Good News

It's the May long weekend and I'm working the 7:15shift all weekend.   The weather outside has been off and on but not as bad as the weather people had predicted.

Last Friday I got the phone call I was waiting for.    Angela called me at home to tell me that I had the job (the casual position) at Home Care.    What she also offered me was the Dispatch position (also casual).    She offered them both to me, it wasn't a pick this or that option.    I was a little shocked to say the least.    Of course I accepted them both.   I don't know what I'm in for but it felt good to be hired all the same.   I have to phone her Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday to figure out a training schedule with her.    She already talked to my boss here at switchboard and it seems like it will work out just fine.

Funny though, I have a job but can't really make a living at it.    I wonder why, as a department, they risk loosing employees like they do.    A young lady here recently got another position over at the Rockyview Hospital because she wasn't getting enough hours here.    Now this weekend she called in sick for this job .... probably because she needed a day off and it's no big loss not coming into work here.    I mean, they don't care if you can't make ends meet ... so why would employees care in return.  Just sayin'.

So I'm hoping that I will like it enough over there.    It's all a part of the 5 now 3.5 year plan.    I want to work as much as I can and hopefully save some money to help Jillian out with school as much as I can while she is still living at home.   The kids don't need me home as much as before so this is the perfect time.
And there is also another benefit to working over there ... to learn new skills.    I think I will have a much better time finding a job on Vancouver Island if I've held different positions with the Alberta Health Services.   I mean, the more you know, the more you know.

Interview Today

Today I went for an interview with the HomeCare department at Alberta Health Services.     God, I hate interviews ... and AHS interviews are just as bad as West Jet interviews.       So many really stupid questions about really stupid things.     When I left there I didn't have the foggiest idea how it went.    Did I make a good impression?    Did I look like a goof?    WTF ... what ever happens, happens.   Nothing I can do about it now.

I went to see Shevaughn afterwards and brought her an Ice Cap from Tim Horton's.    She was just heading into lunch when I got there so I stayed and kept her company while she ate.   After I wheeled her down to physio therapy.   It was really good to see her.   And I'll be darned, she looks better and better every time I see her.    She teared up a little today when she mentioned Leo but she is so quick to regain her composure.    I hope sometimes she just has a really good cry and lets it out.

That was my day.   

Mexican Feast Cookies

I forgot to post a photo of the cookies I made for Cinco De Mayo.   I saw them on a blog and had to try making them for myself.    They turned out great and didn't last long.   I'll have to make them again sometime soon.   The salsa is made out of strawberries and kiwi.   Whipping cream was bought to represent sour cream but we didn't need it.   Maybe next year I'll make the cookies with all the trimmings.    They were so yummy!

30 Year High School Reunion

Last night was the 30 Year High School Reunion at Dixon's Pub.    Penny met me here at our house and Jonathan was kind enough to drive us over to the pub.    There were 38 people in attendance from school and there were a couple of spouses, so the number was just over 40.   It was a small bunch but a very nice group of people all the same.   I can't say I knew everyone there because I just didn't.     The room was a little divided into two groups based on who people knew and that is to be expected.   Everyone seemed to have a good time.    There were a couple of people that didn't go that I would have liked to see again.   Those two are Fiona and Murray.    To be honest Fiona was a "maybe" but Murray said he would attend.      Too bad they weren't there, it would have been nice.

But let me tell you what was nice.    Both Candy and Lynda were there.   Candy beat us all there by 5 minutes or so.     They looked genuinely happy to see each other again and I'm so happy I was able to find them both and tell them about this reunion.   We plan on getting together again for coffee or lunch sometime to reconnect in the near future.    I'm already looking forward to that.

After the pub a few of us headed out to Judy's house for drinks.     Not too many people went and of course Penny and I did go.   Carolyn was pretty drunk and was telling story after story entertaining all of us.   I'm wondering if her head is hurting her today.   luckily, I'm okay myself.   I thought I drank too much but I suppose over the course of the evening it wasn't too much after all.

Ernie took photos of everyone and I'm already dreading seeing mine on-line.     Yikes!   Those top of the line high def cameras have to go!      But I'm glad I went.    I'm also glad it's over so I can stop worrying about it too.     There are plans for doing a really nice reunion in September and I've expressed interest in getting together to get some planning done.   Kurt seems to be in charge of that.   I think with everyone pitching in and with some advance notice, more people will be able to come and it will be even more fun.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day.    The second Mother's Day in a row that's been kind of awful.    Admittedly, last year was much, much worse but this Mother's Day was tough too.     Clete passed away last Mother's Day so this is a sad anniversary to say the very least.   

This morning I was on the computer trying to adjust my status to reflect the fact that it was Mother's Day.   I was looking around seeing other posts and reading everywhere that people were sending well wishes to Shevaughn.     Since I couldn't see any mention of details I searched around to find someone on line.     I instant messaged Stacy (from work) to find out what was wrong.    Shevaughn had been in a serious motorcycle accident on Saturday, May 7th near Bragg Creek.   She was rushed to hospital by Stars Air Ambulance and her boyfriend died on the way to the hospital.     Such shocking and sad news.   She is in the trauma unit at the Foothills Hospital.

I'm just in shock about it.    At home I cried when I was getting ready for work and cried again here at work when I saw the news video on CTV (Roberta showed it to Sheila and I).    The thing that goes through my head over and over again was the conversation we had Friday afternoon when we were working together.    She had mentioned that her sister was going for a motorcycle ride with her boyfriend and she was concerned saying something like, "I feel nervous, what if something were to happen.    I would want it to happen to me and not her."    Every time I think about that I feel really, really sad.    Jonathan says it's just coincidence but in my heart I think people know when something is going to happen.

This hasn't been a very good day.

Life Updated

Okay, I did cancel my membership but it was at the last moment and I emailed Mandi but she hasn't emailed me back.    Did I think she would?    Well maybe part of me did think she might.

My little plants are sprouting although not all of them are up yet.    I've sunburned my tomato plants the day I worked in the garden and they are looking a little worse for ware.    But the back yard is all done now and I won't have too much to do there in the way of a spring clean up anymore.

My painting class at Mount Royal University has been cancelled and I'm disappointed about that.   Now I have all those painting supplies and no skills to use them.     In my head, I think I'm going to paint and experiment but I don't know if I will really do that.

The 30 year high school reunion is coming up on the weekend and I have really mixed feelings about it.   It is at Dixon's Pub in Midnapore which kind of sucks too.   Oh well eh?

I have some good news too.  On Friday I was called for a job interview at Home Care.   I applied for so many jobs here at the Region and I can't even look up what the job posting was because the posting has closed.        I've waited a long, long time to even get an interview with another department here in the region.   So I'll just go with it and see what happens.     At least I have a job already and nothing really depends on me getting this job.

News

I recently heard Osama Bin Laden (sp?) has been killed by US Miliary.      I saw this quote on Alison Van Dyke's FB page.    Someone posted it and I'm so glad they did, it sums up my feelings right to the core.

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."  
- Martin Luther King Jr.