Part time at Pier One

So, my new job as "RELIEF" worker for Ontario Works (welfare) is proving to be a challenge, especially financially. I am at the bottom of the "pool" and therefore the last one called and I've missed about 15 days of work over the last few months due to shortage of work. So, I am now supplementing my income with a part time job at Pier One...an awesome home decor store, check it out - http://www.pier1.com/. I love the products they sell and there's no commission sales so no pressure. Takes a bit of the financial burden off of me and allows me to buy all the candles and wicker I'll ever need for 25% off! Brad and Kevin are a little disappointed, they would have rather me taken a job at Future Shop! lol. Looks like I'll have Full time work with the Ontario Works job now until the new year but I'm still looking for something more stable in Social Services. I'm sending off resumes to Children's Aid for a Child Protection Worker so wish me luck on that.

Disney 2008

Finally have some time to update. Spent a great 2 weeks driving to/from and hanging out in Disney World with Paul's family. There ended up being 17 of us all together but we had a great time. Highlights for me: Kevin LOVING the Tower of Terror, Brad's amazing sense of humour...he kills me! Paul's "innerchild". I love the rides "Soarin", Rockin Roller Coaster and The Living Seas. It was an awesome vacation, lots of great memories. Great to get home again and have a job to go to, I was worried that there would be no work for me, but so far, so good. The new job is still a challenge and I miss my Waste Crew, but change is good...right?

Brad has started grade 12 and turns 17 next week! His focus in school this year is Media and film, he's taking some pretty cool courses and we're investigating Scholarships for next year. Kevin started Grade 8 last week and he's pretty happy at school. He CAN'T WAIT for Hockey to start up again next week...neither can Paul!

Spent a weekend camping with the McCrea sisters, had a blast! Dirtiest campground ever, but still had a lot of laughs! Next year...cabins and KOA! Summer pretty much done, it was a
great one!

This pic is the kids showing off their mosquito bites:)

Brenda's new job

Bye Bye Waste Management, hello Social Services. My original goal when I applied to Halton Region 7 years ago, was to start at an "entry level position" (Customer Service) and start applying immediately to Social and Community Services (S&SC) positions so that I could eventually become a Case Worker/Intake Worker. Little did I know that S&CS is a unionized department and the only way in is to be hired as a "relief" caseworker and work my up to Full-time permanent case worker.

The definition of "relief" (other than ROLAIDS) is to fill in for staff that are off sick or on mat. leave or on vacation so there is NO guarantee of hours, no benefits and no vacation. The pay is still good, ($3.00/hr more than what I was making)but a huge risk to leave a full-time perm position.

7 years ago, this option was financially impossible so I've had to bide my time in Customer Service and then Waste Management. Finally, postings starting coming up for Relief Worker we are now able to take the risk so as of April 18th, I quite my job in Waste (very sad day as I LOVE my co-workers and will miss them so much) and Apr. 21 I began training as a Social Service Worker - relief staff. Although I still work for Halton Region, I no longer have seniority or benefits, but I am able to keep my pension.

My new job has me in training for 6 weeks (yeah, I get paid for that) and then I sit at home eating bon bons waiting for the phone to ring. When I do get called in, my job could be many things, all based around people applying for Ontario Works or child Care Subsidy or Low Income Housing...and many other social services. Fortunately, summer vacation will be upon us soon and I am told that there will be no shortage of work for a very long time...they are hiring more relief workers as we speak. I will most likely have a contract (mat. leave or sick leave)very soon and will eventually apply for any permanent positions as they come up.

I am so incredibly stoked about this new job and I feel like I finally have a career for the first time, not just a job. You could see many more blogs from me, as I may have a lot more time on my hands, but I hope not! Any financial donations are greatly appreciated! lol!

