Yes, I had the interview. I called first thing Monday and the afternoon time slot they offered fit my schedule at work. I did my best and then attempted the 1 hour written challenge. I managed to send it off with 4 minutes to spare. They said I would hear by Friday but I am doubtful it will be that soon.

It's Friday morning...you know how you can sleep but not sleep? Your eyes are closed but the deep rest that comes from a good nights sleep isn't there. Yeah, that's been my week. Oh well. It's Friday! And I asked someone to cover my shift tonight and I wasn't scheduled for Sat/Sun so I have a real full weekend off. Giving up the shift so close to the trip wasn't in my plans but sometimes one just needs to make the call.

We are entering the final pre-trip stage for India. I am setting up a conference call for next week to discuss the trip with the GV folks who will be my Canadian life line during the trip. Yes, excitement levels are hitting new highs as we get much closer to the departure date. I may do some play packing this weekend to see where I am at with my belongings.

I was at VV last night looking for another pair of pants to build in ie. scrubs and found a terrific sun dress but then remembered that I think I already have a skirt I'm taking with me and really, don't I need another top instead? So I think spreading everything out on the bed together is the best plan of attack.

Filled my truck up last night with gas...it had been running on fumes for over 2 days and swallowed just over $77 worth of gas. Ouch. The mileage cheque I get at work will not cover that anymore. The sad thing is apparently the price was set a few years ago when prices were at the same level...so getting it increased is not going to happen unless gas goes up significantly more than it already has. Guess I better look into getting a new bike when I return from India.

Tis a good day to be green. It is after all March 17th the day when beer magically turns green in the barrel and people celebrate the heritage of the Irish by drinking excessively. What about an St. Indian day so we can eat butter chicken and naan to excess? Now that would be fun. :)

Here's a few pics from March 17 gone by...or close to March 17.

PEI, 2010 during my visit last year. 

 Edmonton, 2009 spent the day wandering around downtown looking for signs of spring.

 2008 seems to be missing. I believe that was when my camera was not working upon my return from India.
Iqaluit, 2007 getting ready to go for a walk.

 Pangnirtung, 2006 growing the tulips that I had brought back from Amsterdam with me.

And here we are in 2011 and there is no picture from today--yet...but I have been watching the monsters chase each other around the room while I try to peacefully cook in the kitchen. It's entertaining. And more good news I have Saturday and Sunday off again this week. YEAH!! I still get my three shifts but they have been moved around which is a total score for me. I didn't want to work extra shifts over the spring break (for schools) but had been warned that I might. Looks like I lucked out. Whoo hoo...the weekend is in my sights.

Waking up this morning to a very dark sky and even now at just past 7am the sky is still that very dark inky blue of pre-dawn...its fantastic! I normally enjoy waking up to the sunshining in my house and sipping my tea while I watch the morning form outside my window but the past few weeks my furry friends have felt it appropriate to wake up around 5:30am before dawn had broken and frankly I was tired of it. They go from sleep to crazy time in seconds and the thumping up and down the hall, jumping off and on the bed and general destruction in an effort to get me up and to feed them was starting to get annoying. This morning, obviously not aware of the time change yesterday they slept in. In fact I was the first one to get out of bed this morning. I must enjoy it while I can because it won't last for long.

The kittens were such big helps yesterday when I was doing some cleaning up around the house. Helping with the sweeping and giving me odd looks when I put all their toys into a box. They much prefer to have the toys spreadout over the entire apartment--cause you never know when you are going to be hit with the need to play ball. I bought them a new scratching post this weekend and so far it is still sitting and has not been scratched. They are always weary of new things like that so I'll give them a few more days before I figure out how to get them to use it. I'm sure some cat nip will be involved.

They are growing up into lovely cats. Still with the kitten zest for life and all things that move but I know that in the next 6 months or so they will lose much of that zip and will settle into fat, lazy cats--which is exactly what I am going for. In fact Tundra is almost there. She certainly has the fat part down. You know how kittens have that big belly on them--Tundra never got rid of hers and now she weighs a ton. It is very obvious who is walking across me at night just by the weight.

My weekend of no work was delightful and I am looking forward to my next break in 26 days. Next week will be crazy busy with theatre work. Spring break for schools across the Island means the theatre is open for what they call double matinees. Meaning they open at noonish and there will be four show times per movie, per day. Which means they expect to be busy. I won't be working any days but I will likely have a couple more evening shifts as the other staff will end up working more day shifts. Need the money...need the work...want to pick up a few treats for myself during my upcoming travels.

I may or may not have an interview today. When I got off work Friday night there was a message waiting for me 'please call back before 5pm today to arrange an interview for Monday' yeah...that didn't work. I left a message on the weekend saying I'm interested and will call first thing Monday to see if we can arrange this but you know it is going to be difficult. And the odd thing is is that today, Monday, would be the best day for me even without the advance notice. We are doing some sessions at work the next couple of days and one of the HR folks from the US is in town for it...so I can't just excuse myself for an hour. Fingers crossed. This would be a fantastic opportunity.

I'm tired. Very tired. It isn't just a body thing its an emotional thing. Working two jobs, planning the trip to India and the issues presently going on at my ft job. It's a lot the past few weeks.

