I just got off the phone from calling nanny contestant #2 that she didn't get the job. What made it especially craptastic, was I left a message. I felt awkward for sure doing that, and I was honest - someone else can start at 6 instead of 7. I wasn't honest with my other reason - how on earth can I give orders to someone who's old enough to be my mum?
What's going to be even more awkward is calling contestant #1 on Wednesday this too. I'd much rather be her friend than her boss anyway. I hope it goes well. Gah! I HATE the telling someone they didn't get the job or the firing conversation. Even though I have all this 'conflict management' training, it doesn't make these discussions any easier.
My friend and her daughter did make it over on Saturday afternoon. She's staying until we leave for work tomorrow. So I missed a fourth week of church and the second MFRC potluck. I was really looking forward to both events, but after spending the day with my friend, I'm glad she came. We go sometimes a year (or more) between visits, sometimes 6 months between phone calls. This visit was realy nice and special because we had such a great time together. It was nice to see ourselves as parents. We started out as school chums in a new school in a new city. Our friendship has lasted through many interesting episodes, with our thread of friendship sometimes very thin, and sometimes thick.
To spend time with her and her daughter was a nice break from our usual insular routine of home-dance-groceries-home on Saturday and home-church-maybe somewhere else-home on Sunday. We played outside yesterday afternoon, had WONDERFUL butter chicken (first time I made it - won't be the last for sure!), then went out for a couple hours for a beer and some kareoke. Today we grabbed some carrots and coffee and fed the horses carrots, played in friend's backyard, had lunch, and went outside to play after the non-existent nap-time.
Sailor is making plans to come home for two weeks in May. He'll be here for Ray's first rehearsal, but leave the day of her second rehearsal, and the day before her first performance (if she does actually move on stage). That'll be fun to get through. At any rate, he's apparently supposed to work for the first few days and then get the rest off. He's not going to be happy when he sees the mold growing under the deck he built last year.
Seems I got the bursary for the church camp too. Ray's been talking about it and wants to make a checklist of items we need to bring. So cute.
Well, busy day tomorrow - mess meeting. Maybe I'll find out if I go the job or not. Hahahhaahahahahah. I kill me.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Banging The Buck
It’s getting harder and harder to keep afloat. I mean, you’d think it’d be easier as time went on, no? But really, it gets wearing. Doing the work of both parents is hard. How single parents do it, I’ll never know. I’m afraid to get sick and I take Cold FX every day just in case.
I’m constantly on the go from the time we get home until Greta’s in bed. Ray goes an hour later, and by that time, I’m ready to hit the hay too. By 9pm I’m toast. We arrive and I either make dinner or finish it (if it’s been cooking while we’re on our way home), empty the dishwasher, reload it with lunch dishes, and get out plates and cutlery for dinner. Then when dinner’s ready, I serve it up and get drinks. By the time I can sit down to eat, Greta’s finished (until she sits on my lap to eat my plate) and Ray’s running around between the table and the living room.
I finish and put dirty dishes into the washer, harass Ray to finish her meal, and keep Greta from getting swatted by the cat. Then I clean up the left-overs and put into containers for lunch the next day. While I’m at it, I cut and prepare fruit and cheese for the next day’s lunch. I might even start preparing for the next night’s dinner. If there’s enough juice boxes washed, I’ll get the drinks ready too. Not to mention prepping my tea for the next morning, washing any left-over dishes that are too big for the washer, and tidying up the kitchen.
The soap goes into the dishwasher and the delay is pressed so it’ll wash over night. If I’m doing pre-emptive laundry, I’ll switch it over to the dryer (as I put it into wash during the day or right when we get home). Then it’s 6:15 and time to go up for our tub.
A quick cleanup of the toys in the living room and up we go. Sometimes Ray will bathe with Greta. Sometimes she wants a shower, so by the time we’re all ready, it’s just around 7pm and as I’m reading stories to Greta, Ray’s downstairs getting herself a piece of cheese for bedtime snack. I’ll get changed into my pj’s and put Greta down and I’m downstairs by 7:20 or so. Ray goes to bed at 8, but after two stories and a cuddle and a song or two… it’s 8:30.
