Storm Season

I was wondering at the beginning of the month, as I passed by some sturdy roses still in bloom, if I would miss winter if it didn't quite arrive. Guess I'm not going to find out this year. Most of coastal BC is experiencing a rare white Xmas, and I went for a walk this morning to get some pictures before it melted.


( pics under here )

Fic writing isn't getting done tonight. Since it's RL's fault might as well write about that.

So 6 months and 7 days ago, I landed in the Pacific Time Zone to find myself a life. People kept saying I should get one, so I was willing to give it a try. I took my time, went on a few holidays, got nicely settled, and found a source of income by the beginning of September. It wasn't a great job, I decided within a couple of weeks that I was going to use it to keep myself afloat until I found something better. Then Dad got sick and when I had to go back to see him in October, I resigned. It was easier for all involved -- I wouldn't have to worry about getting back to work, and they would be more inclined to give me a good reference if they aren't feeling screwed over by holding a job that I was trying to leave. So November was job hunting month again. I started my new job on Dec 4th. This one is a keeper, I think, at least the compensation is worth any lack of job satisfaction.

I've been living here for six months and it doesn't feel like home yet. I don't feel rooted. I'm really hoping that this job will do that, but I think it will really only provide the security I need to feel able to stretch out in other directions. And I've found another reason to hold off on digging in. I'm not fond of the place I live, (the car alarm that's been going off every hour all day today isn't helping!) so I don't want to get to attached to this neighbourhood. But the lease isn't up for the next six months, so I can indulge my procrastination until then.

I keep reminding myself that it will take time. It takes at least a year for anyone to really get to know me, why shouldn't it take that long for me to get to know my new home. And I am committed to making it my home. Even if it doesn't look that way from the outside yet.

Four weeks after moving to the west coast I went back home for a two week holiday. Not as pathetic as it sounds, I hadn't seen my sister and my nephews since last October and they were going to be in Winnipeg for a week. So between the time at our parents and my stay with her in northern MB, I got to spend a good ten days with them. It was brilliant! Because of the trip, I'd put off looking for work and really considered myself "in transit" for all of June.

I returned on Sunday, and now have to face that I have a life I need to do something with. In the past 48 hours:

1. Got my BC driver's licence. It was waiting in the mail when I returned. I now feel like an official resident. And the picture isn't half bad.

2. GOT FISHES!! Rune and Karot sent me some pretty, shiny fish charms that I will be able to hang in a bowl so that they look like they're swimming. They are the first things that belong only to this place (I don't count furniture) and they make me unreasonably happy. I'll post a picture when I get them swimming.

3. Cleaned all the Winnipeg stuff out of my wallet

4. Dealt with the final step of getting my pension transferred. All ties to the old job are now untied.

5. Sent out 5 job applications. I have no idea what the hell I'm doing.

6. Ordered season 3 of Supernatural, and The Sarah Connor Chronicles. (Which is why it doesn't matter that I don't know what I'm doing, I just need to be doing something to bring money in.)

7. Rehung the curtain rod on my bedroom because it fell down early this morning and SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME! So much for sleeping late enough to combat the jet lag.

8. Started a Yoosu story. With pudding.


I have a feeling it's a bad sign that #8 is the item I'm most excited about.

After a very long couple of days, I finally have keys, and bed, and INTERNETS!!!

The drive from the airport went smoothly, I only made one wrong turn. Onto the TransCanada, which is very much freeway at the far western end. So at least I knew were I was headed even if I wasn't exactly sure how to get where I needed to go. Thank goodness for IKEA; I knew how to get to the apartment from there and the big blue building was difficult to miss on my return trip off the next exit.

The rest of yesterday was spent shopping -- IKEA for the bed and then groceries. And lugging the shopping up the three flights of stairs. There is an elevator but it's just as fast to walk. Not easier, but faster. To say I was tired by 8 o'clock was an understatement. I fell asleep while watching the boys be cute! That does not happen! (The waking up at 4:30am and not being able to get back to sleep before the flight might have had something to do with it.)

My internet guy was supposed to be here by 10am, he arrived at about 11:30. And didn't have an internet modem (paperwork not as clear as it should have been). He was really good about it, but still required a return trip so this was the first chance I've had to say HI!

*waves*

Found out my stuff left Winnipeg today (it was loaded on the 23rd). *rolls eyes* I should be getting it next Monday. *hugs internet* I should be nicely settled by then and maybe with a couple of stories written so I'll be ready for the extensive physical labour. *snort*

Now to catch up on everything I've missed in the past couple of weeks. YAY! *hugs internet again*

Back safe from San Diego. It was a very smooth trip, but a long day. I'll do a better post later. *looks around at all the boxes* Blech.


Here's a summary of what's going on with me for the next few weeks for those who care to know.

Weds & Thursday - Packing. Should get online by about 8 PDT for a couple of hours. I don't see myself being able to do productive packing after that time of night.

Friday 23rd - MOVING DAY! And I move to my parents' place for the rest of the month. I may have to use their computer, but I think I should be getting on at least semi-regularly and again, probably at about 8 PDT.

Sunday June 1 - Fly to Vancouver. I'll likely have a new cell phone number by this point, I'll call or otherwise inform those people who need to know.

I don't know when I'll be back on line after that. As I am staying with the same ISP, I'm hoping it will be within the week I get there. I'll update this post if I happen to be given a date before I go.


I miss everybody. :(

I am no longer homeless. I have found an apartment -- signed papers, exchanged money, arranged keys.

It wasn't the one I was expecting to get, the one I had "reserved", the one that I found out was rented when I got to Vancouver yesterday. But this one was my second choice and has other advantages. Such as cheaper rent. And the ability for me to put a washer/dryer in the suite if I want to. (I have one in my current place and I've become spoiled.) And a bus stop right outside the door. And my favourite supermarket a block away. And IKEA is a longer walk, but that's probably for the best.

I'll have to commute if I want to go on Nature Walks, but that's okay because I LOVE SKY TRAIN!! That's what I spent the rest of the day doing, riding the Sky Train and getting off to check out places that I might need when I live here. No touristy stuff, I can save that for when I have company. :D

Had Bool Gogi for dinner last night, Tempura Ramen for lunch today, and considered going back to try something else on the menu at the Korean restaurant, but I'm too tired. Grabbed Subway from across the street. I'd say I'm still battling jet lag, but the 9 hours of walking may be contributing to the lack of go as well. Got a litre of tea from Starbucks along with the sandwich, so hopefully I can continue my effort to rest my internal clock to PDT by tomorrow.

I CAN HAS SAN DIEGO TOO!

UNEMPLOYED!!

...

Oh my god what have I done.