Here we go!

The nation's capital is ready to bring home the cup... Game 1 tonight!

GO SENS GO!

(City Hall, Ottawa)

Count down is on...

Four working days to go, and I can hardly believe that the first chapter of my government career will be complete.

Last week, I spent half a day filling out an exit survey... a survey that I was told would take 10 to 15 minutes, but when I sat down to write out my answers, I realized the space they allotted was clearly not enough, so I decided to type them out, and after an hour of piecing together my responses, it feel damn good to get some things off my chest.

The questions were pretty standard for an exit survey... such as, what did you most like about working at CRA? What did you least like? What would have made you remain at CRA?, etc.

These questions, although standard, hit a nerve with me. There are so many great things about the tax agency... if you take away the fact that it's tax, it is a really great place to work. It's a large organization, dynamic, and full of opportunities. The people (the majority of people) I work with are fantastic, capital F. These Fantastic people are what make most days bearable... knowing that there is a colleague or two who you can share with your hatred for the lady with the green pen on the 7th floor who sends urgent files back down because they are missing a comma - GOD I will not miss her! But in all seriousness, my colleagues are the reason that my experience at CRA has been so good and so profitable.

When I answered the first question, what did you like most about working at CRA, I had so much to say... and at the end of my response, I had this whole mini-panic - I had to ask myself, if I like it so much, why am I leaving?

But then came the second question, what did you least like about working at CRA. I will admit I had to think on this one... the last thing I want to do is burn a bridge with an organization that has really taught me so much in my young career, but at the same time, I wanted to be honest. I had one bad experience with a slice of senior management, and as much as I hate to pin-point one person as the reason for my departure, it was all I could think of. Of course, I did my best to be diplomatic about the whole thing, but it was hard - I mean this one person is not the reason for me leaving, its definitely the job offer that was presented to me, but at the same time, one bad apple in the bunch definitely does not make a person want to stay in the job.

Its weird... because two months ago, I had a pure hate on for senior management, but now that I have been able to focus more on what I want out of my career, and less about how one person can impact my career, its allowed me to take on a whole new attitude about myself and my capabilities in the big wide world of communications. Of course, this new focus did not come without some guidance, from a person who I respect, and who has been somewhat of a mentor to me (shout out to Kerry over at PopWatch Canada) - she really has given me a lot to ponder in the last few months, and I think knowing that someone wants what is best for me, has made all the difference in helping me make my career decision of late.

I only have four days left in the office, but I think I will enjoy them. Enjoy the fact that I have contributed to some great projects, worked with some great people, and learned more about myself than I ever thought possible. Yes... these next four days will no doubt be busy, but at the same time, it will be somewhat therapeutic to put this chapter in my career behind me, and take on some new career challenges over at Public Health in just over a week!

CRAZY! 4 days and counting...

Drugs anyone?

Today, while strolling leisurely under a shaded underpass of the city (near Rideau and Sussex), I saw a drug deal go down, complete from the initial recognition of the buyer to the seller, the eye contact, the exchange of money for drugs, and then the cautious look around by the buyer to see if anyone (like the cops) saw the transaction.

This all happened in under 30 seconds, leaving two satisfied parties. There was not a cop insight, but there was one pissed off citizen.... ya, that's right, it was ME.

Honestly... I don't have to much to say about street bums, punks, and gangs. Mainly I like to mind my own business while walking the streets of Ottawa, as you just never know who is willing to do what in this day and age.

In downtown Ottawa, you are likely to see various types of people. You have the Hill peeps, bopping around in three piece suits, right down to the edgy youth groups, just dying for someone to give them a dirty look so they can yell some obscenities at you.

While I am out on my coffee break, I usually like to give a friendly smile to those who are deserving, whether it be a street bum or an MP, but what I don't appreciate is watching some young punk work the streets of Ottawa, dealing drugs in BROAD DAYLIGHT.

I mean, seriously. Take it somewhere else, somewhere else where I don't have to see the transaction, where there isn't a high traffic area, and where I don't have to wonder why our city police can't be around to monitor these individuals.

I know this whole street drugs topic has been widely discussed in this city (and many others), but there never seems to be a solution that works, that doesn't require us hiring two city cops for every one child on the street.