For those of you not in the know I am looking for another job. There are a number of things going on where I currently work and while I am trying to keep my employ there it is looking more likely that I should and will need to have other employment very shortly after my return from India. The timing couldn't be worse and it is causing some of the stress in my like and that of course is turning into my mental tiredness.

I am trying to take next weekend off. Yep, totally off from both jobs. Plans for the days off--nothing. Just more hanging at the apartment with the kittens. And likely some packing of objects around the apartment (in preparation of the kittens living alone), a trial run of the suitcase and a check to see what other items of clothing, etc I will need to purchase in the next couple of weeks. 34 days and counting. There will be a very busy week of work at the theatre coming up during spring break and that will be my final push for cash before I travel. My mad money so to speak during the trip.

For the first few days I will be in Paris. Ah, Paris. I haven't really made any plans other than the booking of the hotel. Wandering around taking photos and eating croissants, cheese, bread and drinking wine doesn't require a lot of planning.

India is coming along nicely. The hotel information arrived this past week and I am very impressed. I need to put together an information package for my team this evening  and a number of other things...augh. I also brought home some work from my day job that I haven't looked at yet...simple work--hole punching. But I haven't gotten around to it yet. Farmers Market Saturday am, niece and nephew's b'day party Saturday afternoon, worked Saturday night, Sunday morning cooking lunches for upcoming week and shortly off to work for the rest of the day. Tonight is laundry and some cleaning along with the India information. With the 34 day countdown looming in my head India needs to take a priority on the to do list.

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Ahhh, how cute. Look at the kitten sitting in front of the fish tank. Funny kitty.

'Let me just sit up here and take a closer look at your nice fish tank.'

'Oh yes, I see the problem here that you were talking about with the tank. I can fix that.'

So far no fish have lost their lives in the making of these photos. Her fascination with the tank the past few days is comical. Yes, I should go over and get her down off the table--no, I haven't. But when I get up and walk towards her she jumps down--she knows its wrong. The paws dangle in the water on a regular basis but so far no actual fishing and no nibbles as far as I can tell...we will see how that goes.

Here are some kitten photos...I apologize if there are a few that you have seen before.

It's important to eat healthy and get plenty of exercise. The trampoline has been a great source of curiosity--we just need to learn to use it one at a time.

This is what happens when the kittens are bored. The toilet paper gets attacked and distributed.

At least I may have discovered why they want it...a roll of their own. Yes, that is a piece of toilet paper in the cats litter box. Hmmm.

When sisters fight--the claws come out. They spent about 10 minutes one morning pummeling each other. It was quite funny to watch.

I love this look. "Mess? What mess? I have no idea who might have dumped that box out and spread your things all over the house."

Recent photo but I like the old black and white grainy look to it.

"I hate it when she does that." Always more cleaning up to do.

So tired but still cleaning.

If you look close under the chin you can see a few drops of milk still on Hudson's fur.

Curiosity killed the cat...they ain't dead but they sure are curious. The poor guy who  two sets of cleans the walks must have a complex...there are always 2 sets of eyes on him making sure he does a good job.

Yesterday was Islander Day. It is a Monday off in February. I think it is a great idea. Everyone needs a long weekend between January and Easter--which is in late April this year btw. I did my laundry and most of the dishes, etc on Sunday so I would have Monday as a work free day...it was great! I made a delightful pot roast, a chocolate cake with some caramel sauce and biscuits. Mmmm. The cats spent most of the day sleeping.

It's a short work week thanks to yesterdays day off...which I am very grateful for. 46 days until I fly away. YEAH!!! Looking forward to the trip. We are back at 12 participants so that is good. Now to get my visa back in the next couple of weeks, visit the travel clinic again for some travel precaution medication and the packing/unpacking of my luggage. It is so close I can almost taste it.

Don't forget it you or anyone you know would like to donate to help build a house in India please visit my giving page:

http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=10698


Thanks. The money I am collecting will go directly to Habitat for Humanity and my goal of $650 will be enough to start a home in India. My trip is paid for by Habitat and the money I decided to collect will help start another home. All donations over $20 will receive a charitable donation receipt.


And now...off to work.

If I ever wished for a week to end this would be at the top of my list. Why is February always such a bad month? You would think that being the shortest month of the year would give it some sort of karmic break.

I'm not ready to share on here just yet..but lets just say the countdown to my trip has just turned into another countdown of sorts and not a positive one. I have well meaning friends telling me everything happens for a reason and I have always felt the same way...but when you are still caught up in the moment it is hard to understand that sentiment.

I work tonight and that will keep my mind busy for the evening and then again all day on Saturday. Hopefully we will be super busy--because of the Jack Frost festivities just around the corner from the theatre--and I won't have time to dwell on what is going on with my life.

On a positive note I have an interview this weekend for India and a potential back up person as well...so I'm happy about that. We should be able to maintain 12 with little difficulty. (Fingers crossed). And if I don't get my butt in gear I won't be going to India--need to send in my visa application...keep putting it off. Ah well.

I love my cats. They test my love for them everyday. But I know they still like me...how could they not like me...I'm the one that gives them food. And they give me unconditional love...and messes to clean up. LOL

Happy Friday.