Welcome to my second last day of work at _. Yesterday was a very tiring day. I drove the 1.5 hours to Whitecourt on Tuesday night and was surprised and delighted how nice and quick a drive it is--divided highway the entire way. I arrived in Whitecourt and the first impression was--yuck! Quickly followed by, oh, ok, thats better.

The first thing you see when entering town is a strip of hotels, gas stations and restaurants on both sides of the highway. No homes in site. As you reach the top of the hill a skateboard park appears (which shows the town is in touch with their youth), a large fitness centre with waterslide, pool, etc and then lots of paved walking paths. Ah, very nice indeed. The town seems to have 3 main areas. Most of the homes seem to be in two and I guess you either live at the top of the hill or in the downtown (at the bottom of the hill).

I checked into my  hotel on the far end of town and spent my evening relaxing with some tv--no internet--and was in bed early. Wednesday I awoke EARLY and by 7am had checked out and was on my way to explore the town. I happened upon what I thought was a rather tacky lawn ornament and turned out to be a live deer....not so tacky after all. The deer are everywhere. The gardeners must hate them, but I was enjoying watching them wander the nieghbourhoods. I had a long leisurely breakfast at one of the local spots and enjoyed the atmosphere while reading over my notes and jotting down my questions. I quite enjoyed my time before the interview and even made a trip to the local museum/interpretive centre.

The interview started at 11am and I drove away at 2:30pm. Yep, it was a long day. I had debated the day before staying in town until 6:30 to attend the WW meeting, but when I got into my truck all I wanted to do was get back to Edmonton--I was tired.

I took three or four pictures of deer and that was it. For some reason I have been feeling a bit superstitious about this interview. You know how sometimes the more you want something the more you have to lose? That's kinda how I felt going into this. Sometimes when you really want something you don't get it--happens to me all the time. So I didn't take pictures to share so the possibility of doing it later when I do move is still there...odd I know.

As of this afternoon I have had three interviews for three different jobs. I have a couple more that I want to apply for--maybe tomorrow while I am pretending to work for the last hour or two of my day--cause it has all basically been sorted and put away now.   :)

I am hopeful and confident that I will have a new job by the end of the year. (I just re-read what I wrote...obviously I meant month...hopefully that wasn't some sort of forshadowing on my part). I am so looking forward to Saturday morning. I get to wake up in a new life--and do laundry. LOL. Monday morning will be a tad odd...but I am looking forward to it none the less. I hope to enjoy the time off and am looking forward to my trip to Vancouver the weekend of the 14-16th for my Global Village training. It should be a ton of fun.

Countdown time...can you believe that I have less than 5 days of work left? I can't. I am working 3.5 of the next 5 days...those darn interviews keep getting in the way of my work. There is a TON of paper work to clue up at the office, good thing I have help this week with the filing and sorting.

I had a few moments of panic on the weekend. I am still confident in my abilities to get a job, but I think I was starting to question the order of my plans. Most people find the new job. Quit the old job. Pack the old apartment. Move into the new apartment.

I have quit the old job. Still looking for the new job. Gave notice on the old apartment and have started packing....no word on a new apartment yet--I haven't actually started looking. So yes, a few moments of panic. Luckily I have friends and family to talk me out of my moments. My biggest worry is about the timing of everything. I am confident I will get a job in the next 30-60 days, I just don't want to lock myself into a new lease only to find the ultimate job a month later and need to pay $$$$$ to get out of the lease. That would suck.

The new guy at work starts today. I had thought about going in extra early to chat with him and fill him in on a few things...and then I thought...nah, he's a big boy and can take care of himself. I will show up around my usual time.

The trip to Lloydminster was nice. It seems like a nice place. I think I like the Saskatchewan side better--it appeared to me to be the older side and I like the older style homes better. I didn't have lunch in SK, I had it on the Alberta side. I think with no PST in Alberta the stores have predominiantely (sp) opened on that side. I will write more on the trip tonight..with pictures. Have a great day!

Happy Friday! For those of you on facebook you will know that I was pretending that yesterday was Friday. It just seemed like the week had been long enough and I was in a good mood--Friday. Today I am also celebrating Friday. Why not?

