Dating in the modern age...

Ok, so I've technically been single for a LONG time now. It doesn't bother me to be single, but every now and then I really want a partner to do things with. When I get these feelings I start to wonder how one goes about finding a partner in todays world.

I don't like going to bars. I mean I enjoy the odd night out at a pub for a drink or two, but it is unlikely that one will meet someone in a room where the music is so loud that having a normal conversation is out of the question and a lot of the lines floating around are there for just one nights entertainment, not a long term commitment. I'm not into that.

There are these events geared towards singles in cities of this size. I would prefer to not attend alone and as of yet haven't met any single girls to tag along with me.

If you think back to a few years ago I did attend a speed dating event in Charlottetown and while it wasn't disastrous it certainly didn't end in any additional evenings out for me. I haven't been brave enough to try it again.

Online dating has been around for a long time. I have talked to and heard about a lot of folks who have met this way. And hey, the internet is a big part of my life so it makes sense I would try it. I've dabbled over the past few years and have had limited success.

I met a gentleman on line a few weeks ago and well...don't get your hopes up. I think I may entirely pack in the online thing. The latest guy is too, I don't know...tooo something. He has two cats. And while I know some guys with cats he seems to make them his life and hide behind them. All of the pictures of him have at least one of the cats in it and he went on for about 20 minutes the other night about them. I don't know much about him, but I know all about his cats.

So sorry cat boy, but it isn't going to work out.

****

It is snowing today. The wind is scheduled to pick up and blow around. I have a list of things to do outside the house but think I will put them off until tomorrow or early next week. The thought of fighting Saturday mall traffic in these blustery conditions doesn't sound like fun so I will pass for now.

Another care package arrived from PEI this week. Yes, Canada Post finally delivered. It seems to take forever. The cookies arrived in excellent shape and I was happy to see some of my favorite books show up in the box. Thanks Mom.

It is March and I am anxiously awaiting Spring. Maybe too anxious for it. The inches of snow that have fallen over night are making me wonder if it will ever come. I know it will and that I will likely return from my next trip to Cambridge Bay to find it is spring in Edmonton. Yes folks, there is another trip to Cambridge Bay being booked for the end of the month...just another one week trip. I'm starting to become a regular on these flights. LOL.

We've had a temp at work the past couple months and she is/was terrific. Her laughter was infectious. Her attitude was great and I appreciated her being around. She lives the kind of life I want in a way. Her and her hubby do lots of trips around the world. One or two trips a year. Not always exotic glamorous trips, but always exciting. She brought in some extra travel magazines she had. I've been drooling over them ever since. I've planned a dozen trips in my head since bringing them home. Sigh. I'm going to try and book something later in 2009 for either Christmas this year or late winter 2010. I can't wait!

It's almost Friday! I am happy to report that except for the odd sneeze and coughing fit I am well on the way to recovery from my cold/sinus issue/sickness of late. Thank goodness.

I will admit to struggling the past couple days at work. I had over 200 resumes that I needed to screen for 4 competitions I have on the go. I'm behind on getting them screened and that will put me behind on getting the interviews done. Somehow the schedule I had in mind is being pushed back...I'll deal. Screening 200 resumes is rather daunting I gotta say. I finally made it through all 200 once and have made it through one pile for a second time. Hopefully tomorrow I'll finish the entire project and be ready to rock 'n roll next week.

Here's a couple of websites that I check on a regular basis:

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

http://www.passiveaggressivenotes.com/

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

http://ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com/

And a thank you to Edith who sent me a site of some old friends from gov't who are on an incredible adventure.

Montreal the postal black hole of Canada

Yet another parcel of mine is being held hostage in Montreal. It left PEI on February 24 and has been held in Montreal since February 26. I haven't received a ransom note yet but I am expecting it any day. I thought that it was just living up North that made my mail so slow but now think it is simply--Canada Post is S_L_O_W.

Finally had my follow up ultrasound today. It was so uneventful with everything else going on I almost forgot about it. This was a follow up to all the pain I had after the last procedure. No biggie and as far as I know she didn't find any left over sponges, scalpels, etc inside me.

