royal, regal ship that goes from NYC to Europe. She visited her 'hometown' and made lots of other visits to old friends and old stomping grounds. She seemed to start doing more of things that she just wanted to do...a feisty lady to the end.

And now..I'm almost late for work--again. I never seem to have enough time in the morning. Ah.

April 1. April Fool's Day. No April Fool's jokes here...I'm not feeling clever enough to come up with any. I guess I could post that I'm moving to Alaska....but I tried that one on my mom Monday and it didn't work.  But wouldn't Alaska be neat?



Still no word back from the two interviews I had last month and well, I guess the outcome is pretty obvious at this moment. That's ok. Something will come along..right time, right place. It's just unfortunate that the timing is what it is. At the moment I would say I will have until end of May to find something before I am out of work. That is cutting it very tight with returning from over-seas.


I have two interviews yesterday. One for a job in Whitehorse which I will not be moving forward with. It had possibility but when she dropped the fact that there would be no relocation I'm afraid that is where I say no. The other position still has potential but is in Ft. McMurray. That isn't a no for me...it just means that I will need to leave the Island again.

I had hoped for another interview before I leave for India but I haven't heard back on it yet and there are only 5 working days left before I go...so it isn't looking good. Fingers crossed that I get a call and need to take a day off next week to interview for it.

Anyway...I leave next Saturday evening for Paris...and then on the following Thursday for India and am looking forward to both parts. I am very excited about the entire trip and still have so much to do with exchanging money and printing off information on my team to take with me...it will all get done. I only have two more shifts at the theatre before I go so that is also a good thing. Tonight is one and Tuesday night is the last one. I will be returning to them when I am back from India. I will have more free time when I return from India. My evenings have been filled with emails and interviews and research for the trip and it will lovely to have some of that time back.

Happy Friday.

I love my morning tea time. I know I've spoken of this many times before but it is still one of those things that can set my day on the right path. I enjoy is so much that sometimes I'm late leaving the house because I am still sipping my tea. This week it is the one time of the day when I do not need to think about anyone else. It is my time to surf the net, write my blog, do my on-line banking and of course listen to the news on tv.

Work is super busy and of course with today being Tuesday I have only 8 more days of work not including today and I am trying to get as much finished as possible before I am gone for 3 weeks. Luckily my shifts at the theatre are minimal at the moment but I am also interviewing and job searching in the evenings so my free nights are limited. Thursday this week is going to be nutso. Two interviews lined up in the afternoon and a series of appointments in the morning. It will be a day of minimal work.

Actually managed to have supper at my mom and dad's last night which doesn't happen very often. My evening interview was post-poned until Thursday so I had some free time in my schedule. Left over beef stew and home made biscuits. Mmmm. Oh yeah...it was good to chat with them too. And visit with the dog although I do have issue with the amount of dog hair I brought back to Charlottetown.

I have yet to hear back from the two jobs I applied for. I gotta say...rude. If you give a date you should try and respond close to that date with a yeah or neah. Oh well. I have more interviews lined up as I mentioned and am still hopeful of finding something new relatively soon. I will obviously take a break from job searching while away which is unfortunate but necessary. I will try and take a peek once or twice at the job boards--don't want to miss my dream job but I will certainly not be putting HOURS into searching.

I stocked up on kitty litter a couple of months ago when a friend sold me the litter he had bought en masse when he had cats. 8 12kg containers...so they cats have lots of litter when I'm gone. I've been buying extra cat food everytime I go grocery shopping. I think there are 6 bags of cat food sitting in the closet. They use one a week. So again plenty. And moist food--I bought a case of 24. Again they go through maybe two a week with twice daily feeding so when I'm away it will be a treat only every few days...so they should have lots. I even purchased an extra litter box so no one needs to change the litter box every day...it can go a few days now in between visits. I still need to cat proof the house before I go and cover all my furniture with sheets and blankets to prevent some of the cat fur that I know will be covering all my belongings when I return.

Return...I haven't even left yet and I'm already thinking about the return. Such is life...you gotta go in order to return. I would love to have a couple of months to explore India. Maybe some day.