Home From a Great Vacation

Home from a great vacation in Cuba with a sweet tan! We stayed at the SuperBreezes Club Jibocoa with four other amazing couples celebrating our friends 25th Wedding Anniversary. The weather was wonderful and we made some great memories!
Now, back to reality. I returned to a VERY busy time at work as we roll out our GreenCart Organics Program this coming Monday. We have all been working around the clock (I have 30 hours o/t this week) and hopefully all goes well. Paul has had some stress at work as well as Dofasco...a very "family freindly" company has been considering a union. Turns out, not gonna happen this time so we are very relieved about that.

Brad has great "work" news, he has been promoted from "buser" to "Food Runner" at The Keg and is now making $9.00/hour! Maybe his dream of attending Vancouver Film School (20,000.00/year) will come true! lol. Kevin is obviously the family slacker with no job at all yet...come on, he's almost 13 years old!

We were really bummed that we missed a visit with Scott, Shiobhan and girls, hopefully we'll get a chance to visit with each other soon.

Thankful

We've had some pretty snowy/icy weather around here lately causing slippery road conditions. Last Wednesday, some colleagues and I were headed west to London along the 401 in a Region F150 pick up truck. We were in the far right lane when our truck hit a patch of ice throwing us into a major tailspin that took us across all 3 lanes of traffic while our truck spun around so that when we finally came to a crashing stop alongside the cement median, we were facing oncoming traffic! It was a TERRIFYING experience but miraculously, no other vehicles hit us and none of us were seriously injured! The back window of the truck smashed in when we made contact with the median spraying glass onto my 2 co-workers sitting in the backseat, but we we all fine. I am feeling VERY appreciative of my life, my family and my friends these days! Drive safe, you never know when life could change forever.

Environmental Info

http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Check it out

No Pain, no gain (or loss)

Well, another new year, another attempt at weight loss! I have taken up boxing at my gym (they have an awesome boxing studio). The classes consist of circuit training, 3 minutes of skipping (with a rope, not tra lala), 1 minute rest, 3 more skipping, 1 minute rest, 3 minutes of squats/lunges/jumping, 1 minute rest and so on. The final 10 minutes or so are dedicated to punching a bag. The first class, I pulled every calf muscle I have and couldn't walk properly all week. The second class, I only pulled the muscle in my right calf. I have since focused more on the warm up portion of the class! On Saturday, we did primarily punching with a partner...lucky me, my partner was the instructor:( I was throwing punches for 25 minutes straight and was still shaking when I got home! Last night it was time to work our arms with wieghts...I'm typing with my toes..lol! I'm actually really enjoying the class and feeling stronger every day, so look out Brad!

A Sober New Years Eve:(

Well, due to a slight case of pneumonia and therefore a run of antibiotics, Brenda had a dry New Years Eve, but still a great time. Each year for the past 4, we join a bunch of friends at The Best Western for a great dinner, dance and brunch package. It works out great because the kids hang out in the hotel room eating pizza and playing video games (yes, we too enjoy the Wii) and we don't have to worry about them or about the drive home. In the morning, the hotel puts on a fantastic buffet brunch! This year, Paul's sister (in the pic) and her husband joined us too and we all had a blast.
Happy New Year to you all:)

Christmas 2007

Christmas was a blast for all of us! Highlights for Brad: a new video camera from his dad to take on his trip to France. Also ecstatic about the tickets to the Foo Fighters concert from Ted, Heather, Paul and I (pic is of him looking at the ticket confirmation and realizing that he gets to go...HE LOVES FOO) and the mounds of cash from everyone else. It was an NHL Christmas for Kevin with new in-line skates and team jerseys from The Canadiens and Team Canada...what a patriot! Paul & I spent a quiet Xmas Eve, Brad was working and Kevin was at his moms, but things were hopping on Christmas Day as we tried to fit everyone in. We picked up Kevin, spent the morning with the Hils clan and the rest of the day with McCrea's. Boxing Day we said bon voyage to Brad as he left for his 10 day trip to France with his classmates. He had a great time and came back to us in one piece with some great stories and memories.