Shift Work

As much as I logically knew that there was next to no one living on campus for the break, it took until my shift today at work to really sink in. We usually scan in at or three hundred for suppers, but today our grand total scanning was…sixty-nine.

That was the most tedious, long, boring, uneventful shift I've ever worked ever.

I have two more this week.

Google Thyself

So because I'm a paranoid job-hunter, I searched my name on Google today, to see what was brought up. Nothing particularly horrid or wonderful, but there were a few things that I'd forgotten that i had memberships at, ant they showed up. Hmm. Too late to do anything about that, now—nothing incriminating, though, I think.  An old website from where I had worked for years showed p, and a few things affiliated with that….

Happy to not that less than two pages in, there was no longer anything related to me showing up. FOr me, that's a plus, because it's minimal exposure.

How often do you Google yourself, for a quick check? What's a satisfactory amount of hits?

Ponder It…

First day back to work—I've already got overtime! I'm so dedicated….

And tired. So I'll ask one of those deep philosophical questions.

What would you do if you could do one great thing to be remembered by, in this instant?

News Flash

I have a lot to say, but not many words to use. My French partner and I (the one I was living with, and came with me to live hear for a month?) have parted ways sooner than expected. While it hurts for me not to be able to fulfill the role I expected to fill, I know that this is better for everyone involved.

She can get more of what she wants out of the experience, and I can sink back into my familiar routine, knowing that I had an amazing time in France.

In other news, I went to a party last night at a friend's place, and due to scheduling, stayed the night. As such, we spent the day together, going to lunch at this little place in his town, then to a movie in the 'city' we live close-ish to. The Campaign. Not my type of humour, but it was okay. Started a half hour late, though, for whatever reason…that was odd.

Also, I'm going back to work tomorrow, and jumping right in with a nine hour shift. I'm ready to use my newfound experiences to enjoy my nest two weeks before I move!

Speaking of which, I really do need to pack my stuff up….

Hustle, Hustle, Collapse

I'm running on almost empty, what with travel induced jet-lag, a friend's medical stuff that I worry over far too much, courses soming out of my ears, next year's courses coming out of my ears, and a job. Plus travel prep. And grad prep. And get-the-fudge-out-of-this-town prep.

I need to sleep.

Drizzle Dilemma

So today was pretty normal, and I was going to put a recipe up—but something better happened. (And the turnout was a bit of a flop, to be honest.)

I was at work, like usual, except I got called in half an hour early—1500 instead of 1530. I realized today I've lost near any touch I ever had with pre-schoolers. I have no idea how to work with them after spending nine months with school-aged kids. Though there is a lot of gray areas, especially for certain kids, the atmosphere is different. I miss it.

Anyway, my own room was hectic today, with over a dozen kids for almost the whole time. When we usually drop down to about eight or seven, we still had eleven. In a hot room. With some very strong personalities. So, we ignored the overcast sky, and went outside. Mega relief!!

I was so glad to be out of the room, I let my crazy show and smiled up at the rain when it came down (barely!) for a quick shower. No harm done, yes?It's spring, there was brief rain, it's beautiful. I love the rain on my face and in my har—it goes a little curly. Very much appreciated.

Anyway, after the rain stops, we see a parent coming to get kids, and walk over to our sign-out sheets.

The whole clipboard—receipts, accident reports, this and next week's sign in/out sheets…they're all wet and soggy.

Then me, being the seamstress and superheros I am…walk into the laundry room, and pull out…our craft iron!!

Don't laugh so hard, it works! Fifteen minutes later, after the dinosaur heated up, I was proudly wiping off the clipboard, replacing the pens, and re-assembling our weekly paperwork.

May I say…awwwwwwwwwww yeah! I normally wouldn't do this, but…like a BOSS!

Blow Me Away

I still have this whole 'lack of breathing' thing going on, and am still tired all the time….
On the plus side, I got a belated Valentine's gift from one of my students. It was a pick-me-up, if nothing but scripted!