I think the thing that gets me most riled up is that this open transaction involved kids that were probably 15 or 16, and both parties acted like the whole thing was clock work. They had obviously both done it before, and they knew the ropes well. I hate that.

I know I didn't grow up in the city, or anything close to that (the most I had to worry about the was a small group of teens hanging on the stairs of Thessalon's main street - so scary I know!!! ...), but its discouraging to know that street drugs are so accessible to today's youth... in the middle of the week, in the busy downtown core, of the nation's capital.

Something has got to be done to get this under control...

Look out public health, here I come!

It's late breaking news (as of last Friday), but I had such a busy weekend away from home, that I didn't get a chance to post some exciting information. I have accepted a job offer from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and I start on June 4th.

It's a communication's position, I will still be doing strategic advising, but the subject matter will be quite different... no more income tax, I'm onto health promotion and chronic diseases, and all the communications that revolve around these topics: healthy eating, healthy living, healthy pregnancy, physical activity, breast cancer, diabetes, asthma, stroke, - and the list goes on.

Since my return from French training in March, I have been wanting to make some changes on the career front. I would have been willing to do that within CRA, but the right opportunity just wasn't available at the right time, so when this offer from PHAC fell into my lap, it was something that immediately excited me, because of the subject matter. I mean really... income tax can't hold a candle to health and the human body.

Its hard to believe that I have been with CRA since 2002. I like to think of my career and my life in 5 year segments. I always said when I started in revenue, I would try it for 5 years, and then reassess my position after that. Now... without actually setting out to make a career assessment, this job opportunity presented itself, and I really couldn't say no - its a move I have to make in my career, and one that will allow me to grow as a communications advisor, and a public servant.

I have been on a slow learning curve at CRA. I was a student when I started in 2002, and I was able to learn the ropes in a rather leisurely fashion, compared to what is going to be expected of me when I walk through the doors of PHAC. This is the part that scares me, I am going to be thrown into the job and expected to perform on the spot (which is something I can do), but not necessarily something that I want to do, without knowing the files inside and out, like I do with tax. It's definitely going to require me to step outside of my comfort zone, and get my hands dirty if I want to show my new management that I am just as capable in health communications as I am in income tax.

Friday, I had to let my management in on the changes I am going to make, and it wasn't easy. It was emotional and bitter sweet. CRA is the only home I have ever known, so its going to be hard to say goodbye, without feeling like I am leaving behind some family. I have the same feeling now, as I did, when I left home to go to University. I wanted to go away, but I was scared to leave behind my small town roots. This career move is much in the same, its terrifying to leave the only 'real' job I have ever had, and venture off into uncharted territory, but if this job is as fun and adventurous as my days at Ottawa U, I will not regret making the move.

I like to think that I am good at what I do, and the confidence I have in myself as a communications advisor, is something that was instilled in me while working at CRA. I have worked for, with, and around some great people in the last five years, and through each experience at CRA, good or bad, I have learned something, which has allowed me to develop my competencies in communications. CRA has equipped me with all the right tools to continue my career in communications, and for that I will always consider CRA my home in government.

The opportunity that awaits me at PHAC is finally something I am excited about, and as you know, my excitement surrounding my job has been non-existent since the inception of my French training -- but I think I can finally put that experience behind me, and move onto greener pastures in Public Health.

8 working days left at CRA, and counting down quickly!

Thursday Night Update

Well... that quiet feeling didn't last too long. A bomb did drop itself on my desk, and I spent yesterday and today repairing the damage. Good times, good times.

Tonight, Grey's Anatomy season finale... I am geared up and ready for it.

Tomorrow... I have some emotional business to take care of at work, and then I will be heading off to the sunny city of Barrie, Ontario to visit my dear friend Jamie Ozerkevich (King). I am rather excited for the weekend. Its been soooooooooooo long since her and I have had a good visit, so I know a whole weekend of uninterrupted conversation will be just what the doctor ordered.

I am making the trip to Barrie alone, as PC has decided to dive into the basement project full speed ahead. He wanted to stay home and start it this weekend, and I didn't argue. The only way an argument will start is if I arrive home Monday to find out that it was sooooooooooo sunny out all weekend, he couldn't resist a few rounds of golf in between the hard labour - this is sooooooo something PC would try and pull!

