it's all who you know / a good steady job is hard to find

Exit career phase.

My full-time job will end tomorrow--much sooner than expected. And then I am scheduled to work one day in the entire month of May. One day! erk. I'm not entirely sure what happened, or will happen. But the director of operations at my workplace hired her friend from the Phillipines to work full-time at my position, and because of cutbacks to our department there is no room for me to work the permanent part-time position I was promised... And so tomorrow I will be unofficially unemployed. Officially a very 'casual' employee.

Roommate Kenda is encouraging me to get angry and fight back. She thinks it is a violation of my rights as an employee, especially since I just found out a couple of days ago. I'm not sure if I will. I don't like confrontations. I am unhappy about the situation, though, as I was gearing up to work there for awhile, and now have the experience to be a good full-time employee there. Although I don't want to prejudge the situation, it feels like I have been wronged and that the saying 'it's all who you know' has rung true.

damn.

enter career phase.

As of Wednesday, I am a full time employee at the hospital. My old company was laid off and a new one came in. It has been chaotic with so many new staff and new regulations, but if a fancy new water cooler, flashy new nametags, and a James Bond-esque check-in system are any indication, this new company is a good one.

Working full time has its advantages so far. I can see where spending more time in such a facility will have its complications, however. Yesterday one of my favorite residents died. She was a bed-bound woman in a lot of pain who loved flowers and celebrated what little she could do, and what little she was given. I am left feeling sad that I passed by her room so many times, thinking that I did not have time to say hello.

There are also an increasing amount of old men with crushes on me. This is not cool. I am trying to figure out how I can best discourage them without having to create distance or be rude. I suppose I will have to learn the art of assertion.

But, as the days become longer and warmer, and more and more trees and flowers begin to bloom, all is well here.

running fool.

The Sun Run: biggest 10km run in Canada, second largest in North America. It begins in the heart of downtown Vancouver, touches on the edge of Stanley Park, follows English Bay, winds through many quaint streets, crosses over two bridges, and ends with a giant party in BC Place.

I ran it this morning along with 54 180 other people (thats five towns of Lacombe, where I grew up.) It was wild. The race started at 9:00 but it was 9:50 before I even crossed the start line to begin running. Here I am warming up for the big race this morning.


I was happy with how my performance: I ran it in just over an hour, and was able to run the whole way.

I think I really like running. I've been looking into other races. There is a half marathon in 3 weeks. Dare I? At this moment my body says no. (It just wants to sleep.)

Easter treats

Happy Easter, all. I hope it was a good one.

I had a unique Easter experience today, working at the Senior's centre. Started the day off with bowling, then played the role of the Easter bunny handing out chocolate eggs and treats from my basket. I also told Easter stories and uncovered the reason for bunnies and eggs at Easter time: eggs basically represent new life for spring time (Ancient Greeks even thought that the earth hatched from an egg) and rabbits were revered as a symbol for fertility.

Favorite two quotes of the day both came from one woman whom I shall call Bertha:

me: How do you take your coffee?
Bertha: With a little bit of milk and a shot of vodka.
me: Sorry, no vodka on Sunday mornings.

me: Do you remember why we celebrate Easter?
Bertha: Yah, because Jesus went to heaven or whereever the hell he went.

Always an exciting place to work. I was becoming sad about saying goodbye to the job and the residents next week, because I really do like it and them. But then last week my boss begged me to keep working there if she offered me a full time position. (Well, maybe she didn't quite beg, but she did ask nicely. And it is only full time for up to a month, but it is still full time for awhile. After that I will be permanent part time.) I accepted and so now my work with the seniors shall continue. This makes me happy.

Most of the care-aids and nurses at the hospital are Phillipino. They seem to have a greater sense of family, calling the residents mama and papa, and acting especially caring towards them. I think their attitudes have rubbed off on me to a certain extent. I like to think that I've acquired about 80 grandparents.

oh mr. sun

Alberta was great. I had a fabulous time catching up with family and friends and farmers market.

For awhile the weather was balmy, but the land quite blah. I forgot how drab Alberta can be in the spring time.

And how spring comes in with such a fight. The sunshine was overcome by snow the last couple of days I was there.

This evening I was welcomed back to Vancouver by the shining sun. Oh, Mr. Sun, how I love you.

I also love my family, Alberta friends, flying, and aspects of Alberta life (minus wintery springs.) But right now I am happy to call Vancouver home.