Sorry, no picture

There have been happenings afoot in the Taves/Campbell/McLean household. First off, Brad's been in Arizona for the past week or two, looking at cars and cactuses and hardwood (mostly at the cars, though). He seems to be having a good time, judging by the phone calls we've had from him. Then there is Zenon, who, as he never updates his blog anymore I will have to tell you, has accepted those contracts that I mentioned below, and is thinking about hiring people. The business is growing, which is pretty exciting. Because of this, we have decided to stay in Fort McMurray for at least another year, which sucks, but I think will be OK.

This all brings me to my news. I have quit my job! At long last, too. I have been wanting to be out of there for a long time. I think my first round of job searching happened in April. There was then another round in June/July, though I decided to stay at my job until after my vacation. Finally, I did some more job searching recently, and decided this past Monday to quit my job, even though I hadn't found anything new. I gave my notice on Wednesday, saying that my last day would be November 10. My boss was actually really understanding. I told her how I wasn't being challenged anymore, and how I hate being on call, and she was really positive, telling me that I'd made the right choice (which was good to hear, because I'd been agonizing, of course). She then said, "I'd hate for the group of companies to lose you. Maybe we can find you something else." And she did! She put in a good word for me, and now I have a job across the hall from my current office, doing accounts receivable. It all happened so fast - I quit on Wednesday, had an informal job interview on Thursday morning (with 15 minutes' notice... oh the stress!), and had accepted the new position by Friday morning. It was all pretty crazy, but really really cool. It made me feel really good that they wanted to keep me in the company. Also, this means that I can keep my benefits (they are doing this as a transfer), and I won't have any interruptions in my paycheque flow, or vacation seniority. The new job is doing accounts receivable, which will be interesting. I am not sure if I will like it, but at least I won't be bored anymore. I figure that even if I hate the work, I will have lots of it (which will be an amazing change), and I won't be on call anymore. I'll also get one paid Friday off per month, which is pretty cool.

The other thing that is happening with us is that we are thinking about moving. Zenon and I looked at a place the other night that is the main floor of a house, with a huge heated garage included. It is much bigger than our current apartment, and looked really nice. We put in an application, so we'll see what happens. Brad would finally have a full-sized bedroom, and room for all of his stuff. He could also stop sleeping on a Princess and the Pea type bed, and start sleeping on one where you don't need to be an Olympic pole vaulter to get in (because our apartment came furnished, and Brad already had a bed, he has been sleeping on 2 mattresses and 2 bedsprings for the past number of months. The bed is almost as tall as I am).

Yes, happenings and happiness have been afoot. Things are good. Knock on wood.

Peaceful

DSC00710
Originally uploaded by likeamemoryitfalls.

This photo is one that Zenon took while he was home this summer. I think that mood of it matches how I feel today. I find myself in a rare mood - calm and happy. It may be due to the fact that I spent my morning in bed reading a book, and my afternoon so far in the tub reading another book. And even though my work phone rang at the worst times (once when the hero was facing the final challenge, fighting his very own instincts that wanted him to turn back, struggling to deliver his magic-infused bundle and break the spell, while his comrades fought off attacking goblins below, neither knowing if the other still survived...)(and then again while I was in the tub), knowing that I am actively job hunting again and soon will have a job where the only phone calls I get after hours will be from people that I want to talk to has helped to me to keep my cool. Imagine - a weekend not punctuated by the ringing of a work phone, a weekend totally separate from the work week... It will be beautiful. Eventually. Once I find another job.

Zenon and I have decided to stay here for another year to help his business grow. I try not to think about this decision too often, as my daydreams of home, and indeed of any place civilized haunt me when I'm not paying attention. I am trying to remind myself that a new job will make the whole world, even Fort McMurray, look better.

The computer desk that Zenon was building is now complete. I will post a picture soon. Also, the crocheting continues, and is still the funnest thing I've learned to do since... well, I don't know. The other night I even talked Zenon into reading to me while I crocheted (the only thing about crocheting is that you can't read and crochet at the same time). It was even better than I imagined. I am really going to have to start investing in some books on tape. Imagine - being able to "read" while crocheting, knitting, even exercising if I wanted to (if I ever exercised...). Oh the joys!

Anyway, I guess that I didn't really have too much to say today. I just wanted to take advantage of a rare calm spell to post. Thanks for sharing it with me!

Lovely cliffs

Lovely cliffs
Originally uploaded by likeamemoryitfalls.

This is a picture of some of the cliffs outside of Drumheller. I finally got a Flickr account. This is a test post to see how posting from Flickr works. Once I have things set up, I'll add a link to my Flickr account so that you can see the rest of the pictures from Drumheller, and some other random ones (like of my new hair!).

Edit: You can access my Flickr account by clicking here.

Belated Thanksgiving post

I have been meaning to post for over a week now, but I just either haven't had the chance or haven't been in the proper mood. Anyway, I wanted to tell you about our Thanksgiving weekend. First of all, it seems to have gone from autumn to winter overnight up here. Today is a warmer day - high of 4 degrees. Welcome to the North, I guess. Although I have to say that we were down south last weekend, and if anything, it was even colder.