It doesn’t give me much time to relax and have ‘me’ time on the computer. I have to take care of the Mary Kay business, email Sailor, do the blog entry (unless I do it at work, like today), return phone calls, finish the packing up of breakfasts and lunches for the next day, fill the diaper bag, have my Mona Vie and popcicles… By the time 9:30 rolls around I’m ready to fall into bed, but I REALLY want to read something – my McLean’s or one of the books I have waiting. Once I start my next uni course, I’ll have to add in some study time too, and do assignments too.
A nanny will not save me money at all – in fact it’ll cost me more money each month as I’ll be paying for preschool AND kindy – but it’ll save me time. And that’s more value for my money I think.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Windows and Doors
Well the interview yesterday went well. Tough audience. Only got a couple chuckles from them. I think my answers were good though. I'll find out by the end of the week probably.
I talked to the boss at the ADRC and I might be accepted into their program for conflict resolution instruction and mediation! It won't be a fast process, but it looks promising at least.
So if one door closes (no PMC), another window will (ADRC). Or, if the door IS opened, then I can still keep the window open by taking conflict coaching. Very happy about this.
The girls are really missing their dad. Ray gets very sad and nearly daily says, "I wish my daddy was here." Me too, kid.
We met with one of the nanny contestants today. She's really great and the ONLY thing holding me back from hiring her on the spot is that she can't start work until 0700 and I'd prefer 0600.
I have a line on another girl who comes with glowing references and CAN start at 0600, so I'll meet up with her and see what comes of that. She's younger than #1 and has only a "NEW" license right now, but she's going for her 'real' one in April. She's medically trained, used to work for Molly Maid and is a part time employee at a vet clinic. She can take care of the kids, the house AND the cat! Ray is just concerned about this other girl's desire for swimming and if she has horses.
We're looking forward to a friend's visit this weekend with her little girl. Should be A LOT of fun... especially since I found a sitter for Saturday! Wheee!
I talked to the boss at the ADRC and I might be accepted into their program for conflict resolution instruction and mediation! It won't be a fast process, but it looks promising at least.
So if one door closes (no PMC), another window will (ADRC). Or, if the door IS opened, then I can still keep the window open by taking conflict coaching. Very happy about this.
The girls are really missing their dad. Ray gets very sad and nearly daily says, "I wish my daddy was here." Me too, kid.
We met with one of the nanny contestants today. She's really great and the ONLY thing holding me back from hiring her on the spot is that she can't start work until 0700 and I'd prefer 0600.
I have a line on another girl who comes with glowing references and CAN start at 0600, so I'll meet up with her and see what comes of that. She's younger than #1 and has only a "NEW" license right now, but she's going for her 'real' one in April. She's medically trained, used to work for Molly Maid and is a part time employee at a vet clinic. She can take care of the kids, the house AND the cat! Ray is just concerned about this other girl's desire for swimming and if she has horses.
We're looking forward to a friend's visit this weekend with her little girl. Should be A LOT of fun... especially since I found a sitter for Saturday! Wheee!
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Time To Breathe - I Don't Have It
Well what an exciting last few days.
Friday night I went out with my neighbour and we had a BLAST at the local pub.I knew the bass player in the band, and after 3 pints of Sleeman's I was in fine form. I got to sing because the guitar player was slow coming back from the second set break, and I jumped up to do Some Kind Of Wonderful. Which I'd never do if I were sober.
My friend and her daughter are supposed to come over next weekend, so we may attempt this again if the band is playing somewhere local.
Saturday, Ray didn't dance the whole time again, and we went to the grocery store. After Greta woke from her nap later, Gramma (Sailor's mum) and Sister-In-Law arrived for a visit. I was told by Niece #1, who was bringing Niece #2, that they'd be here between 5:30 and 6. At 6 I said "to hell with it" and no sooner had we sat down for dinner (at about 6:10 or so), they walked in the door. Dinner was lovely, held in the dining room, and the girls were on their best behaviour. Even after the cake they had for dessert.