I arrived and left the office in daylight today...whoo hoo. I think I will lose some of that this coming weekend with the time change but I know in the end Spring will come! My cold/sinus issue is still with me and while I feel a bit better everyday the comments from my co-workers would lead me to think otherwise. "You look terrible. You must be sicker." Um, thanks.

I'm chatting on msn with a guy I met on one of these dating sites....I'm not sure how it is going...I'll let you know.

I've been a bad blogger lately. Actually it would seem that a lot of bloggers are falling off the rails this month. I have a number of blogs that I read on a regular basis and it would seem February is just one of those months...not that I can/should/will use that as an excuse...but it sounds like a good one!

Thank goodness this is the end of February and perhaps with the introduction of March or rather re-introduction of March into my life the number of entries will increase.

This week...

I saw beautiful sun dawgs (dogs) on my way to work Wednesday. It surprised me to see them and had I of not been late in a arriving at work would have missed them. The sun is getting up earlier and earlier each day which is wonderful. I am able to see my route to work and once or twice this week I even left early enough that the sun was still shining on the way home. Spring just might be around a very large corner.

My apartment is a total disaster. I'm contemplating moving rather than cleaning. Seems easier at the moment. I will spend the weekend doing some spring cleaning and searching through my box o files for tax related stuff. Yes ladies and gentlemen it is that time of the year. I fully expect to get a big bill at the end of the process but none the less am as anxious as ever to get them done. If anyone knows a good tax person in Edmonton...let me know. Keep in mind I need them to know the Northern stuff VERY well.

My truck is running wonderfully. This week we had temps of -25 most mornings and I tempted the fates by not plugging it in. Ever the Norther vehicle it turned over each morning without hesitation. I love my truck. :)

I went into work one morning threatening to quit...because of the amount of snow that I had been required to brush off the truck. I can't get over the snow we had earlier in the week. Seriously folks...cold= no snow= happy Jennifer. snow=work=late for work!

I had some very long meetings this week. They were held just for me...and my brain came out at the end of each day throbbing. We are reviewing the policy and procedures manual--finally. I haven't touched it since January and once this review is finished I need to do all the revisions, make it look shnazzy (SP??)and then be ready to present it to all the managers the end of March. I also have four competitions that closed on Friday I need to screen, get questions ready for, etc, etc. And I need to start our summer advertising, post at least another four positions this week, etc. Yeah, the list is getting longer, faster.

I got misplaced last night while attempting to pick up my Indian food. I can't say lost cause I knew where I was, I just didn't know how to get to where I wanted to be. I did a bad thing and ordered my Indian food from my cell phone while driving home from work. After I placed the order I realized I had placed it at the wrong location. I then had to turn around and head back to the correct location. I knew where it was, I've driven by it a number of times, but it is tricky. There are about 4 roads that all converge and diverge around the same area. The street I needed was a one way and I managed to turn onto it early and then couldn't get off that road and back around. I was 1/2 hour late picking up my food. The girl at the counter laughed and said it happens all the time! I felt better. With two one ways around it if you don't start from the correct direction you will end up circling the area before actually arriving there. The food was worth the struggle in getting there. And luckily the getting home was easy due to the direction of the one way.

The fish enjoyed his time at the office. I took him in the Friday before I was scheduled to leave for Cambridge Bay with the thought I was going to be gone for two weeks. With a last minute adjustment to my schedule I decided to leave him there. He was re-named in my absence to Herman, which then evolved to Hermes. I have accepted the name change due to the loss of the other fish. Cal and Gary are no more. Hermes is still around and enjoying being back home with me.

Either my keyboard is possessed or my fingers are...as I type the cursor keeps jumping around and I find myself typing in the middle of other words. Hmmm.

Sigh. Who is going to come and clean my home and wash my clothes??? You?

