Canada

by

A Seasonal First

WHEW. It got HOT today.

I opened every single window and hatch in the rig as well as the front door, but the more the day marched on, the more Miranda felt like an oven and the cats drooped. I finally shut everything tight and put the AC on low (remember, I’m on 15A). Even at that setting it is a real miracle, having taken the temperature in here down almost ten degrees in less than a half hour. I’m going to run it for a bit longer. The cats are very grateful! I started up the AC and went to the library, where the unit is located, to make sure it was running, then came back to the study to find both cats staring up at the cooling vents very gratefully. They have perked up, had their dinner. and are now napping comfortably.

When I did my big rig clean last week, I made a point of vacuuming all my vents and the AC unit, so it’s clean, purring, and not spewing out clouds of dust!

If it was just me in here, I would probably swelter before putting on the AC, but the two little souls who share these living quarters really need it, so I put it on for them. I’m glad I can provide that for them.

by

An Electricity Quiz

Hypothetically speaking, what would happen if a sleepy person got up one morning, decided it was cold, turned a heater on full blast, and got to work microwaving and toasting her breakfast?

If you said “That person would blow a breaker” you are correct!

This time, it was a shore power breaker. I can’t find the breaker box in the garage for the plug to which the rig is connected, so I haven’t had any 120V power all day. What a hardship! Not. 😀 I charged my computer through the inverter and it’s been so sunny that my batteries are fully charged.

I love not having to rely on shore power!

by

Well, That was Early!

The alarm rang at 4:55 this morning. Thankfully, I wasn’t in the middle of a REM cycle, so it was easy to bounce out of bed, have breakfast, and get on the road for 5:15.

The first part of the day was flagging, which meant I had to keep the lady I’m working for alive while she laid traffic-counting hoses across a busy highway and nailed them into the pavement. At that hour there wasn’t much traffic, but I felt very powerful standing in there in my safety-yellow cover all and SLOW sign. 😀

I had to wear a cute outfit like this one this morning (image from textileinnovations.com)

After, she treated me to breakfast, then I counted cars for two hours. Tonight, I’ll be doing the reverse, starting at 4PM.

Now, I need to work on a translation contract then go deliver some fliers. After counting, I’ll try to deliver some phone books. I can’t believe how little income I have for how busy I am!

But the phone rang this morning and suddenly things are looking up… It’s way too soon to get excited, but it makes me feel optimistic.

by

I’m Going to Need a Wake-Up Call Tomorrow

After I finished counting cars the other day, I was asked if I’d be available for more work this summer. Of course, I said yes, but I honestly never expected to hear from this lady again, not with the way my employment situation has been since I got to Lethbridge.

I must learn to have more faith. I’m meeting her at 5:30 tomorrow morning. It’s going to be a short night. 🙂

I’m going to be counting cars again, but the reason we are meeting so early is so I can help lay down some hoses. At least, that’s what I understood. And I might be introduced to flagging (being a traffic control person).

To think I could be working in an office in Gatineau doing the same thing over and over and over and over again day in and day out instead of learning something new every day. Lack of steady income not withstanding, my life is pretty awesome!

by

Alberta Propane Prices

I went to fill the 30lb propane tank today and once again was shocked by the cost of propane in Alberta.

In the last three years, filling that thing in BC and the US has cost me between $20 and $30, with Campbell River and Blaine being at the high end of the spectrum, the Okanagan in the middle, and Surrey at the bottom. I also once filled it for almost $40 in Dawson.

Propane in Canada is sold in a price per litre and I’ve always considered the low eighties per litre to be an acceptable price.

I’ve filled up twice since I got to Alberta and hope I don’t have to get used to the price they have here (ie. that I have to stay here in definitely) because I’m going to get spoiled. Propane is 74 cents per litre, so my 35lbs costs me just shy of $18!!!!