Thank you to everyone who wrote in with support. It certainly helped to read it this am before I had 'the conversation.' Things went better than I expected but I am glad it is over.

Since Calgary is experiencing mid 20 temperatures I may delay my job hunt by a day or two while I work on a last ditch tan at one of the parks here in town. Ah. Nice.

I'm quiting my job. I am meeting with my 'boss' this afternoon and letting her know that as of 4pm I am finished.

I haven't taken this decision lightly. I don't like to fail at anything and while I have moments of seeing this as a failure they are few and far between. I mostly see it as a bad fit. Right from the beginning it was a bad fit and I knew it, but I wanted to 'give it the old college try'. I tried.

Rather than postpone the inevitable I am finishing tomorrow (Monday) and will spend my days searching for another position. I am viewing the whole thing like a relationship. You spend the first few dates feeling each other out and deciding if this is someone you want to spend most of your days with. In this case the job and I are breaking up. It isn't going to work out. It isn't just the 'boss', I can deal with personality issues, it is the bad feeling I get when I look at the books, the files, the way the meetings are conducted, the whole thing. I don't want my name associated with the organization so I am pulling out.

I still like Calgary and have no plans to leave the big city. There appear to be lots of other jobs and I'm sure if won't take me long to find something. Heck, I already sorta had an offer in the elevator. LOL. Fear not friends. I will be working again soon.

In the meantime though I will get to explore a bit more of downtown during the day and finish unpacking. With the two jobs I have found that my evenings off are spent just relaxing and not getting settled. It won't take much longer to get settled. A trip to Ikea for some additional supplies and some re-arranging of furniture should do it. I will feel better about the ability to have people over and to come home at the end of a long day knowing everything is in its place.

I just emailed my resignation letter to myself at the office and am not looking forward to the conversation, but I'm a big girl and can handle it.

One of the staff (from the big office we are located in) put her resignation in last week. She was offered better hours, reduced work week, more money and a new set of tires. LOL. Some people just don't get it. It isn't about the driving. It's about the destination.

FRIDAY!! Yeah.
I am so glad it is Friday. For one I didn't need to think about what I was wearing this am. Jeans and a nice top...it is after all Casual Friday at work. I have two meetings today and need to hit the bank before 4pm so that pretty much makes my day. The week has gone by surprisingly fast and for that I am grateful.

I did up a Policy and Procedures Manual this week, wrote a new JD, spent some time learning the website program and then fixing the website (with more to do). I haven't done much web page creation since back in the day when it was all in code. Now it is all click and point and ever so easy.

The PT job continues to be fun. Yes, it makes me tired the next am but it is worth it. Last night I was put on till training. Now I know how to use the cash register. I haven't worked cash since 1996 but am happy to say I was only short 9 cents at the end of the night. phew. I enjoyed it and hope they put me on till again this weekend. The staff caf was just as great as remembered from the first night and I know it will become a regular for me. But then again I find it hard to cook a meal for $2-3. We get one period off each game. You can eat, nap, walk, talk, text or watch the game. I have enjoyed having the first period off. Seems like a break earlier in the evening is good and gets me rested for the rest of the shift. When not on break we can watch the game on the many tv's hanging around the arena. Last night at my register I could count 8 tvs within my viewing distance. So even though I am seeing most of the game on screen (like at home), the energy of the building can certainly be felt where we are. And if I strain my neck I can see down the stairs and to where the ice is.

I met #12's mom and Aunt. Glencross's Uncle and Dad and Mrs' Bertuzzi was in last night...oh the celebrity of it all.

I'm off to work. And no, it hasn't gotten much better. Sigh. Anyone need a good HR person? Actually, I was having a conversation on my cell phone yesterday in the stairwell when this lady walked by. I was just ending my conversation and ended up on the elevator with her. "Are you looking for a job?" "Yes." "What do you do?" So we had a very brief conversation (only three floors!) and I emailed her my resume. It was so funny and the timing so very strange.

