Change of Pace

I've had an epiphany. It's simple really. I just don't want my life to look like this. Sure it's selfish... but I want to do more things than be anchored to my job.

I'd like to go to church, at least from time to time. I'd like to meet people that don't work with whiny kids, because when you work with whiny kids all you seem able to do is talk about them when you're not around them. I'd like to take some classes and do other things that will basically lead to my being able to do bigger and better things.

I'll stick it out for now, and for whatever reason I didn't have a meltdown on the first day of this shift (as has been happening with regularity). And yes, as my friend Andrew said, I have wanted a steady job for a while. But I'm just so sleepy all the time! Whine, whine, get over it. I know. I will. But I'm still looking onward and upward.

All I really want is to be able to enjoy the time I have left. Travel the south (no, I don't have an accent)... see things I've never seen before, and enjoy the fact that I'm working at a hugely unusual job un a hugely unusual environment.

Speaking of which, we saw salamanders today... well didn't so much see since they were taking from my children before they had the chance to release them into my bed as they had planned to do... salamanders mean larger, longer lizards. The kind that shake and rattle and star in many a western movie. I'm not so excited about that.

I was told the other day that they like hiring Canadians because we tend to be more reliable than the average American worker, we complain less and can take more. Actually, he said to myself and my PEI native co-worker, "You two are about the most reliable workers we have."

That's nice. Now give me time off.

We also have a new government. Now let me tell you of the excitement I had the other night! I was skimming through the channels, checking out the news (which is only ever about Iraq, mine explosions, or stupid crap like bicycle riding dogs). And what do I find! C-Span ran the CBC coverage of the election, so I was able to watch everything, starting from the moment the conservatives started to pull away. It was nice to here Peter Mansbridge and those other old guys. Heck, even Rex Murphy was a joy!

The next day however, I wasn't able to find any word on how things had officially turned out. Turns out someone here was spying on some citizens and people are made about it. Big woop.

Anyway, I'm working on a list of things I'd like to do when I come home for a visit. So far it looks like I'm going to need to stay for an extra year or two.

Do you think they'd mind?

Oh yeah, and two more people have quit, bringing the grand total to 9 in in the four months I've worked here. That's a lot when the staff is only about 15 strong (they've rehired for a couple of those positions).

Must go to bed. I'm up at 5 am tomorrow morning, for another day of being cussed out and threatened to be beaten with rocks. I thought they had kicked that habit since I made it through three whole days without it... but alas it is back.

To bed I said!