weather is hurting my bank account...

Well this will be the 3rd week of no teaching. However, a couple of these days were my own fault. I have called twice this week to say I was unavailable due to the roads. They are so slick in town, there is no way I am willing to drive to Merritt. It sucks though because I miss teaching so much, and I miss the pay cheque that it brings with it! I have been stressing out a lot lately. When they started closing highways and stuff due to weather. I didn't know what I was supposed to do. I didn't want to risk my life for $200 but at the same time I didn't want to be turning down calls and getting myself taken off the list. So on Monday night I went into work and had a huge talk with my manager Alex. He is seriously the worlds greatest person ever. He told me that if I needed/wanted some extra hours at work he would give them to me no problem. He said he didn't like the thought of me driving on these road conditions either. His only concern, like mine was that if I kept not teaching, it would hurt my future... So then the following day I talked to the union rep and he told me that I should not be penalized for saying no for bad road conditions, but if I were to blanket it and say I am not available for the winter, I would most likely have myself removed from the list. So of course this started the stress all over. so Wed morning I got up and waited for a call just in case. Cuz I was like well I guess I just need to suck it up.. Well Wed it started to snow and stuff, and the roads got bad, and I started thinking there is no way I can drive to Merritt tomorrow, and this was backed up by both my mother and Alex. So I called the call out lady and just left a msg with her saying I would be unavailable for today. Then I checked my email and she had actually gotten back to me, telling me that it would never be expected for me to drive in conditions that I did not feel comfortable with. And with winter, it would not be seen as a refusal. Thank goodness. So that seriously lifted so much weight off my shoulders. And the weather is supposed to warm up a bit, so maybe it will help with the roads. I am just glad to hear, that this winter is not going to hurt my future in teaching, and even though it is the last thing I wanted to do, I can fall back on CT and get some extra hours.... and on that note I should probably get ready for work since i have to be there in a bit...

what happens at the Christmas party... stays at the Christmas party...

Well after surviving a crazy Saturday at work... the second day of the two day sale, I was able to get off at 430, and head down to the mall to have my makeup done for the Christmas party. So i arrived at the Body Shop and Marci was very happy to see me, and was excited to glam me up. So i was there for about 45 min or so, we chatted, and she made me look great! At times I sort of felt as though I had my own personal audience, as people would come into the store, and stop to see what was going on. But when I left, Marci and the other girls just kept telling me how great I looked. So that is always a confidence booster. Anyway so then I raced home, and got changed, and had a drink while I tried to fix my hair. Then my ride came for me about 6:15 and off to the party we went. I had a lot of fun, perhaps a little too much to drink. I bought 6 drink tickets when I got there, and I am pretty sure within the first 30 min, I used most of them. Every time I was almost done one drink, I would give my ticket to this guy Lucas to go get me another one, so I always had one going. The food was pretty good, but then again I was just hungry so that might have helped... my sister said she didn't really like it! Anyway in the past the Christmas parties have always been fun because there has always been a group of us who have gone and partied it up. But when I came back to work this time around, there were so many new faces, and many of the younger staff all usually act as if they are too cool for social functions. So I was kind of wondering about the turn out. But there was actually quite a few of us there, and it seemed like everyone was having a good time! So before they started to hand out pins, and awards the owner comes up to me and asked if I had a camera, and if I could take pictures. I said yes, but everyone at my table just laughed at me because they were like uh does he realize you are drunk! haha.. Oh well, some turned out, others not so much. And normally I am not one for the dance floor.. But I couldn't resist the invite to dance with my darlin Bob, when the song Amazed by Lonestar came on... And later on a group of us did the YMCA and the Macarena... Yes that is right we all got up there and danced away! I know some of you are probably cringing at the thought of that dance, but I thought we were very amusing to watch. Especially the older staff, who wanted to partake but didn't really have a clue what the moves were...
So yesterday at work was a little bit painful to say the least. At least I was not alone. Things at work were kind of mellow as we all dragged our way through the day. And we all had a good laugh, as we remembered bits and pieces of the night and tried to piece the evening together :) So I have tons of pictures.... so if you are interested in seeing me drunk with a whole bunch of people you don't know check them out. They are posted on my msn space, but I am pretty sure I have it set up for everyone to have access to. The address is: http://deedleanne.spaces.live.com/PersonalSpace.aspx?_c02_owner=1
Sorry as soon as I figure out how to make that an actually link I can change it.. but in the mean time maybe you can copy and paste the text... So if you go there, and then click on photos (in the folder that says Christmas party you should come across them

what ppl will do for a sale (part 2)

So I had a pretty lazy day today, I figured that I should enjoy my time off before entering my own personal nightmare tonight... So our neighbor kindly picked Julia up for me at 430, and she comes home, walks into my room and say "you are in for a treat tonight'. And I was like why. So she begins to tell me, one of the cashiers called in sick, the debit lines went down (but appearantly it went down globally cuz the mall wasn't working either) and people were already phoning and enquiring about the 7pm timed specials, and people were complaining that they couldn't get them beforehand etc. So I was like oh good! So Laura comes over, we talk with Julia for a few more min, and then off to work we went. I got there at 5 and yes it was slightly busy, but nothing could prepare me for what came. Around 6:05 I saw a few people hanging around the pallet that we knew had the sewing machines on it.. And I was like you have got to be kidding me, the sale doesn't start for 55 min... There was one lady who grabbed a stool and perched herself in front of the pallet, she was determined to get one of these sewing machines. And then I start having people ask me about the digital cameras and I said they will be at the auto desk at 7. Well within the next 55 min things got scary. It got to the point where you couldn't even walk by where the sewing machines, there were probably 80-100 people, min. And the lineup for the cameras was along along the back wall which was great because we only had 9 cameras!!! I was told that I was going to be cutting open the pallets. or at least one of them (since they were wrapped in tarps). But I said thanks, but I would rather keep my limbs... so I made the guys do it. So at 7pm our store manager made the announcement, and they cut into them. I could only see a couple of the pallets (where a pressure washer was and a dora doll) cuz I was up on cash, but within 30 seconds there were people flooding to the tils. I kept joking with the customers that got the sewing machines, and asked if they had to fight! it was seriously insane... And tomorrow we have 4 more door crashers for 8am.. and lucky me I will be there for it. Wish me luck!