GO FLAMES GO!!!

Ok, so they lost tonight. At least I had a good evening. My first night of jersey duty. It is exactly as I wanted. A fun no brainer job. I wasn't on cash tonight so it was even easier. LOL. All I had to do was tell people what size shirt I thought they should buy and then get it off the rack for them. Yep, I can do that.

I took my break during first period. Headed to the staff caf (cafeteria) for supper. SOOOO cheap. A hotdog is 75 cents as is a pop, fries and half the other stuff on the menu. Chicken fingers were 1.25 and a chocolate milk was 1.00. The special was 2 bucks. spaghetti with meatsauce. Great deals esp when you consider the prices folks are paying on the main floor for food.

I get off my day job at 4pm. Walk home. Change clothes, grab my bag and walk to work. I get there by 4:45pm and I was home by 10:40pm. Not bad. Not bad at all. Everyone seems really nice and surprisingly I'm not the youngest person there. LOL. But I am definitely in the older age group. Oh well...for a few hours I get to be young and responsibility free. And they pay me.

Back to the grind in a few hours...so off to bed. Hope everyone is having a good kick off to Fall!

The part-time job. Is awesome. True, I have only worked one shift, but I like it already. I worked Thursday night at the Neil Diamond concert. I admit to not knowing what he sang prior to the event...it isn't my job to know...only to know how to smile and ask how I can help the fans who show up. I sold t-shirts, mugs, posters, programs, teddy bears and necklaces. I left my day job at 4pm went home, changed and walked down to the Saddledome where I worked until 11:30pm when I headed home and to bed.

The other folks are great. Very friendly and we are all there for the same basic reason...a fun pt job. I am looking forward to working Tuesday night...pre-season Flames game against Florida. The earliest that we are expected to show up is 4:30pm and if you can't make it till later they understand and it isn't an issue. As long as you sign up to work the majority of the flames games they don't care how many other shifts you take. I am hoping to pick up a few concert shifts and to work for some of the lacrosse games...cause I've never seen Canada's national sport in action!

Since I didn't have any shifts this weekend I decided that Saturday would be a great day to head to Banff. I had thought I was going alone but at the last minute had a friend along for the ride. She has lived in Banff and was happy to once again play tour guide. Here's some pics from this weekend.

The day in Banff was nice...until the end of the evening. We did a bit of shopping...I wanted a few gifts for some friends up North, ate some chocolate, did some great people watching and checked out the hoodoos. Met a friend for supper and then went for an after supper drink...tea. By the time we got to the coffee/tea shop I was feeling under the weather. I called the evening to a close and we headed back into the big city. I felt horrible. I eventually had to pull over to the side of the road and in an oh so lady like fashion, kneeling on the highway between Banff and Calgary proceeded to lose my supper. At least I felt better after that. Not sure what the issues was...but I did manage to sleep well...after I finally got settled. When I got home my parking space was full. I drove around the block a couple times and didn't see any spaces so I left a note on the car and wrote down their license plate. I told them I had their plate and if they parked there again I would have them towed. Then I parked in a neighbours spot and left a note on my truck explaining what was going on. Yes, it is only a parking spot. But, I pay good money for that spot. And lets face it, I'm sick, I'm tired, I'm not in the mood to drive around looking for a spot blocks from my house when I shouldn't need too. I got up early this am and moved back into my spot. I found my note on the ground and in lipstick was 'whaa' I threw it in the garbage. I came back into the house and fell asleep until early this afternoon.