Since Thanksgiving weekend is a 3 day weekend, Zenon and I decided to take a mini road trip. We drove down to Red Deer after work on Friday afternoon. This is a long enough trip anyway, but it was made longer because I couldn't keep my mouth shut. I was driving and Zenon was sort of dozing in the passenger seat, and we passed a sign on the road advertising a garage sale with tools and other stuff. As we drove by it, I said, "Oh, tools for sale!" Zenon, of course, became instantly fully alert. "Tools for sale? Where? What kind of tools? How much?" After a bit of sighing, I consented to turn around and drive back to the sign. Zenon called the phone numbers on the sign and got a hold of a guy who was selling his cabinet making business and had some tools he was trying to get rid of. Because it's Zenon, we had to make the detour to find this guy's shop in the next town over. The man was actually quite nice, and we stood chatting with him for a while. Zenon ended up buying three tools at what are apparently really good prices.

So, we were a little late getting to Red Deer. We basically just went to our hotel room and crashed. Saturday morning, the day dawned sunny but freezing! We spent the morning exploring Red Deer. Since Zenon got that job offer there a few months ago, we have been curious about Red Deer. What a gorgeous city it is! I couldn't believe it! So many trees, all in the their finest autumn colours, family-friendly neighbourhoods, winding residential streets... Wow!

After we'd gotten our fill of the autumnal beauty of Red Deer, we headed out on the highway towards Drumheller. We discovered that all of central Alberta is really really nice-looking. The drive to Drumheller was filled with lots of farmlands and wheatfields, but we knew the moment we reached the badlands because of the cliffs. Zenon made me take lots of pictures of them. It seems that Blogger won't let me post any more pictures, though, so you will just have to take my word for it. I might have to break down and create a Flickr account.

Anyway, we went to the Royal Tyrrell Museum and learned lots about prehistoric times and dinosaurs, which was really cool. After we ate, we took a road trip out to see the Hoodoos, which were a bit disappointing. We had a fun time climbing the cliffs of the Badlands, though. There really wasn't anything else to do in Drumheller. There is no nightlife. We walked across a suspension bridge, which is as much fun as you'd expect. We took pictures.

On Sunday morning, we started the drive back to Edmonton. In Edmonton, we went to the House of Tools and then the West Edmonton Mall to pass the afternoon. In the evening we went to see a movie about whales on the Imax screen at the Telus Science Centre. Edmonton is cool. We took a dip in the hotel's pool after we checked in, and then turned in. It is suprising how tiring it is to spend the day on the road.

Monday was a really fun day. We went back to the West Edmonton Mall and went skating for an hour, and then we hit the water park for some slip sliding fun. It was hard to pull ourselves away to come back to the Fort, but Zenon remembered that it was the season premiere of RAW, so we had to hurry back. He wouldn't even let me stop for ice cream he was in such a hurry to get back to see it. All in all, it was a really great weekend, and I'm glad we did it.

We came back up north with the idea to move to Edmonton come springtime, but since then Zenon has been offered some lucrative contracts for his business, and that has given us pause. I don't know what is going to happen now, as it is still in the discussion phase. I will, of course, keep you posted.

Besides that, life is continuing more or less as usual. If we do decide to stay up here, I am definitely getting a new job. The things that were making mine bearable for a while are disappearing rapidly, and I am starting to really hate it again.

Oh, the other news is that we have a computer desk now where our dining room used to be. I'll take some pictures once everything is set up. I don't know where I'll post them, but I'll take them. Zenon made one out of some salvaged countertop from work, and some shelves and drawers that we bought yesterday. So far we are really liking how it opens up the space in our apartment.

That is all for now. I'll keep trying the pictures.

Two weekends of fun

I have been meaning to post for a while. I have had 2 consecutive good weekends. Last weekend, Brad's girlfriend broke up with him and moved out of the apartment, which is bad because he is really upset. On the other hand, it gave us an excuse to take Brad out for drinking and karaoke. Zenon even convinced me to get up there and do a duet with him. We did "I Got You Babe" by Sonny and Cher. We actually did it twice, because the first time my mike wasn't on. I actually hadn't minded that, but the people running the karaoke insisted that we have another turn. All in all, it was OK. Zenon told me that my performance was neutral - no one would say that I have an awesome voice, but I wasn't the worst one that night, either. That was about as much as I was hoping for. I have no illusions about me becoming a rock star (anymore). I know that I take after my Dad's side of the family when it comes to singing.

Anyway, another part of the night was trying to get Brad to hit on women at the bar, a task that is easier said than done. He did send a drink to a lady, but didn't follow up. To help things along, Zenon introduced one of his karaoke songs with, "I would just like to draw the attention of all the single ladies out there to my friend Brad [pointing]. He is single, successful, and most importantly, disease-free." Brad and I killed ourselves laughing.

This weekend started like any other. Zenon and I went out yesterday to run errands and whatnot. We have decided to dismantle our dining room table and make that area into a computer nook, so we were looking for a computer desk. We have been waging a war on clutter for the past week or so, and our next target is the dining room. Anyway, as we were shopping Zenon reminded me that I have been wanting to get my hair cut for a while, so I called and made an appointment. As I was on my way out, Zenon told me to do something new with my hair. When I asked him what, he said, "I don't know, maybe add some blonde or red or something." On a whim, I did a bit of both. Here is what it looks like:
My hair is actually a bit darker and more red than it looks here.
I have another picture that shows off the blonde highlights a bit more, but for some reason it isn't uploading. I like this picture of me, anyway. I really like the reddish colour that I have right now. I think that I might keep it for a while as it really warms up my skin tone. It is also just plain more fun.

Has anyone read the article about Fort McMurray in last month's Chatelaine magazine? I finally got around to reading it. It caused quite a stir up here, I can tell you. I have to say, though, I thought that most of what it said was true. This city really does look like a bachelor pad. And, I have to say, I am quite happy to not be single in this city.