I stayed up late again, talking to the Nieces as I don't get a chance to see them much, and Niece #2 is usually in Saskatchewan. The last time I'd seen her was at our wedding 6 1/2 years ago. This was the first time she's met the girls too. It was nice to have good girlie chat.
Today was the Business Fair. One vendor emailed and said she was sick and wasn't coming, but she still is sending money for her table. Nice of her.
We had a good turn out - of vendors! First, it was rain and snow. Then it was snow. And it was sticking. By 11:00, it was coming thick and fast. I felt like such a tool. No one blamed me for the weather (VERY nice of them), and we (the vendors) actaully had a great time networking and chatting about products, as well as buying some. We did get some stuff (including $5) for the food bank, but not as much as we would have had if the weather had held out.
So over 4 hours, the 9 containers of 2-Bite Cinnamon Buns turned into 7 containers (which were then given to the vendors). We now have lots of coffee, whitener, sugar, cups and spoons for the next one.
It's probably decided we'll try again in May or June. Nearly all the vendors asked to be informed of the next one, which was so sweet of them. The sun finally came out and the snow was gone... at 2:30... when we ended.
I met the two nanny contestants. Number 1 is young, around 25-30, very sweet and wants to take the girls everywhere and do lots of stuff. She misses nanny-ing, and is worried about getting here early, but said she could try it. She has horses and would take the girls there too, as well as swimming and the park with her nieces and sister and friends with their kids. I don't know how I feel about that, to be honest. Part of me thinks that's cool, but part of me wonders if she'd get too attached (she admitted she wants to get attached to the kids) to them and think of them as 'hers', but not in a good way, IYKWIM.
Number 2 is older, in her 60's I'd say, and is also very nice. She's a more nature-oriented woman, and wants to have the kids outside learning about nature and suchlike. She's also worried about the early morning, but is willing to give it a go. She's raised three kids on her own, so she knows a thing or two I'm sure. I'm worried about her energy level around the girls, but who knows - maybe it'll be what they need?
I think I'll email Sailor and let him know. Then the women will each take a turn to come over for a couple hours and see how the kids relate to each of them.
Tomorrow is my big interview with three Chiefs for the PMC position at the PCF. If I get it, I'll be out of trade for 2 years. If I don't then I'm going to apply at the Alternate Dispute Resolution Centre for THEIR out of trade positions and see if it's a good fit before I go through the courses I'd need to facilitate there regularly.
Either way, I'm hapy. I'm nervous about tomorrow for sure - Sailor usually does my boots and I'm supposed to be in Salt & Peppers. I'm debating on putting on a skirt and heels, but the weather looks craptacular (it was hailing on the snow this afternoon) so I'll check out the stuff tonight and see what can be done. If it's bad, I might just wear nice heels with pants and take the pain as I walk up the hill to the interview.
Well, it's bath time and the girls have been going to bed later that usual lately. We're up at 5/6 tomorow, so time to go.
Maybe I can relax on Tuesday.
Friday night I went out with my neighbour and we had a BLAST at the local pub.I knew the bass player in the band, and after 3 pints of Sleeman's I was in fine form. I got to sing because the guitar player was slow coming back from the second set break, and I jumped up to do Some Kind Of Wonderful. Which I'd never do if I were sober.
My friend and her daughter are supposed to come over next weekend, so we may attempt this again if the band is playing somewhere local.
Saturday, Ray didn't dance the whole time again, and we went to the grocery store. After Greta woke from her nap later, Gramma (Sailor's mum) and Sister-In-Law arrived for a visit. I was told by Niece #1, who was bringing Niece #2, that they'd be here between 5:30 and 6. At 6 I said "to hell with it" and no sooner had we sat down for dinner (at about 6:10 or so), they walked in the door. Dinner was lovely, held in the dining room, and the girls were on their best behaviour. Even after the cake they had for dessert.
I stayed up late again, talking to the Nieces as I don't get a chance to see them much, and Niece #2 is usually in Saskatchewan. The last time I'd seen her was at our wedding 6 1/2 years ago. This was the first time she's met the girls too. It was nice to have good girlie chat.
