Month: June 2011

by

Settling In

Today was my fourth day at my new job. It’s going super well so far. Management is thrilled and has informed me that they changed their mind about the ‘couple of hours a week, we can drop you without notice thing’ and will have me on nearly full-time till I leave Lethbridge. Well, that’s going to be a few more hours than I had planned on, but I’ll make it work!

We’re going to take it a week at a time in terms of scheduling, at least for now, to see how much they really need me. I envisioned working full-time the first and last week of the month and part-time in the middle two weeks and that’s exactly what they came up with, too. Us all being on the same page makes me feel optimistic. And I got a pay cheque today!

I’m getting keys on Saturday then it looks like could be on my own starting Monday… I think I’m going to read up on the Alberta Tenancy Act this weekend. 😀

 

by

Contentedly Busy

The weather in Lethbridge has been vacillating between cold and damp and hot and dry since I got here in April. Today has been one of the scorchers! I didn’t have any transcription to do (which was fine after the weekend marathon I just had!) so I took an easy morning, did a flier route, then headed to work in the afternoon.

So far, the job is great and is making me very glad I didn’t settle. Today was all about rent collection, writing out receipts, and filling in spreadsheets. I love bookkeeping! I was also sent off to show a gentleman an apartment! I’m doing more training tomorrow, and then Thursday I’ll be spending the day at ‘my’ apartment building with one of the company owners. Friday is Canada Day so I’m off, but Saturday I will be collecting rent. Well, I haven’t been told in as many words that I’m working Saturday, but it’s really a given since the offices are closed on Friday. I love the mix of tasks. I came in a 1:15 today and the next thing I knew it was 4:30. I love it when time flies like that!

All is good in Raeland this week and I’m hoping to get back to my destriping project now that I seem to be easing out of survival mode. As my friend Croft says, life is good!

by

"I just privatized world peace"

My favourite type of popcorn movie is the comic book adaptation. A recent favourite is the Ironman franchise. I saw Ironman 2 in Dawson last summer.

So you can imagine how amused I was this afternoon when I went across the street to the bottle depot and saw the following lying on the grass by a tree:

Wonder if this guy is running around our neighbourhood without his mask. I guess he’ll be tough to miss.

by

The Best Grocery Store in Canada!

I love the Lethbridge Safeway!!!

I have never in all my life shopping in Canadian groceries stores, a regular occurrence since I was about eight, encountered a grocery store that offers so many great deals on nearly expired and scratch & dent products. I didn’t start by going to the Lethbridge Safeway since my experience with the chain in BC was that it was much more expensive than Save-on-Foods. But there’s one located right near home and it just made sense to go there. I got the members card and make a point to only buy things that are on sale or for which the members discount applies.

But the thing that has made me fall in love with this grocery store is the half-price dairy section! I’ve never seen a dedicated half-price dairy section before! I get shaky as I start to approach it, wondering what fantastic deal I’m going to get on yoghurt that day (yes, I really love yoghurt. 🙂 ) They oftentimes have cheese, too. I didn’t like the yoghurt offerings today, but I got a huge hunk of a nice old cheddar for half off. Half of it will go into the freezer.

Today, I also found other surprises and have made a note to go back to the store next Sunday morning to see if this is a habitual occurrence. There was a huge rack of half-off bakery, most of which was fresh and only discounted because it was smooshed. I filled the freezer with really nice bread for just $3; at that price it’s not worth making my own! Most of it was whole or multi-grain sliced bread, but at 50 cents each, it was worth grabbing several bags of really soft, buttery dinner rolls.

Finally, after weeks of nearly fainting at the chicken prices, I found some that needed to be sold by tomorrow on sale for 30% off. I’m on a tight budget so I didn’t fill the freezer, but I did get two breasts, one for dinner tonight, one for the freezer. After at least a week on lentils, it sure was nice to have chicken tonight. I can’t believe I used to be a vegetarian!

Since I started going to the Safeway here, I have not paid full-price for groceries and have been able to eat very well for very little money, just like in the U.S. I just wish their produce was nicer. That said, I’m off to enjoy a juicy-looking 99 cent mango. 😀

 

by

On the Spot

I had an interview this afternoon and went to it thinking that it would be a waste of time, just like all my previous job ventures in Lethbridge. This was confirmed when I realised, after I was offered a long-term, salaried, position (!), that they neglected to notice the sentence at the very top of my resume that said that I’m only looking for work into October.

I wasn’t even disappointed, but they were crestfallen. “But you have such great credentials! You’re perfect for us!” And then I saw a light bulb go on over the interviewer’s head and she invented a job for me right on the spot!

I start some general training tomorrow and by Monday they’ll have a better idea of my duties, responsibilities, and schedule.  It’s part-time, no guaranteed hours, and no promise that it’ll even go through October, but it’s relief and a good fit for both of us. I wouldn’t have wanted something full-time or regular now, not with how my transcription business has taken off, so this is perfect.

The burning question of course is, what will I be doing? Well, starting tomorrow, I’ll be adding ‘apartment manager’ to my resume!