Sunday, December 10
Tuesday, November 28
Even change machines...
I can't help but be amused...It seems that on snow days, buses are like moving bull's eyes for any kid with a snowball in their hand...and because most of the schools were out yesterday, there was no shortage of snowball making manpower.
Monday, November 27
Tuesday, November 21
Everybody's working for the weekend.
So, I've been meaning to write a little blurb about my 'new' job with the construction company but more as a result of a lack of energy, rather than a lack of material, I didn't really finish any of my posts. I find it therefore ironic that I choose to write about it the day before I quit.
The Job:
Hired as a first aid attendant, the actual administration of first aid only takes up about .5% of my time, and even that time is frowned upon it seems. I did however do a lot of hauling garbage, cleaning and stacking bricks, skill sawing, cursing at the weathered and warped ceiling beams that I have to work around, measuring and remeasuring then cursing when it doesn't fit, not to mention the 100's of flights of stairs I've walked up and down searching for tools or trying to figure out exactly what I should be doing. My foreman and supervisor don't always say/bark the same message. At least my foreman doesn't yell...too often...at me.
The Site:
Hastings and Cambie. East Hastings meets Gastown. Models meet stoners and angry yelling vagabonds stumble past backpackers.
The north-east block, also previously the home of the Woodwards building, is where my construction site sits. The project is to renovate the 120 year old building into retail, office and residence space (for perspective, Vancouver is only roughly 140 years old). It'll be neat to see how it turns out.
The wake-up:
Ready to work at 7:00am on the dot. I often pushed said dot...
The punch-out time:
3:30pm. This is my favourite part.
The after work shower:
20 minutes minimum. I used to be the queen of 5 minute showers (no seriously, I was in a parade), but now I require an extra long time in order to scrub every part of the body. I find I'm using more product than ever in order to be "normal". My singing is getting better though.
The skin:
Itchy, dry, and clogged. One of my bosses told me about an ex-boyfriend of hers that died at young age - they think it may have been related to how long he worked in construction. Yes, I've only worked a month, but you never know...
Some things I learned:
I have a mild fear of heights that surfaces when I'm nailing things to the ceiling in precarious situations ~ I'm a hard worker and it feels good to be recognized by your 'foreman' ~ I have my limits on the dirtiness scale , a scale that takes into consideration duration of dirty state, content of 'dirt', and ease of cleaning ~ Steel toe boots are great for helping to tone your buttocks. So are stairs ~ Carpentry is fun ~ I'm still the math nerd I was in high school.
The reason I'm hanging up my tool belt:
I got offered a full-time ski patrol position (I had applied for part time) on the same day we found out that they would have to fire 5+ people since the head company who is contracting us refuses to pay for more than 15 people on the site. I got picked to stay, but for how long?
There you go. As of Saturday I will be working for Grouse Mountain on their ski patrol (!), which makes this the 4th company I'’ve worked for this year. Hmm.
The Job:
Hired as a first aid attendant, the actual administration of first aid only takes up about .5% of my time, and even that time is frowned upon it seems. I did however do a lot of hauling garbage, cleaning and stacking bricks, skill sawing, cursing at the weathered and warped ceiling beams that I have to work around, measuring and remeasuring then cursing when it doesn't fit, not to mention the 100's of flights of stairs I've walked up and down searching for tools or trying to figure out exactly what I should be doing. My foreman and supervisor don't always say/bark the same message. At least my foreman doesn't yell...too often...at me.
The Site:
Hastings and Cambie. East Hastings meets Gastown. Models meet stoners and angry yelling vagabonds stumble past backpackers.
The north-east block, also previously the home of the Woodwards building, is where my construction site sits. The project is to renovate the 120 year old building into retail, office and residence space (for perspective, Vancouver is only roughly 140 years old). It'll be neat to see how it turns out.
The wake-up:
Ready to work at 7:00am on the dot. I often pushed said dot...
The punch-out time:
3:30pm. This is my favourite part.
The after work shower:
20 minutes minimum. I used to be the queen of 5 minute showers (no seriously, I was in a parade), but now I require an extra long time in order to scrub every part of the body. I find I'm using more product than ever in order to be "normal". My singing is getting better though.
The skin:
Itchy, dry, and clogged. One of my bosses told me about an ex-boyfriend of hers that died at young age - they think it may have been related to how long he worked in construction. Yes, I've only worked a month, but you never know...
Some things I learned:
I have a mild fear of heights that surfaces when I'm nailing things to the ceiling in precarious situations ~ I'm a hard worker and it feels good to be recognized by your 'foreman' ~ I have my limits on the dirtiness scale , a scale that takes into consideration duration of dirty state, content of 'dirt', and ease of cleaning ~ Steel toe boots are great for helping to tone your buttocks. So are stairs ~ Carpentry is fun ~ I'm still the math nerd I was in high school.