Today was the Business Fair. One vendor emailed and said she was sick and wasn't coming, but she still is sending money for her table. Nice of her.
We had a good turn out - of vendors! First, it was rain and snow. Then it was snow. And it was sticking. By 11:00, it was coming thick and fast. I felt like such a tool. No one blamed me for the weather (VERY nice of them), and we (the vendors) actaully had a great time networking and chatting about products, as well as buying some. We did get some stuff (including $5) for the food bank, but not as much as we would have had if the weather had held out.
So over 4 hours, the 9 containers of 2-Bite Cinnamon Buns turned into 7 containers (which were then given to the vendors). We now have lots of coffee, whitener, sugar, cups and spoons for the next one.
It's probably decided we'll try again in May or June. Nearly all the vendors asked to be informed of the next one, which was so sweet of them. The sun finally came out and the snow was gone... at 2:30... when we ended.
I met the two nanny contestants. Number 1 is young, around 25-30, very sweet and wants to take the girls everywhere and do lots of stuff. She misses nanny-ing, and is worried about getting here early, but said she could try it. She has horses and would take the girls there too, as well as swimming and the park with her nieces and sister and friends with their kids. I don't know how I feel about that, to be honest. Part of me thinks that's cool, but part of me wonders if she'd get too attached (she admitted she wants to get attached to the kids) to them and think of them as 'hers', but not in a good way, IYKWIM.
Number 2 is older, in her 60's I'd say, and is also very nice. She's a more nature-oriented woman, and wants to have the kids outside learning about nature and suchlike. She's also worried about the early morning, but is willing to give it a go. She's raised three kids on her own, so she knows a thing or two I'm sure. I'm worried about her energy level around the girls, but who knows - maybe it'll be what they need?
I think I'll email Sailor and let him know. Then the women will each take a turn to come over for a couple hours and see how the kids relate to each of them.
Tomorrow is my big interview with three Chiefs for the PMC position at the PCF. If I get it, I'll be out of trade for 2 years. If I don't then I'm going to apply at the Alternate Dispute Resolution Centre for THEIR out of trade positions and see if it's a good fit before I go through the courses I'd need to facilitate there regularly.
Either way, I'm hapy. I'm nervous about tomorrow for sure - Sailor usually does my boots and I'm supposed to be in Salt & Peppers. I'm debating on putting on a skirt and heels, but the weather looks craptacular (it was hailing on the snow this afternoon) so I'll check out the stuff tonight and see what can be done. If it's bad, I might just wear nice heels with pants and take the pain as I walk up the hill to the interview.
Well, it's bath time and the girls have been going to bed later that usual lately. We're up at 5/6 tomorow, so time to go.
Maybe I can relax on Tuesday.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I Feel Like A Duck
Like I don't have ENOUGH to do on a day-to-day basis, I decided back in January to spearhead a local home-based business show. The date we ended up with due to various reasons is the 15th of March.
So now, things are starting to speed up:
- the vendors are wondering why we have only 15 minutes to set up. Well, because the space would only allow us 15 minutes before and after to do so. And I figured if we're paying for 4 hours, we should GET 4 hours. Not pay for 5 and only get 4. Silly me.
- I was wondering why the location didn't put our fair on their big lit marquee sign. Apparently I was supposed to have ASKED for that at the time of booking. Yeah, well it was such a gong show just getting the booking, that I didn't bother. Not that I knew that. I thought that if you had something like a home-based business fair that was open to the public, that it would have been understood that advertising was wanted. Or at least have been asked. Silly me.
- On a positive note, the local radio station is giving us a heckuva deal for ad time - 10 spots for less than 1/2 price!
My nanny ad has two interested parties in it. One, about my age is VERY interested, but the 7 am arrival time is making her hesitate. Hell, I've already changed it to an hour later than when I REALLY need it! And I quoted her $100 more than I should have, so when I tell her that, she's probably not going to be too impressed.
The other person sounds older (I'd say late 50's?) and she goes to my church and her neighbour is our priest. She's going to mull it over too, as the 7 am start time is a thinking point for her, and she'd have to come over from a little distance away.
