Ode to day light.

I am basking in the glorious light of day. For I have been missing it. I started my new job this week, and so far so good. I'm enjoying it, it's pretty busy and not overly difficult. The girls I work with seem nice enough, and working in a mall has its benefits. There is tons of ways to kill time before and after work when the bus gets me there to early, or I get off before a bus is due. However, I am missing one thing. And that's the sun.

Sure the mall has skylights in the corridors, but I don't spend my time out there. I am in a store, with not a hint of daylight inside. So on those days when I am working for open, I leave home at 8am. The sky is dark, the sun still low beyond where I can see it. The sky is dappled with pink hues. It is beautiful, but also kind of strange. I watch the shades of pink, purple and red change slowly in the sky as I sit on the bus. At the mall, I get off the bus with other mall employees. Upon entering the mall, the only things open yet are the two coffee shops. Yet the mall is already bustling. There are groups of seniors gathered in the food court. There are cleaning staff busy scrubbing tables. There are old ladies hanging up their coats, and going for "mall-walks". I feel as though I've stumbled upon something I shouldn't have. A secret world of after-hours mall life. Soon after my arrival, things begin to change. The mall fills with the sound of the radio, stores open their doors, staff returns from the coffee shops to their places of work, we are open for business.

The day passes, not to slowly nor overly quickly. I do my job. I take my break. I come back and work some more. The time comes when I get to make my way home. The last time I was outdoors, the sky was dark. I leave the mall, and the sky is dark. The sun again is low in the sky, already gone down below the visible horizon. Clouds in the sky form a barrier. Pitch black envelopes most of the world, except for a small band of brilliant green down in the east. It is beautiful. I board the bus, and once again I watch the sky twinkle with the colours of twilight. I am glad that sunsets and sunrises here are beautiful, because it almost makes not having seen the light of day worth it.

Raspberry Ginger Ale: Lost and Found

After years of searching, my quest has come to an end. I have once again found Raspberry Ginger Ale. It has been a long, hard journey.

My love affair with this sweet pink liquid started many years ago Back then I was able to purchase it with ease on Kingston Road in The Beach neighbourhood in Toronto at our local family run grocery store. I had it on special occasions, I had it when i was ill, I had it in the summer over ice cream, I had it when I wanted it.

Years passed, and the memory of my favourite beverage faded. However, they were reawoken in my early teen years when I discovered that my high school cafeteria pop vending machine carried the sweet sweet nectar that I love. For a few years I was happy. I was able to purchase a can of my love whenever I felt the urge. But then my hopes and dreams where taken away in one foul swoop when the schools fizzy beverage provider changed from Pepsi to Coke. Sure I was happy that I no longer had to drink 7-Up and that my other love DietCoke was now purchasable on school premise. But I had lost the Raspberry Ginger Ale-ie goodness.

More years passed, although this time my memories did not fade. I could still remember the sweet taste, the pleasant aroma, the tiny bubbles popping on my tongue and the aesthetically pleasing colour. Whenever I was in the pop aisle I'd look, but I never found my love again. I thought the trail had gone cold.

That was until this summer. I was in Montreal with my friend Ffion, we were heading into the city from Beaconsfield and had to take the subway. And right there, advertised on the subway platform, it was. On paper, towering over me like a Madonna and Child was an add for Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale. It was taunting me! And to add injury to insult the add claimed that the product was NEW! New?!? Were my memories false? I think not.

For the rest of my time in Montreal I scoured stores for my love, only to be disappointed.

I had regained hope. I knew it still existed. I knew I would taste my love again.

Today, when

Then last week, (oh what a glorious day!) I was in the Red Deer Co-op store buying Pepsi for my other love, when my eyes skimmed over a pink bottle. My heart skipped a beat. I glanced back. Yes, there it was, in all its glory! My long lost love. And it was on sale.

drinking my last glass of my love, I had a thought. Why don't I Google my love? After all, I Google just about everything else... and behold

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00061EZNQ/ref=dp_olp_2/104-0238980-7879944

you can actually buy it on amazon.com. I hope that my journey will help others, and that I have perhaps woken a desire deep within your heart and you too will go out and find the sweetest drink I know.

Schweppes Raspberry Ginger Ale, I love you!

Murphy's Law

We woke up this morning to the phone. Nick's very noisy, very irritating phone. He was being called out to work with a crew that wasn't his own, but he couldn't get ready in time so he didn't go out. Which was nice, because Nick had actually decided to take a day off today and just hang out with me. Then about an hour later, dispatch calls again, decide they still want him. Nick gets up, gets dressed, calls a taxi. The operator of the crew he was supposed to be going out with and calls just as he's about to leave. They no longer need him. Very confusing start to the morning. Although it was bound to happen. You decide to take a day off, all the sudden you are in high demand.