Today the official announcement will be made at work that I am leaving. I told those in the Edmonton office yesterday and my one direct report in CB yesterday. I wanted to do it personally. It was a huge relief to say it out loud and not need to hide it anymore. There is no replacement yet--I'm not even going to worry. I have tried my best to fill it. Can only do so much.

I'm excited about the upcoming interviews. 4 booked and potential for 1 more. I'm actually double booked one morning next week and while I did contemplate trying to re-arrange them or do something so I could accommodate both I am going to cancel one of them. It would require me to move to BC. I have nothing against BC, I like it, but it is a very small town. It is very expensive to live there and there are so many unknowns surrounding it. I think you all know that I am adventurous and willing to try new things...and while the job seems interesting, I think in the long run I will be banging my head on the desk after a few weeks. It's a shame really cause it is one of those minority groups that could use the help of someone who cares. And I do, but I also care enough about myself at the moment to know that I need to put me first.

I'm really excited about the interview on Wednesday next week. It will be an ALL day event. Mostly because it is out of town. The potential job is a couple hours outside of Edmonton. I love the location and while I have not been to this exact spot I have been close last fall when I was camping. The job sounds interesting and I am assured that they really care about the employees. It seems like they really do. I have been all over google and it seems like a great spot for me. As Goldilocks would have said...it seems just right. I can keep going to WW and Curves so that makes me happy.

Almost the entire management team is going to be there to meet me. I'm not sure if it is a group interview or just one on one conversations. Either way...I will be ready!

The one on Tuesday is for the camp rotation job. I'm interested to learn more....and if they ask me to head up to Fort McMurray to check it out...I will gladly go. The third one I'm keeping is also in Edmonton...but the far extreme West and not anywhere near the centre of the city. I like that idea.

I'm heading out tomorrow morning to Lloydminster. It is in Alberta...no Saskatchewan...no...both! It sits right on the boarder. The last time I was there was 1986? Yep, I think that is right. I am driving the 3 hours to pick up some free moving boxes. No, I'm not crazy. I just thought it would be a great adventure. Maybe not overseas vacation adventure...but something interesting and fun to do. The camera will of course be with me. The boxes have a retail value of about $150. Have you bought moving boxes lately? They are expensive...but worth it. The boxes are Uhaul boxes and they have a website where you can exchange or re-sell your used boxes. What a great way to recycle them. The nice man giving me his boxes is going to meet me at the Home Depot on Saturday morning. He must also think I'm a bit nuts to drive...6 hours round trip for some free boxes...but it isn't just the boxes, it is the whole day for me. Lunch in Saskatchewan anyone?


Guess I better get my butt off the couch and out the door....I still have a job and must show up--at least for another week!!! (Have you ever seen someone so happy who is about to be unemployed???)

I'm so excited! And I just can't hide it! I'm about to lose control and I think I like it...uh huh um....or something like that.

Yep, my mood the past couple of days has sky rocketed! They like me...they really like me! :)

I have been lucky enough to officially book one interview and am waiting on a second company to get back to me with a firm day/time. (victory dance of joy) There is a possibility of a couple more interviews in the next couple of weeks. I'm so happy....

Now...yes, this is far from having a new job to go to...but it is a step in the right direction. I am practically floating around the office and my apartment. I'm in HR I know the process...I know how long things take and how hard it is to find the person with the 'right' fit so my expectations are in line. It is harder to find someone with the right fit than it is to find someone with the right skills. I'm just excited to get a call so I can at least practice my interviewing skills.

On another note. Sunday I picked up these disposable grills. Basically charcoal briquettes in a tinfoil pan with a wire grill on top. I used them last year at a cost of around $7.93 each. I didn't want to fork over $$ in late August for a bbq and they didn't seem to be on sale. Obvioulsy I want a portable one and couldn't find the right one last year.....so I used the disposable ones. On Sunday I found them again at C'Tire and instead of almost $8 I purchased them for $2.93. What a deal! I bought 5--all they had. I didn't get crazy and go from C'Tire store to store...I am hoping I will find a bbq I like this year that is portable and practical for me...but not until after all the job/moving/stuff is over. I can't wait for another great day so I can bbq.

Other than that...not much on the go. If someone wants to come clean my floors I would be more than happy to let you. ;) No takers eh? Nuts.

Sunday night. My weekend went by quickly....too quickly. Does that happen to anyone else? Nope, just me huh?