That's only if my work will accept me working from 8 til 3 (and working through lunch to pull that off).
Greta's diapers are FINALLY back to normal now, and she's definitely getting ready for potty training as her dry spells are lasting longer.
Ray has a wee rash on her hands for some reason, and she said she was scratching because she was itchy. Now I have to try to figure that out.
I have a sitter for tomorrow and my neighbour and I are going out for some pops after the girls are in bed.
Yesterday was a success, but I spent FAR too much money. Worth it though.
Sailor couldn't call from is port today due to weather, and after finding out the roaming charges we got from Hawaii, he'd better get a phone card and aim for a payphone!!
Well, it's time to put Ray to bed and me to the tv.
So now, things are starting to speed up:
- the vendors are wondering why we have only 15 minutes to set up. Well, because the space would only allow us 15 minutes before and after to do so. And I figured if we're paying for 4 hours, we should GET 4 hours. Not pay for 5 and only get 4. Silly me.
- I was wondering why the location didn't put our fair on their big lit marquee sign. Apparently I was supposed to have ASKED for that at the time of booking. Yeah, well it was such a gong show just getting the booking, that I didn't bother. Not that I knew that. I thought that if you had something like a home-based business fair that was open to the public, that it would have been understood that advertising was wanted. Or at least have been asked. Silly me.
- On a positive note, the local radio station is giving us a heckuva deal for ad time - 10 spots for less than 1/2 price!
My nanny ad has two interested parties in it. One, about my age is VERY interested, but the 7 am arrival time is making her hesitate. Hell, I've already changed it to an hour later than when I REALLY need it! And I quoted her $100 more than I should have, so when I tell her that, she's probably not going to be too impressed.
The other person sounds older (I'd say late 50's?) and she goes to my church and her neighbour is our priest. She's going to mull it over too, as the 7 am start time is a thinking point for her, and she'd have to come over from a little distance away.
That's only if my work will accept me working from 8 til 3 (and working through lunch to pull that off).
Greta's diapers are FINALLY back to normal now, and she's definitely getting ready for potty training as her dry spells are lasting longer.
Ray has a wee rash on her hands for some reason, and she said she was scratching because she was itchy. Now I have to try to figure that out.
I have a sitter for tomorrow and my neighbour and I are going out for some pops after the girls are in bed.
Yesterday was a success, but I spent FAR too much money. Worth it though.
Sailor couldn't call from is port today due to weather, and after finding out the roaming charges we got from Hawaii, he'd better get a phone card and aim for a payphone!!
Well, it's time to put Ray to bed and me to the tv.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Hump Day Madness
Truly, I have the best boss evah. Let me explain.
Greta's had three heavy pee diapers today (not counting the one she woke up with), but no more explosions of the town-leveling kind since yesterday. I made an appointment with the doc to get her seen, and that's right when they open, just before 9 am tomorrow.
I asked my boss when I could take an extra hour in an afternoon and he told me to take the whole day tomorrow! WOW! What kind of boss does that, eh? He rocks so big. I owe him lots of beers.
I went to my grief support group tonight and it was nice to get away for a while.
It's dropping down to -6 tonight and I'm out of kindling, so I picked some up from the store on my way home and will light a fire tomorrow afternoon.
I have SO many things to do tomorrow:
- drop Ray off at 8:15
- dr. appt at 8:50
- drop Greta off afterwards (9:45?)
- drop off play tent for $$
- get stuff for the house and for the business fair from Costco
- go to Rona for our water faucet
- dentist at 1:20
- pharmasave to return old cold med and pick up different stuff for Ray
- check out XS Cargo for a few things - AMAZING prices there - Holy Crapoly!
- pick up Greta at 3:30
- pick up Ray at 4:15
- eat dinner (crockpot roast... yummmmm)
- speech therapy lady at 5:30
- then bath, bed and check emails etc afterward.
Thursday I have a Conflict for Managers course. Uh... that'd be how to MANAGE it, not CAUSE it. I hope.