Despite our intentions to sleep in, we were definitely up. And then we looked outside to see this. I realize it isn't that snowy. But it's the first real snow we've had since I've been here. We've had some dustings, but nothing real. Anyways, Nick was glad not to have to head out into the weather. Just after he was called off the job, he decided to go to the grocery store to get milk (which is nearly a daily event in our household... he honestly drink 4 liters every two days...) and as he got to the store he got a call from his operator and was told that they are heading out into the field tomorrow.

Thank god.

Yeah, yeah. I know what you're thinking. You think I can't wait to get him out of the house. But that's not actually the case. Having had him around all this time has been awesome. It's just really good timing, and we are kinda poor right now. Good timing because I start work on Monday, so I'll no longer be just sitting around watching Star Trek all day. Thank god.

Employment

I am no longer among the ranks of the unemployed! Starting monday I am the new assistant manager at LaSenza. Despite the fact that I have re-entered the world of retail, I am actually kind of excited about the job. Not only am I not entering the ranks as the lowest of the low, I am second in command. And it's actual full-time hours, which is something I've never really known. Of course my hours are determined by the malls hours (which are REGULAR!) i.e. 9-9 on weekdays, considerably less on weekends, but with Nick's schedule it doesn't really matter when I work. Heck, I might even get another job.

I think the hardest thing about this job is actually having to adhere to a companies policies. Those who know me, or who have worked with me know that my last job wasn't really policy ridden. Really our only rules were no cut-off shorts, see-through blouses or tube tops. And I know even those rules were slightly bendy. Dress code is relatively simple at the new job. Black pants, black shoes and a black blazer with anything you'd like underneath as long as there is no logo. Sounds easy. Most girls wouldn't have a problem pulling those items out of their closet. Well apparently, I'm not every girl.

The last time I bought black pants was... I'm kind of embarrassed to say... was probably 3 or 4 years ago. The pair before that? Well, they were bought at Eaton's. Luckily I anticipated potentially having to wear black pants, so I brought them both with me, (even if one of the pairs is quite big on me now and the others are slightly short). Ok, so one item down.

Now what about black shoes? Yeah. It's official. I think I am the only girl in the world who doesn't own black shoes of some variety. I'll admit I do have one pair of high-heeled black boots, known to some as either the "witch-boots" or "skates". Not work appropriate and not comfortable enough for standing around. So, I have to buy some black shoes. Which isn't really the biggest hardship, as I do love shoe shopping. Or should I rephrase, I love shoe shopping in Toronto. Red Deer shoe shopping? Hmmm.... There is an Aldo. And a Payless. Help me. Please.

Last item, black blazer. Yeah, I don't own one of those either. Crap. I have to go shopping. Damn it.

Now that my work wardrobe is somewhat sorted, I have to start thinking about the actual job. I am fortunate not just to be sales help for several reasons.
a) I'm not on commission like everyone else
b) there is only one person who can tell me what to do
c) I'm not assigned to just one task like many of the girls
Sounds pretty decent
Other perks to consider:
Good pay and higher earning potential in the near future, benefits, staff discount.

Oh and at the end of February when the current assistant manager comes back from Australia, I might move and become the manger of the LaSenza Girl which is just about to open.

Excellent.

NB: I wanted to post a picture, but all my Google image searches for lingerie and such like, just came up with porn. And I didn't want to go there. Not yet at least.

The Transition

I am going through a major transition. I know what you're thinking, big city to small town, culture to lack there of, house to apartment... but you're wrong. I'm talking motorist to pedestrian.

It's not that I mind walking, 'cause I don't. Those who have travelled with me, would probably vouch that I am not one to bitch about walking long distances (unless in heels...). However, I'm not overly joyed by the prospect of walking everywhere. I'm not even that big a fan of public transport. Ok, I'll admit it. I love driving and think it's "the better way". Perhaps I've been spoiled over the past years having a car at my disposal, but that luxury is gone. For now.

So today I took my second trudge to the Parkland Mall, which is about a half an hour by foot away, up-hill. At least this time it wasn't minus thirty. It was only just close to that. I bundled up, put on my boots and headed out into the great un-walked Red Deer.

I truly believe I am one of maybe a dozen people without a car in this town. As I walk along the moderately snow-cleared sidewalks in my huge parka and sorrels, all the motorists from the warmth of their huge lifted pick-up trucks gawk at my appearance. And truth be told, I don't blame them.