I’ve started this blog entry in my head several times since May. Yep, May. Since I am finally geographically removed and the timing is right I am finally going to write and post this. Starting in February/March of this year I was told that the Premier would not be running in the next election. He was tired, had had enough and wanted to move South to be closer to all his kids. (Oh, and he only has 3 kids with 2 different women. The two oldest from a long term relationship and the youngest child from a shorter relationship. I add this only because I hate when people say he has kids all over the territory from any number of women.) I had heard rumors that he was going to run in Pangnirtung where he might stand a better chance of getting a seat this time, and was told that indeed that would not be happening. So I believed what I had heard. He would not be running. He would be seeking employment in the South. And that ladies and gentleman was straight from the horses mouth...not just rumor.

Recently I heard that he is indeed running again. Here’s what I think happened. He put some feelers out to contacts in the South and other Premiers and Federal officials letting them know that he would be available for another position of responsibility. I don’t think anyone wanted him. And now he must run in this election or face unemployment.

Think about it. He has been running a territory of about 30,000 people for two terms. Most cities are larger than 30,000 people. I can imagine that trying to create a new territory has many, many challenges and there is a lot to do...but what have they done? A lot of people suggested that the gov’t should have taken the NWT policies and just done a cut and past NU for NWT. I agree. At least to keep things moving. It has taken 9.5 years to get an Education Act. The old one could have been amended many, many times and been done faster. But...what do I know, I’m just a stupid white girl from the South.

Can anyone from below 60 degrees tell you his name? I didn’t think so. He hasn’t done anything incredible, amazing, memorable in his terms to make one of these Southern companies want to hire him. His name isn’t recognizable and his track record isn’t impressive enough to get him a Southern job.

And let’s faced it...once you’ve been Premier in Canada you shouldn’t really need to flog your own resume. They should come to you. I’ve worked in HR. If I saw a resume that listed lawyer and premier on it...I’d wonder why he couldn’t find a job on his own...and why he hadn’t been head hunted. Heck, I’ve been hunted in the past.

I don’t live in Nunavut anymore but that doesn’t mean I’m not concerned. I didn’t leave because I think the place is beyond fucked up. I left for personal reasons. Would I consider moving up North again? Yep. No doubt about it. Heck, I am trying to see if I am still eligible to vote in the upcoming election.

Ok, so this entry was a long winded comment about nothing....but at least I got to write it. Honourable Premier of NU...(I don’t want to offend him again by calling him by his name....right Paul?)...good luck with the election. Oh, and Ms. Elisapee Sheutiapik YOU GO GIRL. If I was in your riding I’d vote for you.

Ok...finally...some pictures.



In case you don't recognize this...it is the Calgary Tower. Not the CN tower as I keep refering to it. LOL. OOPS. It is tall and the view from the top is amazing. I made it up one day but didn't have camera. Luckily I have two friends who work there and can get me access to it...so I will go again some day with the camera!


Lovely little park about one block from my apartment. It gets lots of use. I enjoy sitting and watching the other people using the park. Very entertaining. Great place to go and read a book. The weather has been amazing. Mid 20's still during the days and lots of sun shine. Today seems to be an exception as there is some drizzle and an ever so slight chill in the air. I have not had to wear a coat yet...though many others are. I think my Northern skin is still around and I will be able to handle the temps slightly better than some of the other Calgarians.



This cute little guy is seen all over downtown. He shows you where the connections between the buildings are. Basically a lovely set of internal walkways that connect the majority of downtown. Likely very nice in the winter if you work in the area...no need to bundle up to head for your fav lunch spot. Right now that are just a quick way to dodge traffic and see the sights.


High pieces of art. They sure make for some interesting photos. I don't think I found a sign saying what they are called or who made them...but then again I can't remember if I even looked for one. Hmmm. I'll get back to you on this at some point.


Another park. This one in downtown. If I leave my office and walk 5 blocks towards downtown I find this charming park. A great spot for lunch al fresco.


Wonderful piece of art at the park. The details in this are amazing. Every line in his face, his clothes, etc. Very nice. Apparently a lot of folks sit across from him and have their pic taken as if they are playing chess with him.

These were all taken last weekend. I've been tired and lazy this week...and didn't get anything posted.