Sailor is approaching Korea any day now. He tells me they're not having fun. I believe him. His niece from Flatland will be in town over the weekend, and I'm hope we can get together with her before she goes back to Vancouver.
Well, it's late and I have a TON of stuff to do tomorrow when I get up. It'll be interesting to see what I actually get accomplished.
Greta's had three heavy pee diapers today (not counting the one she woke up with), but no more explosions of the town-leveling kind since yesterday. I made an appointment with the doc to get her seen, and that's right when they open, just before 9 am tomorrow.
I asked my boss when I could take an extra hour in an afternoon and he told me to take the whole day tomorrow! WOW! What kind of boss does that, eh? He rocks so big. I owe him lots of beers.
I went to my grief support group tonight and it was nice to get away for a while.
It's dropping down to -6 tonight and I'm out of kindling, so I picked some up from the store on my way home and will light a fire tomorrow afternoon.
I have SO many things to do tomorrow:
- drop Ray off at 8:15
- dr. appt at 8:50
- drop Greta off afterwards (9:45?)
- drop off play tent for $$
- get stuff for the house and for the business fair from Costco
- go to Rona for our water faucet
- dentist at 1:20
- pharmasave to return old cold med and pick up different stuff for Ray
- check out XS Cargo for a few things - AMAZING prices there - Holy Crapoly!
- pick up Greta at 3:30
- pick up Ray at 4:15
- eat dinner (crockpot roast... yummmmm)
- speech therapy lady at 5:30
- then bath, bed and check emails etc afterward.
Thursday I have a Conflict for Managers course. Uh... that'd be how to MANAGE it, not CAUSE it. I hope.
Sailor is approaching Korea any day now. He tells me they're not having fun. I believe him. His niece from Flatland will be in town over the weekend, and I'm hope we can get together with her before she goes back to Vancouver.
Well, it's late and I have a TON of stuff to do tomorrow when I get up. It'll be interesting to see what I actually get accomplished.
Monday, March 9, 2009
California Dreamin'
There was no snow when we left this morning. Well, there was, but not much. We made it into town easily and by 9:15, there was 2" in Cobble Hill and it was coming fast and thick on Base. There were accidents on the 'Hat and traffic was at a standstill. I was told to leave at 11:30.
I picked up Greta, who was very happy to see me for once, and we went home. She had fallen asleep and the trip was fine - a little wet here and there, but the roads were clear all the way through.
I debated switching the car seats over while Greta napped at home, but I didn't. By the time we were to leave, the snow had melted away quite nicely. It was frosty by 6pm, but the car handles ice better than the truck does, so we'll be fine tomorrow.
I had to wake her up and she was SO not impressed. She cried and went through the "I don't wan-nooo"s for 15 minutes. By the time I got her to the car though, she was fine. We got Ray and came home easily.
The fire's lit and roaring downstairs. It's so hot I can barely get another log inside!
This not eating ice cream for Lent is great for my weight-loss efforts (I'm down 2 lbs!), but SUCKS for snacking!!
I get to sit in on the production and sub meetings tomorrow. Lucky me. If Greta's still not got normal poos by tomorrow night, I'm taking her to the clinic on Wednesday.
Let's hope the snow's gone by then.
I picked up Greta, who was very happy to see me for once, and we went home. She had fallen asleep and the trip was fine - a little wet here and there, but the roads were clear all the way through.
I debated switching the car seats over while Greta napped at home, but I didn't. By the time we were to leave, the snow had melted away quite nicely. It was frosty by 6pm, but the car handles ice better than the truck does, so we'll be fine tomorrow.
I had to wake her up and she was SO not impressed. She cried and went through the "I don't wan-nooo"s for 15 minutes. By the time I got her to the car though, she was fine. We got Ray and came home easily.
The fire's lit and roaring downstairs. It's so hot I can barely get another log inside!
This not eating ice cream for Lent is great for my weight-loss efforts (I'm down 2 lbs!), but SUCKS for snacking!!
I get to sit in on the production and sub meetings tomorrow. Lucky me. If Greta's still not got normal poos by tomorrow night, I'm taking her to the clinic on Wednesday.
Let's hope the snow's gone by then.
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