what people will do for a sale (part one)

Well this morning, since I did not get called to teach (yet again) I decided to be a nice big sister and drive Julia to work this morning. As we were getting closer to CT I said to her, "How many people do you think are lined up at the door?" Today and tomorrow marks the "biggest 2 day sale" which means people everywhere. Well there were cars in the parking lot, but no one was at the door yet.. I went inside to change my schedule for today, I figured I might as well go in a little big early, and then I stopped at the morning huddle to say good luck to everyone. Well at about 5 min before the doors are to be open, we look outside and sure enough there was about 20 ppl waiting outside to come in. And poor Julia is the only cashier/customer service girl on.. So they open the door, and the people just start pouring in and make there way around the store. I stood and just watched as a few people headed over to Christmas and loaded themselves up with stuff from the 2 day flier. And this was only at 8am this morning. Tonight at 7pm we have our 4 timed specials. Personally I don't really think anything in the flier this year is worth waiting in huge lines for, but what do I know. However, we have 4 pallets wrapped in tarps that say on them "do not open til Nov 24th at 7pm).. 3 years ago when CT started this tradition of this huge sale we did it as a midnight madness.. That night I have never been so scared! I have seen it in movies where ppl are fighting over products, never in my time did I actually think people actually did that... Since then the crowds haven't been as intense, but still they are pushing to get there way. I start at 5 tonight... so I will have to let you know how it goes... but I have a feeling I am going to be running off my feet... until then...

winter may have finally arrived....

Well since I have been back in Kamloops, I have been lucky enough to have beautiful weather. The last month of the summer was nice and hot. September and October were also very mild, and I loved it.. I started hearing about snow in Prince George, and I had to laugh a little bit and thank my lucky stars that I was not there. Since I am sure everyone knows just how much I detest driving in the snow. Then it started to cool off slightly here, and we had a mild snow storm. Which made my drive to Merritt the next morning interesting. I made it safely, but I did see a car in the ditch which scared me slightly. Then by the afternoon the sun had come out, and all the snow disappeared. And once again it has been very mild, yet windy. However, this morning I got up with hopes of teaching (which was a no go by the way) and saw that overnight the snow had fallen. And although it is about 3 degrees right now with a high of 6, I think winter has arrived. They are promising more snow in the forecast for the weekend. And my highlight of the weather update was the fact that Saturday should be a high of -7 and on Sunday we should get to a high of -10!!!!!! I guess it is time to suck it up, put on my winter jacket and at least pretend that I love this weather! If the snow would just stay on the trees, and the grass I would think it was beautiful. It is when it is on the roads that causes me to hate it so much. I know that I can be cautious and drive properly but it is all the other idiots around me. Plus with my drive to Merritt now, it scares me even more. However, I don't really have to worry about that since appearantly I am not needed to work!!! The last day I worked was Nov 10th!!!! Oh well... I am sure the jobs will pick up again soon...

Looking for Mr. Good Frog

Well I just finished reading this book, "Looking for Mr. Good frog" by Laurie Graff. It is a cute little story, abut a lady named Karrie Kline, who has dated a lot of "frogs". In her search for Prince Charming, she comes across a lot of bad relationships and dating mishaps. To deal with the pain, she ends up writing a one person act,to share with the people of New York. The book may seem a little corny,but it was actually a very entertaining read.I figured after reading so many text books in the last couple of years, I should be able to enjoy an easy read once and awhile! I was able to laugh at some of her terrible dating disasters, and I could relate to her pain in someways. We are all looking for our Prince Charming...And sometimes when you think you found someone, it is a matter of time before you realize that he is in fact not the one. So for all you single girls out there, it may be something that might strike an interest.. And as we continue to swim in the frog pond.. our prince charming will come along :) Probably when we least expect it...

Remembrance Day

Throughout my years in Elm. and High school, I have a very fuzzy memory of what the Remembrance assemblys were like. I know we had them every year. Someone, or a class would recite the poem in Flanders Fields, maybe the band would play and there was a moment of silence. Although I was aware of the importance of the day, it didn't really affect me. However, I don't know what has changed, but today I was subbing at the high school in Merrit and they put on the most amazing assembly I have ever been to. It was about 40 min long, which at first I thought was going to be a bit much. But it wasn't at all.. I think the reason it hit hard for me is because the students were talking about the men who are overseas right now. I think when I used to think about this day, it was remembering those who died way before my time, but this time it is different. The students had a slide show, of the men who are overseas, and then they did a tribute to the 42 men who have died since going over there a few years ago. Between the pictures, the music, and just thinking about everything it was hard for me to hold back my tears.
They also played that song Imagine by John Lennon, and it got me thinking: what kind of world do we live in? Is it ever going to get better, will we ever have peace, or is it always going to be something we have to imagine... It is kind of scary to think about in some ways. I appreciate what the men are doing for us, and the country, but at the same time it breaks my heart to think that these men, are missing out on everything they had here in Canada, whether it was children, a wife a girlfriend, family etc.
So as I sit here at the computer, living a fairly decent life, I have to think to myself I am pretty lucky to live in this country... And to that I send my thoughts and prayers, to those who have died in war years ago, presently, and especially to those who are currently fighting. "lest we forget"