Time will tell... and don't worry, if the basement isn't started by the time I get back, you will be the first to know.

**Editor's Note: I should add, if all goes well this weekend, I will be extremely grateful that PC is dedicating his entire long weekend to the basement project. I can't wait to share some photos with you, as construction progresses over the summer.

Happy Long Weekend!

Ssssssssh, its quiet around here.

Yesterday and this morning have been rather quiet. Quiet in a very weird way.

I mean, I have been completing my day-to-day tasks, but I am not losing sleep over any major files, and surprisingly, no one is breathing down my neck for any urgent products.

Its been relatively quiet for phone calls and emails too, which makes me wonder if everyone else is busy working away on something important, expecting me to be doing my important part, when all I am doing is the bare minimum, because I can't think of anything pressing that needs to be done immediately.

I think, as a procrastinator, this is my worst fear. The fear that I am up-to-date on everything, and that I don't have a single thing to procrastinate about. I mean seriously, can I really be on top of all my work? (highly doubtful)

I can see projects that will materialize in a few weeks time, but I've even done my pre-reading for those, and made my notes. Perhaps its not quiet, perhaps this is the feeling that keeners get every. single. day when they actually do all of their work, on time, and without the stress that procrastinators feel every evening as they try to get a good night's sleep.

I work in the type of environment where you hate to mention that its 'quiet', because the next thing you know, a bomb drops on your desk, and you regret every non-busy thought you've ever had.

I don't know what's going on, but I am going to continue about my quiet day, hoping that this little 'pause' from the real world rides itself into the upcoming loooooooooooooooooong weekend.

Yay for quiet... yah for me!

The end of an era!

Well... they are gone, the historic couches from 130 Osgoode Street, picked up and disposed of, in the township dump.

It was hard to say goodbye to them... the end of an era, gone forever, and all we have left is the memories.

Back in 2000, Krista Lynn Smith and her parents arrived on the doorstep of 130-O with two sets of couches in tow. We (my roomies and I), were thrilled. These couches were not old and grubby, they were still in their prime, and they made a lovely addition to our not-so-prime living room.

For the next three years, these couches would be considered home, and they would endure some hard times - mainly the 5 or 9 Keg parties that we hosted at 130-O with 100 plus people in attendance, spilling beer all over them, but there was also the occasional homeless man who would stop by for some stale wine, a palm pilot, and a snooze.

These couches also became the home of many visitors who couldn't bare to walk home after a crazy night on the town, and they were also quite useful for our popcorn and pj nights where we would all gather around the TV to watch Sex and the City, Friends, and Survivor.

These couches were a large part of our University days, and when it came time to lock the door on 130-O forever, the couches were transported to Erica Danielle Clapp's new apartment, where the memories lived on. These couches created new memories there, and they participated in our 130-O reunion weekends.

It seemed these couches were destined for the dump in early 2005, when Clapper & Drewski purchased new furniture for there apartment, but low and behold, PC and I signed the papers on a new house and it seemed only right that we take the 130-O couches to Embrun to fill our unfinished basement.

I had threatened to load up the couches and bring them to Grimsby, ON in September as part of a wedding surprise for Krista Lynn & Kelly, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that friendship was more important than a good prank!

Finally, we arrived at last week, when the basement clutter had to be removed so construction on the basement could begin. In the 11th hour, Erin Leeanne Boyd called in a rescue mission, as she had a young university student lined up to claim the couches. However, her efforts went unanswered and the couches were picked up Thursday afternoon with the rest of the trash, hence bringing us to the sad realisation that the 130-O couches have been laid to rest... FOREVER!

Please take a moment a silence to remember these couches and the good ol' days at 130-O.

Thank you.

Is this the year?

GO SENS GO

Summer Shoe Season

The summer shoe season has arrived and is reeking havic on my poor, innocent, little feet.

I have worn a series of summer shoes over the last two weeks, and every. single. pair has caused some form of blistering.

I love summer. I love shoes. But I hate the aftermath of breaking in summer shoes.