T minus 14 days to the procedure. I am looking forward to having it done...just to be done. I am feeling much better about it all and think I have a great plan of action. I will be out the night before to pick up movies, comfort food and easy to assemble meals. Likely I will be up and around by Sunday, but I want to be prepared. And one can never go wrong with a week off from work and a house full of movies and food.

Ok...alright already...I'm getting off the couch...and I'll go do some cleaning. Maybe I'll start with the smallest room...the bathroom.

Bathroom is done!!! Yeah me. LOL....small, baby steps this weekend.

I'm back from the North!

It was a great week. I'm tired and sick again...but still...a good week.

So, I stole the truck the first night, but other than that no illegal activities...at least none that I'm aware of. I did manage to get out on the fuel truck Thursday morning for a couple of hours and helped deliver the home heating fuel in the community. Yep, that is one of the many things the company does that I work for. Never one to pass up an interesting opportunity I asked the driver and swamper if I could tag along...they agreed and I had a great time.

It may not be my next career, but I had a wonderful couple hours.




I had one of the guys take a picture of me...but it hasn't shown up on the camera so I think that perhaps there was something lost in the translation when using the camera. Oh well.

Wednesday evening was the annual auction. I bid on and won a travel holder for tickets, passport, etc along with a $100 gift card for travel. I bid $50. I ended up paying $60. I had 20's and felt that the extra $10 wouldn't hurt me as the $ were going towards the literacy society. (Good Karma!)The same evening we watched Susan Aglukark in concert. I've been a fan since her first album so it was great to actually see her in person.

I cooked supper for an old buddy from Iqaluit on Thursday night...or rather I heated up food. It was great to catch up on the gossip from Iqaluit. Friday evening I went to a friends home for pizza and bingo. Yes folks...radio bingo is back in my life. Of course I didn't win any money, but for me the whole point of the evening is just to socialize with friends. I visited with this family last time I was in Cambridge Bay and had a couple of great visits with them this time as well. Lunches, pizza night and just seeing each other at the trade show events. I look forward to seeing them again.

It would appear that I may be up again for a week next month. I certainly hope so.


Lots of snow to cover some of the equipment around town.

This cutie was spotted at the concert. I tried taking a couple of photos of her face on...she even posed but they didn't turn out.



Kissing cousins. The little guy was dancing in his fancy slippers and giving all the ladies kisses.



My photo credit!

Look at the four pics in the back ground. Mine are #'s 1, 3 and 4.


Sun creeping up. I finally had some sunny days in Cam Bay....just too bad I didn't get to enjoy them by running around all day taking pics.

Arrived in Cambridge Bay safe and sound. The flight was delayed leaving Edmonton and then we weren't sure we would be able to land in Cam Bay due to weather but we did. I checked into my new accommodations Sunday afternoon and took a nap.

I'm in a three bedroom apartment. Upstairs is kitchen, living room, dining room, half bath and washer/dryer. Downstairs are three bedrooms and a full bath. I have cable tv, stolen wireless internet and couldn't be cozier.

I spent Monday at the office and at this point it is all a bit of a blur. Monday night was the opening night for the trade show. It was great to see so many friendly faces. Lots of hugs and how are you's that night. BUT...prior to arrival at the show...

I'm at the office and someone says "There's a truck outside warming up for you. Drive it to the trade show tonight and use it tomorrow." Ok--thanks. I finished up my work, walked out the door and got in the truck. I drove around town for a bit then back to my apartment, got ready for the evening and then headed to the bunkhouse for supper. Just a couple of minutes before supper I hear "Who stole Randy's truck?" All eyes turned to me. Apparently around the corner of the building was another truck also warming up. I hadn't noticed and had gotten into the first one that I saw. Which was--Randy's truck. No biggie...they are all company trucks, but everyone tends to have 'their' truck. It was the laugh of the evening and this morning I returned the truck to Randy.

The trade show is going well. I'm just trying to relax and rest up before the evening events...supper and awards. I'm tired and would rather stay home sleeping but I must show up. So far a good week.

I stole a truck last night. Details to come tomorrow...if that doesn't up readership I don't know what will. LOL.