The cats are entertaining me this morning. They plucked a fake flower off some stems I have in the bedroom and are tossing it in the air and chasing it all over the kitchen. Well, I should say Hudson is playing with it. Tundra is hanging out on the kitchen chair watching her sister play.

Had a fabulous supper on Friday and Saturday last week. Thai pot-luck on Friday night and authentic Indian on Saturday. Man I am so lucky. Now that my weekend looks pretty free I may try and invite a few people over for tea on Sunday afternoon. A drop in of sorts. It will make me get the house clean and will be nice to see some friends before I go. This is afterall my last weekend on the Island until May!

Skype. It's a video chat on the computer over the internet. I am now a skyper. I tried up North but found the connection slow and gave it up. The connection in PEI is of course awesome and so the two interviews on Thursday are via skype. Yep, cheaper than a flight but still with a personal touch.

I will be blogging from India of course but in an effort to keep my work like seperate from my volunteer life I am blogging it on another page. http://www.fatgirlsnoring.blogspot.com/  I won't start blogging there until I leave so you can keep reading here until then. See you at cheap night!

I owe you some pictures...here's a few from the past couple of months.

These first few pics are from when I was making butter chicken. There are a few friends who are trying to do a regular dinner party with a different country as the theme each time. First theme--India. So I made my no fail butter chicken which failed. LOL...which is why there are no end pictures. I tried an actual recipe this time and that was likely my first mistake. My second mistake was using black cardamon. The smell is very intense. Smoky and earthy all at the same time. It wasn't a mistake to use it, it was a mistake to use 3. 3 green cardamon seeds is one thing, 3 much larger black ones is another. Lesson learned. What I did do and will try again is leaving the cinnamon whole. I hate trying to grind cinnamon and the whole sticks leave the same flavor with no effort.



Using my new mortar and pestle. Thing of beauty.

The start of the butter chicken.

Mmmms, spices. My kitchen smelled so good.

Remember this? My fugly telephone table. I bought it in August at the Restore and had high hopes for it...and it turned out awesome. Of course I had nothing to do with turning it into this thing of beauty other than being lucky enough to win a contest. After some time I received it back and am so happy with the look...except that it is covered with a blanket most of the time as the cats feel it would make a good scratching post.

This may look disgusting but I can assure you it was very tasty. I had whipped mashed potatoes at a friends house a few weeks ago and have been whipping my potatoes ever since. So much yummier than dry mashed potatoes.

For those of you who have never experienced the blue potato they are a thing of beauty. :)Often more purple than blue, but the name blue remains. These are small blue potatoes that are blue all the way through, not like the blues I remember from my youth which just had blue veins around the edges. I like to leave the skin on--tastier and more fibre.

And on a totally different lane of thought...

My drive to work one day...

And my drive home the same day....yes it doesn't take long to have a change in the weather conditions. This was from late February.

And back to food projects that didn't work out...grrr. Next time I photograph my cooking I think having someone to take the photos would be helpful. I can't stir/whip/fry while also taking photos.

This is the making of a green cake.

Blending in of the food colouring...note the not smooth cake mix.

 One of my always helpful helpers--Tundra.

 Cake balls. Finally. Wanted to try this in the fall and ran out of time for the party...then again over holidays but the last thing anyone needs is more sweets. So in honour of St. Paddy's day I made green cake balls. They tasted good but I would recommend when making cake balls from a light coloured cake to cut off the browned edges as they show up in the balls.

Waiting for the chocolate.

 The chocolate that went from solid form to burnt. It never fully melted in the pot which is why the 'balls' never got coated in chocolate and brought into work.

Apparently on Saturday night the moon was closer to the earth than normal. Here's proof...

I was lazy and took this from inside my apartment...but in my defense it was late and I already had my jammies on. I think the image turned out pretty good. What is amazing to me is that we were able to see it that night...cause tonight...no moon visible.

Hope your weekend was as relaxing as mine...but I also hope you finished washing your dishes...I didn't get mine finished. Oh well.