I'm just about to hit the websites to continue my job search. To answer Edith's comment on the last post--yes, I know exactly what I am looking for....but it isn't available at the moment. While the recession is lifting and hiring is increasing we are still not far enough along that I can look for my ideal job. Ideally a larger company (almost any industry or government), one that the HR department has move than 2 or 3 people in it and one where the company supports my eclectic educational wants/needs, has a basic salary package and it would be amazing if they had one of those benefit plans where you get to choose where to spend the money. Location isn't as important to me as it might be to some people.

On to more interesting topics....hmmm....stumped.

Saturday I headed to a movie. "The Back Up Plan" with J Lo. It was exactly as expected--funny, cute, romantic. Up until the last 5 minutes of the movie I was having a great time....then it happened. The cell phone of the person next to me beeped. I thought she was reaching down to turn it off--NOPE. She texted back and then proceeded to check and see how many other messages she had missed. My loud throat clearing wasn't working and finally my "oh, for ____'s sake" may have done it cause she turned it off after that. Rude. Rude. Rude.

I really don't like cell phones. People seem to think they are a great reason to be rude. Talk on them while in line at the grocery store and ignore the cashier. Talk on them while driving--dangerous. And my absoluate total pet peev....talk on them when we are out together. Grrr. I went out with a friend the other day and her phone went off. She not only answered it she proceeded to carry on an almost 10 minute conversation. It just seemed so rude to me. Why can't people just let them to go voice mail and respond when they are alone? Sigh.

While the weather wasn't as nice this weekend as last I did get out for a walk this afternoon. I've been downloading a few new songs for my ipod. I need peppy up beat music to keep me going. If anyone has a favorite upbeat peppy I must dance or walk or run when I hear this song let me know.

And thanks to Indigo on the flower search. The flower is called a euphorbia.

If you haven't been on the job search wagon in a while you may not relate to this post. Or at least this is my experience with looking for a job.

The way one searches for a job has changed dramatically from when I was 'younger'. The newspaper used to be the only real search tool available. Saturday was the big day for posting job ads and then Wednesday for the Globe and Mail. I would scour the paper from front to back looking for opportunties that might match my ambitions and generally be the end of one day it was over. The letters are typed, the job ads clipped and then mailed to the prospective employers. It is very different now.

Now the internet is your friend (or foe). The number of sites with job postings are too numerous to count and unless you are 100% confident with the site it is easy to think of a scam at every turn...or at least it is for me. You put a lot of personal information on a resume. Name, address, employment information. I get a tad concerned about the ease with which this type of information can be shared. But--there are lots of very reputable sites that I use and I have no concerns with posting my information on them. But it takes a long time to go through them all. Want to work for the New Brunswick government--check the website. Governement of Nova Scotia--check the website. Every government has its own site that needs to be checked, every large company has its own site that can be checked...its a lot of checking. And it takes a lot of time.

Yes, many of these sites allow you to sign up and receive emails when they post a job that matches your criteria....but that just means you are sifting through emails instead of websites....it still takes a lot of time. I can spend every evening on the web going from site to site looking for opportunities, writing up the cover letters and sending off hope.

Hope. It is the biggest part of the application process. And imagination.

When you apply for the job you need to have that hope in your heart that this could be the job. This will be the one that makes all other jobs pale in comparisson. This job--will make you happy. It's a lot to expect for a 650 word job ad. But if you don't have hope in your heart and head you won't apply for any jobs.  I put myself in to start with--I can always take myself out later. No harm no foul. I use the lottery method a bit for job searching. If I apply to enough jobs eventually my number comes up and I'm a winner. Yes, lets hope my odds at landing a job are better than winning the lottery. I'm pretty confident that they are.

So, I have hope.

Imagination. I have it in droves. When I apply for a job I imagine myself in it. If it is in a different neighbourhood, different town/city I see myself packing, moving, finding a new place to live, starting my life around that job. If I can't picture the life that would come with it it likely isn't the job for me. There is an opportunity that was presented to me yesterday. It is a good job. Good company. Not necessarily ideal location. It involves 'shift work' of sorts. Rotations. 3 weeks in, 1 week out. It is in a camp environment--but this is no trailer out in the middle of nowhere type camp. This is a hotel in the middle of the wilderness. There are over 1500 beds at this site. That's a lot of people. The successful candidate gets their own room and I think private bath--but will need to confirm that again. There are breakfast meetings with colleagues and lots to keep one busy during the day. In the evening, satellite tv, high speed internet, the games room, fully equipped gym, and the great outdoors. Pretty similar to my evenings right now if you think about it.