I mean, look at me! I look like I'm out for an arctic expedition. But you know what else? I've decided not to care. And why's that? Because one of the two people that I crossed paths with today was the most inappropriately dressed people I've ever seen. I realize that sometimes not wearing appropriate winter clothing can be a factor of wealth, but I assure you this was just plain stupidity.

A girl, of maybe 18 years was wearing running shoes, black pants, a hoodie and a thin pink jacket over top. Let me take a moment to explain that I fully understand not wanting to compromise fashion for outerwear, but sometimes it's a must. Especially in Red Deer. And lets face it, this girl wasn't strutting around in haute couture. Anyhoo... she spent some time trying to put her hood on, but I guess her un-gloved hands grew to cold when they emerged from her sleeves, that she gave up. She had no hat or scarf, and her face and neck (oh yes, her coat wasn't completely done up) were bright red and sore looking. Whereas I warm and toasty, albeit not overly sexy.

Sorry, back to the point. As I trudge along the snowbanked tracks, I am occasionally sprayed by the snow/mud/slush of the road by those taunting tormentors behind the wheels of their nice warm vehicles. Am I bitter? Only slightly.

When I left the mall today to venture forth on my journey home, I so happened to look at the sidewalk as I went. And I was frightened by what I saw. I could still perfectly see my footprints coming towards me. There was maybe two other sets of prints which overlapped mine. In over two hours, only two other people walked the same path as me!

You know what. I don't have anything else to say about that. I just don't.

2006 in Red Deer

The first week out in Red Deer was full to say the least. Upon arrival to the Calgary airport, Nick and I decided that we couldn't possibly face getting us and all our luggage onto the Greyhound so we rented a car for a week. We didn't waste anytime and the day after our arrival we headed to Edmonton and to Ikea. Despite the extreme exhaustion and a moderate freakout by me in housewares (after Nick confessed not only to having destroyed my pink frying pan...yeah like he wasn't trying...but to having used one of my knives as a can opener) it went well. That is until we tried to fit out purchases into the suzuki swift. Slightly less traumatic than trying to fit a sofa into a chevy cobalt. Slightly. I captured the moment on film.

Fortunetly it was only an hour back to Red Deer smushed under the ikea flat boxes. Oh, yeah did I mention it was New Year's Eve? Nothing like assembling to ring the new year.

The Beginnings

I finally feel I have time to blog, and the reason is simple. It's god damn cold outside and snowing. Up to this point I have been incredibly lucky and spoilt in terms of weather. The days have been full of sunny skies and temperatures hovering around zero. But not today. I keep checking the TV for weather updates. It is currently -17C, with a low of -28. And that doesn' t include windchill. I think i'm going to stay inside today.

So here's the question. The photo to the left looks suspiciously like a sunset or perhaps a sunrise. But i'll let you in on a little secret, it was actually taken at about 10:30 in the morning. Yup, we don't get a whole lotta sunshine here at the 52 parallel. The sun rises at about hmmm...8:30 and sets just after 4pm.

Weather update: just checked the weather network and it is actually -31 right now with the windchill.

However, despite the short days and frigid temperatures things are going very well. All my stuff arrived a few days after I did, so the take-over of the apartment has begun. I have figured out the basic lay of the land, and am actually able to walk to lots of things. They include, grocery store (good), two movies theaters (excellent), library (i don't use those, but ok), shoppers drug mart (handy), red deer buffet (hmmm..), walmart (somewhat depressing) and a walk-in clinic.

Oh yes. That last place? I was there but a few days ago. The "Village Mall Walk-In Clinic" experience differed greatly from previous Toronto expereinces at the Albany Clinic. Instead of waiting several hour amogst people who look near death, I walked into an empty office and was sceen within minutes. Although, I'm not sure how well I was treated. Especially as the nurse who lead me to the room looked me in the eye as asked me in a hushed voice "are you going to require a urine test?". I look at her blankly.

"Why?"

"For pregnancy...?" I smile at her.

"Ah. No. I hope not." Nurse smiles at me.

"You never know what surprises life might hold." I laugh uncomforatbly.

In comes doctor. "What seems to be the problem?"

"My tonsils look bad." In goes tongue depressor.

"Yep. " Hands me a prescription. Tonsilitus it is.

The only good thing to have come from my trip to the clinic was the really nice walk. The weather was gorgeous (unlike current conditions). My coat was open, my hands un-gloved, my head hat-free.

Note: I think the fire alarm in the building might be going off. I'm going to ignore it.

All in all my Red Deer experience thus far has been just fine. The people are friendly, the surroundings are quite beautiful and come summer there will be lots of things to do outside.