The reason I'm hanging up my tool belt:
I got offered a full-time ski patrol position (I had applied for part time) on the same day we found out that they would have to fire 5+ people since the head company who is contracting us refuses to pay for more than 15 people on the site. I got picked to stay, but for how long?
There you go. As of Saturday I will be working for Grouse Mountain on their ski patrol (!), which makes this the 4th company I'’ve worked for this year. Hmm.
Tuesday, October 3
I have a new job!
As of Oct 23rd, I will be a first aid attendant/general laborer for a small construction company, working on the renovation of a building in downtown Vancouver
I figured that my resume wasn’t random enough and it was actually starting to look like I had a career path in environmental education, so of course I had to put a stop to that. I mean with seniority comes more pay and more opportunities – I like to start at the bottom rung every time.
Of course I’m being very sarcastic here and am kind of wondering why I took this job, especially since there is another job I will likely apply for in
Where this job will go, and how long it will last is anyone’s guess, but as long as I’m in
Wednesday, September 20
Nerocystis nighmares
whew.
Just got back from a pretty fun trip up at my family's cabin on the Shuswap.
Much fun was had and many Transmetropolitan comic books were read (*note* - Spider Jerusalem is strangely my newest "super hero" crush. Saving [a pretty fucked up] world with words!).
The braincells took a bit of a beating but no more than the daily pounding they recieve from the city's toxic fumes and droning construction.
To say the least, I was relaxed. Even the scenic drive home was an extension of that, with only the numbing sensation in my left hip to remind me that we had been driving for 7 plus hours.
This morning over a nice (relaxed) cup of coffee, I read my emails and found not 1, 2 or 3, but 4 progessively panicked emails from Bluewater, redirected from the teachers, wanting an itinary from the crew that details the educational compents for the school trip I'm working in October.
What school trip, you might ask? Haven't heard of it? Heh, that's funny - it would be because I was only asked on the 13th to fill in for a recent cancellation.
Now I'm the one panicking as I prepare to be stoned by the students of the Higher Level Biology International Baccalauate Program because, again, I don't remember/ever-fucking-knew the latin name of the seabird that just dove down.
Chest feels tight...breathing becoming difficult...must find brain cells...Nerocystis nightmares coming back...
Just got back from a pretty fun trip up at my family's cabin on the Shuswap.
Much fun was had and many Transmetropolitan comic books were read (*note* - Spider Jerusalem is strangely my newest "super hero" crush. Saving [a pretty fucked up] world with words!).
The braincells took a bit of a beating but no more than the daily pounding they recieve from the city's toxic fumes and droning construction.
To say the least, I was relaxed. Even the scenic drive home was an extension of that, with only the numbing sensation in my left hip to remind me that we had been driving for 7 plus hours.
This morning over a nice (relaxed) cup of coffee, I read my emails and found not 1, 2 or 3, but 4 progessively panicked emails from Bluewater, redirected from the teachers, wanting an itinary from the crew that details the educational compents for the school trip I'm working in October.
What school trip, you might ask? Haven't heard of it? Heh, that's funny - it would be because I was only asked on the 13th to fill in for a recent cancellation.
Now I'm the one panicking as I prepare to be stoned by the students of the Higher Level Biology International Baccalauate Program because, again, I don't remember/ever-fucking-knew the latin name of the seabird that just dove down.
Chest feels tight...breathing becoming difficult...must find brain cells...Nerocystis nightmares coming back...
Wednesday, September 13
A small pod of northern resident Killer Whales
I've maxed out my upoad limit for flickr so I'll post more of these guys next month.
Gallavanting around the northwest coast
If for no other reason than to make the photo of my pina colata boyfriend scroll down a bit, I am going to post a a quick update and a few photos.
My trip up north was great. Yes there was some tough times, but nothing a few tears, a couple of death looks, lots of laughs and wine won't fix. But I learned alot about sailboats, cooking and people.
What made me want to go back next summer though was the sights. We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and the vastness of our remaining wilderness is overwhelming, amazing and heartbreaking. I saw grizzly bears, wolves, clear cuts, fish farms, a ridiculous number of eagles, jumping salmon, worrisome water tables, incredible intertidial diversity, and of course... marine mammals, but Ill let the photos speak for them selves on that topic (taken on james' camera which he graciosly lent me, and the skippers 300 focus lense camera - my own camera went kapute on Aug.24- Day 1...)
My trip up north was great. Yes there was some tough times, but nothing a few tears, a couple of death looks, lots of laughs and wine won't fix. But I learned alot about sailboats, cooking and people.
What made me want to go back next summer though was the sights. We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and the vastness of our remaining wilderness is overwhelming, amazing and heartbreaking. I saw grizzly bears, wolves, clear cuts, fish farms, a ridiculous number of eagles, jumping salmon, worrisome water tables, incredible intertidial diversity, and of course... marine mammals, but Ill let the photos speak for them selves on that topic (taken on james' camera which he graciosly lent me, and the skippers 300 focus lense camera - my own camera went kapute on Aug.24- Day 1...)