All my meals are covered during the 3 weeks that I am working and I don't pay for the accommodations. There is a chance to save some $ because there is no where to spend it. And then every 21 days you leave the site and go wherever you want to go. That can lead my mind down so many different paths. I could go camping for the week. Do some of the hiking and exploring that my Monda-Friday job doesn't allow time for. I could go and visit friends near and far. I could fly to PEI for a few days. Lots of possibilities. And of course I could just have an apartment (or a room in an apartment) that I could just go to and chill for the week off. So many possibilities. I want to do a habitat trip this year--this would give me the opportunity to do that. I am able to take vacation time during my time off....so three times during the year I could have a two week break instead of just one week. Or a month all in one go. Think of that. I could do the Italy trip.

There are plusses and negatives. Obviously I enjoy the wilderness outdoors kind of stuff. But do I want to live away from my 'stuff' again. Could I commit myself mentally to this for 12 months and really try hard to save some money to pay down some of my loans and then take a lower paying job when my year is over. So many things to think about.

Then there is a job that I am looking at in Whitecourt. It is a town of about 10,000 about 2 hours outside of Edmonton. It seems to have a lot of plusses in lifestyle, but the job may be limiting in a way because the company doesn't have a lot of room for growth in that location. To move up I would need to move out. Long term is doesn't seem to make sense...but given that I can only seem to stay in one place for a couple of years anyway...maybe it isn't such a bad idea.

There are other opportunities here in Edmonton that I am thinking about and looking at. Mostly they involve conversations with myself about the type of work the company does. Could I work for a company that produces blinds? Would I have pride in that?

Another opportunity has presented itself in a location that I have thought about before as a 'good choice' but the money is significantly lower than what I would like. But I am pretty sure the lifestyle and location would make me a happy camper. Can I live on that significant drop in salary? Sort of. It would be very tight and would only work if the housing arrangement could be secured in a certain way. Is being broke but happy a better way to go than (not rich) but ok with money and not so happy a better option?

It's a roller coaster ride--job hunting. The highs and lows come and go on an hourly basis. So much to think about. As of today I have only 10 working days in my current job. I am not yet concerned about not having another job to go to. I really want some time off to freshen my perspective on life. Check back with me in July and see if I am still this optimistic--but for now I am happy to  buy another ticket and get back on the roller coaster today.

Sunday. I love Sundays. I get up in the morning, watch Coronation Street, drink my lovely smokey smelling tea, wash the dishes, sweep the floor, check my favorite blogs and generally putter. I do all this during the Corrie episodes. It calms me down for the day/week ahead. This morning is no different. I have eggs on poaching, my tea is steeping, the curtains are open and I can occasionally hear birds outside my window. Ah, Sunday--and it's a Spring Sunday which seems even more special and full of possibility.

I spent more of yesterday afternoon at a Cheerleading competition. One of the ladies at work, her youngest daughter was in it. It was fun to see. The youngest on her team is 3. Yep, 3. There was a parents group followed by younger groups--no more than 8 or 9 years old. A lovely afternooon. I took a number of pics. Am hoping to get a nice one of her daughter to send to her, but for some reason I was taking pics of most of the teams and then afterwards wondered why I had. What am I going to do with a bunch of photos of teams and kids I don't know...so I may delete those ones. The temperature yesterday hit a high of 23 degrees. It was fabulous.

I'm hoping for the same thing this afternoon.

I made another life decision this morning. It isn't a major one. I have deferred my exam to October. When I registered in February I had no plans (firm ones anyway) of leaving my job and my apartment. I think my inability to concentrate on studying is due to my pending unemployment. If the exam was after my last day of work I think I could have done it...but as it is I decided to post-pone the exam until the fall. I am hoping my life will be in general better order by then and I will be able to concentrate. September is a much better time to study than April. I feel a sense of relief over the deferment. I still really want to write the exam, but the timing isn't right.

What is right is the smell and look of spring. Don't you just love the newness of it all--renewal.

Have a great Sunday. I'm 15 full days of work--and counting!

Vancouver, May 2009