Busy Little Bee

No blog yesterday—I did a fifteen hour work day, and got home around eleven o'clock. I was at my official job for ten hours (though I only clocked it for nine-point-five), and went from there straight to a client's place, and did five hours there. Man, I was tired! I slept through to nine today (bad Mahara, what ever happened to 'same 'wake-up every day?!').

Now I've got some anniversary stuff to do, and then psych homework (the textbook writing is soooo small!) before I go swimming in Dawson Creek, then back for another client at 1850h.

I will make an effort to post tonight!

Coasting

So, I have to actually say something today…what is there? I spent the day much like I imagine I'll spend the rest of my week off—relaxed morning (though usually I'll be at work for a portion of it), and a fairly relaxed afternoon, shopping at the farmer's market and picking up something for a friend. Delivering said item, and having a cup of tea…then off to my evening at work. Nothing terribly exciting, and I potentially spent more than I earned, but it was satisfying. Though I do think I forgot my tofu at her place yesterday…hmm. I'll have to check, and get it before it gets icky.

What's your favourite thing to do on your mini-holidays?

Staffed Out

Today was a wing-dinger staff meeting, the longest in a while. We did a two-and-a-half-hour meeting, dealing with all sorts of issues—the specific, to the general, to 'when should we do spring cleaning?'

Guck.

It's good to get it all out there, though, and make everyone aware of the issues, and what's going well. Still, I'm so ready for bed!

I feel like I haven't done a truly 'substance' post in a while, but there's nothing really to say. I'm preoccupied with exams, and work, and my achy shoulders and legs…I wanna go to a spa!

I did come up with a grad hairstyle, though now I've got to practise to make sure the practical works as well as the theory. (It's the same with clothes designs—they work great in my head, but actually trying do do and make them…ugh. I've been at the same two for ages!)

What's something you're amazing at in theory, but not so much in reality?

Fabulousity

Today when I left the house, I was greeted by the most amazing thing: Birds chirping! It made me feel like it really was spring—fabulous! As long as I still get my snow day on the twelfth (I no wanna write Social Essay!), this weather can keep up until April! Aaaah, wouldn't that be lovely…!

The whole day's been pretty awesome, all in all. Sure, the wind was enough to make me skate to work, and my legs are sore from bowling yesterday (how does that even work?), but I feel amazing.

I got an afternoon workout in today, something I rarely have the energy for yet today, I was determined to do so…and I did. I even got my awesome hula hoop, weighted for maximum skinny-down potential, and the colours (which were left a surprise) are great!

I spent my spare period talking about novels, and how our Social curriculum is blatant propaganda, and bought sandwich fixings for the week.

Work, though long, was nice and low key, and the kids were great.

I even made it to sewing club, and finally finished the pattern for that shirt I've been working on. It's going to be so cool! Tomorrow, after I check that the other pattern is still viable, I can start cutting the shirts out. (About a month ago, I found this awesome fabric, and had to buy it—at $3.00/metre, I couldn't go wrong. I bought all 3.3m of it!)

Today was amazing! Here's to great days and better tomorrows.

What did the best day this year look like for you so far?

Marchuary

It is sooooo warm up here! Honestly, if I didn't know better, I would think it was March, not January. Today it was 7˚, as opposed to the usual maximum of about -20˚. Save the wind, and it's tee-shirt weather!

Though, with great warmth gomes great ice…for a while the whole town was covered in sheets of it. Now, with the heat, it's started to warm up…I swear, it's March!

As for what I did today…it was my holiday party for work, so I made tofu mac-n-cheese, and also some trail-mix ars for my secret Santa. She has so many dietary restrictions, I thought I'd make her a goodie she can actually eat.

As for what I got…an awesome homemade notebook! It's got tons of paper, and a personalized cover. It's even in colours I like!

What about you—what's the coolest hand-made gift you've ever gotten?

Awesomely Spread Out

I've been told to, and I quote, "write about how awesome you are [I am]." Well, I don't think I'll fulfill that, not tonight. 