Thursday, August 31
hmmm...drunk?
just got some photos from...the 18th I think. Thought I'd post them while in between trips here in Port Hardy.
Things having been both tiring and beautiful and I'm going to need more time to explain the amazing things I've seen. Wish me luck for the next trip. I except to puke on the crossing to Bella Bella. Some deckhand I am...
Hope you are all doing well!
Things having been both tiring and beautiful and I'm going to need more time to explain the amazing things I've seen. Wish me luck for the next trip. I except to puke on the crossing to Bella Bella. Some deckhand I am...
Hope you are all doing well!
Sunday, August 20
This gypsy's on the move...
Flying up to Port Hardy on the 23rd to begin my northern sailboat adventures. I'll be back on the 11th with stories and photos.
Happy Labour Day weekend to you!
Happy Labour Day weekend to you!
Friday, August 18
Rockstar LJ
There have been many inspirational and amusing moments during my career at the Aquarium, but nothing amuses me more than the fact that I have rockstar status simply because I can breath air from an oxygen tank and hover above the fish.
Today, after my dive in the Pacific Canada exhibit, I emerged from the water to find that there was a group of people waiting to "meet the diver", a couple of them very excited mentally disabled adults.
One in particular exclaimed several times to me "I was waiting for you!!!", so I gave him a wet hand shake and when he wouldn't let go I gave him a big wet hug too. So cute...
There has also been many kids who have pulled at the heart strings and made me feel way cooler than I actually am. There was the group of 5 and 6 year olds who had every question in the book and pretty much had to be ripped away from me, and the many apparently chatty kids who draw a blank when they actually get to see me in person. Then there was the little boy who watched me dive last week and was terrified for me, convinced that I was going to be harmed. His grandparents had to bring him up to meet me and prove that I had survived (his look of disbelief was priceless). Then yesterday he came in to see me again and prior to entering the aquarium was calling out "dye-dye! dye-dye!". They didn't realize until after the dive show when he wanted to come and see me again that he was trying to say "diver". Awww ...
(ok admittedly he may have been trying to say some other brilliant thing, like "the diver is going to die" or "use your diaphram when you speak, or the dichotomy of ethics in this aquarium makes me ponder" but I prefer to think that he was wanting to see me...)
Then there was the memorable 4 year old girl who, after I got out of the water, gave me the stamp of approval with a solid "good work LJ".
(sigh) I'm going to miss this part of the job...
Today, after my dive in the Pacific Canada exhibit, I emerged from the water to find that there was a group of people waiting to "meet the diver", a couple of them very excited mentally disabled adults.
One in particular exclaimed several times to me "I was waiting for you!!!", so I gave him a wet hand shake and when he wouldn't let go I gave him a big wet hug too. So cute...
There has also been many kids who have pulled at the heart strings and made me feel way cooler than I actually am. There was the group of 5 and 6 year olds who had every question in the book and pretty much had to be ripped away from me, and the many apparently chatty kids who draw a blank when they actually get to see me in person. Then there was the little boy who watched me dive last week and was terrified for me, convinced that I was going to be harmed. His grandparents had to bring him up to meet me and prove that I had survived (his look of disbelief was priceless). Then yesterday he came in to see me again and prior to entering the aquarium was calling out "dye-dye! dye-dye!". They didn't realize until after the dive show when he wanted to come and see me again that he was trying to say "diver". Awww ...
(ok admittedly he may have been trying to say some other brilliant thing, like "the diver is going to die" or "use your diaphram when you speak, or the dichotomy of ethics in this aquarium makes me ponder" but I prefer to think that he was wanting to see me...)
Then there was the memorable 4 year old girl who, after I got out of the water, gave me the stamp of approval with a solid "good work LJ".
(sigh) I'm going to miss this part of the job...
Friday, August 11
The straw that broke the camel's back
After much deliberation on Tuesday and Wednesday evening, yesterday I resigned from my position at the aquarium.
It was a tough decision but also an easy one. I was asked to be the second naturalist/grunt woman for another trip with Bluewater Adventures, this time to the Great Bear Rainforest (!) and at first it seemed like I was going to be able to take the time off. When the decision was reversed (among other things), it was the straw that broke the camels back.
I'm not sure what will pan out for me in the future but I have an interview on Monday with the BC Sustainable Energy Association and a trip to the Great Bear Rainforest to look forward to, so I'm going try and not focus on the fact that I very well could be incredibly broke in the next couple of weeks.
Send money.
It was a tough decision but also an easy one. I was asked to be the second naturalist/grunt woman for another trip with Bluewater Adventures, this time to the Great Bear Rainforest (!) and at first it seemed like I was going to be able to take the time off. When the decision was reversed (among other things), it was the straw that broke the camels back.
I'm not sure what will pan out for me in the future but I have an interview on Monday with the BC Sustainable Energy Association and a trip to the Great Bear Rainforest to look forward to, so I'm going try and not focus on the fact that I very well could be incredibly broke in the next couple of weeks.
Send money.
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