I'm writing about how thinly spread I am—and how I keep finding new pieces of bread to cover. You'd think I'd learn. And I know I've done lots of the 'look how busy I am,' but the truth is that I don't know how to do anything else. I hardly even notice most of the time—it's simply what I do. 

When I do notice it, it's when I get tired all the time—then I sleep a bit extra on the weekend (when I can find one…!) and it's more or less better. Something that always makes me think, then quickly stop thinking, is a little happening from earlier this year.

I was in the preliminary process of applying to a Rotary exchange two and a half months ago (turns out, I'm too close to being your Granny's age to go), but I asked a question that set this off:

"Will I be able to work while overseas?"

The answer?

"No."

I was shocked. Then…lost. What would I do without my work? I've worked almost non-stop since I was thirteen—that's when I got my first 'real' summer job. (There was one when I was eleven , but it only lasted two months, and no one likes to acknowledge it.) Since then, I've only ever not worked when I got laid off a few months before summer, when I was fifteen—and I got hired back on for the summer, anyway. That summer I actually worked two jobs…the most I've ever done at once is three. (Though I can't recall what the third was, I simply remember that there were three.)

Now, I suppose I will give in and write yet another list of what I do—but this, instead of being actual paid work, is wholly volunteer.

Monday/Wednesday—Grade Two helper for 1.5 hours or so each day

Tuesday/Thursday—Kindergarten helper for 1.5 hours or so each day

Friday/Saturday/Sunday—One or more hockey games, 2+ hours a game, on semi-regular weekends. For these, I do the announcing, when the mic works. 

As a side note, that last might not be valid any more…turns out there's been some turmoil within the Hockey club/team. I may be out of a gig!

To get the full picture as to what it is I'm doing during the workweek, take into account that I have classes from 0900-1020. I volunteer from 1030-1145/1200. Then classes 1230-1515. After that, I work and such.

And as of next Monday (IknowIcanIkowIcanIknowIcan), I will be a certified, trained, High School First Responder. Meaning I'm the step between 'you're hurt/sick' and the ambulance—highly simplified, of course.

The issue? While I'm on duty, I cannot leave my high school.

Yeah. Minor problem there, eh?

But hopefully to fix it, I've filled in this lovely chart.

Think I'll get this figured out? Yeah, me too. 

So, here's the question: Have you ever overbooked or double booked yourself? When? How'd you get out of it? 

I realize, looking back, that this is far from the first time….

Crash Course

So I haven't made a post in a few days, and there's a few reasons why. 

Thursday: I was up until Friday watching movies from a decade a go that are no longer relevant or mildy 'with it.' I spent most of the time critiquing the 'that would never work' factor. (Then sppent Friday morning watching the sequel. >.< )

Friday: Spend the day working on a loooooong email to a former teacher, asking for advice. Then spent the evening with a staff workshop…and meeting this guy:

His name is Reiki…but more on him later. For now, it's enough to say that I was up until…Saturday, I think, working with him.

Saturday: Day with Reiki, volunteer at school, into town 'the city' (ha!) to take advantage of an awesome sale on loooong inseam pants. Hey-oh-yeah. Then I spent the late-late night talking with a friend…and kind of getting psychoanalysed. Always fun. I went to bed early this morning.

So that brings us to today. And though I love my new Mr. Man…he is in the dog house (ewww, stinky!) because he keeps chewing me, my clothes, old kleenexes and these:

Add that to kitten-peeing and the like…I am not pleased. Those were my last remnants of any sort of portable music device—my dear green iPod went through the wash this summer. RIP.

Well then. 

I've attempted to create a chew/claw/chase toy out of some bright neon pink rope I had floating about…he's not interested. Maybe I should sleep with it tonight, so it'll smell like me instead of tealight smoke. He seems to like biting Mahara-scented items. Mainly, my skin. Joy.

Well? Any other baby problems? Any tips? Major don'ts? I need to know—most of the babies I deal with, I can change their diaper and put them to sleep. Then again, I can't pick them up by the scruff of their necks….