I am not sure what to do. I have purchased a few pairs of dressy summer shoes, but when they gave me blisters, I went back to the ones that I've worn in previous years because I could depend on them for comfort. HOWEVER, it seems that they have taken it personally, the fact that last summer I didn't give them a second glance in the closet because I was thrilled to be wearing my flip flops to French training every day of the heat season. My older pairs of dressy sandals didn't get any face time, and for that, they hate me. These pairs of sandals have jumped on the blister bandwagon... and are driving it full speed ahead.

I can't win here.

Have my feet suddenly grown, or reshaped themselves? Is this why I have become a blister magnet?

I am not sure, but there is not enough bandaids in the house to accomodate all the pain and discomfort I am going through.

I also think the recent heat wave has also played a role in the creation of blisters. You know... feet sweating, slipping all over the place in a shoe... rubbing on the leather, it doesn't take long until you have a little water bubble on your baby toe, your big toe, the side of your foot, the back of your foot... then the next thing you know, your whole foot feels like its on fire!

Why does shoe fashion have to be soooooooooo painful. Does anyone have any tricks out there for foot comfort, or tips for the rapid healing of blisters? If so... please share, my feet will love you forever!

Missed sentiments....

I am usually pretty good for using this blog to share late breaking news, but during a conversation over supper last evening with my brother-in-law and his wife (sorry Ange!), it came to my attention that I have missed a few recent occasions.

Let's date back to oooooooooooh, March.

My good friend Erin Leeanne Boyd got engaged to the Cat... (shout out to Sparty)! I think this went unmentioned on the blog... so I wanted to take the time to say an official CONGRATULATIONS to the lovely couple, and wish them days of easy and relaxing wedding planning ahead.

In April, the 25th to be precise, I missed my sister-in-law, Angela's, 27th birthday. These are belated wishes going out to AC Unit... she is an aspiring young lawyer, who was working hard on her final exams for law school on her special day, but now that they are over... here's to a relaxing summer ahead, filled with warm days, and slushy patio drinks!

Last week, Rosalind, over at Chez Roz, got engaged to her longtime boyfriend Mat. The couple recently bought a house in the east end of Ottawa, and Roz started a new job last week as well. All these exciting events at one time in a person's life can be really overwhelming, but if anyone can handle it, its Roz, and she deserves all the happiness that life has to offer, so with that said... CONGRATULATIONS Roz & Mat.

Finally, my good friend Dalérie, over at Leaning Tower of Pizza, left our office to start her maternity leave. She will be gone for 16 loooooong months, as she's expecting a baby girl on May 29th. I am super excited for her, but I am really going to miss her around the office... we have been working together since 2004, and we have come to rely on each other for a lot of advice, both professionally and personally, so she will be missed in my books. Good luck Dal, as you bring your little girl into the world, I know you will make a great Mom!

There... I think that about covers it!
I should be back in the good books now! If I may have missed anything... please let me know in the comments section, as I thrive on being in the know!

Excuses for not blogging!

So... the blog has definitely suffered in the last month or so... it appears that what I miss most about French training (not that I miss much) was the free time I had to devote to the blog. I used it mostly as an outlet to bitch, but I like to think it was somewhat informative (through good times and bad)!

Lately... I come home exhausted, spend what little free time I have on Facebook, and call it a night.

I also like to think that the addition of the PVR into our lives has really put a damper on my free time. Before we got the PVR, I didn't mind spending an hour or so blogging away, but instead I come home, check the PVR and discover that I have 3 episodes of General Hospital to catch up on. Normally if I had missed my soaps, I had missed them, but now since the PVR takes care of not missing anything, I spend a lot of time in front of the TV just chillin', and getting the update, which translates into, no time for blogging.

Curling is finally over, but now baseball starts tonight... so this is just another time absorber... away from the blog.

I know my faithful readers will remain, probably somewhat annoyed, but I still want to thank you for coming back, day after day, even when the updates haven't been too consistent. Hopefully in the near future I find some interesting news to blog about.... hopefully!!!

Better Sleep Month

According to a news bulletin earlier this week, it appears that May is Better Sleep Month - halle-freakin-lujah.

I will toast to that.... as I could use a whole lot of better/more sleep.

A month or so ago PC came home from the chiropractor (before I started seeing him) with a pillow, a Swedish massage pillow, that cost 140 bones (yes, I said: one hundred and forty dollars). I almost fell off my chair. This pillow wasn't a so-called deal (although PC claims it was cheaper from the chiro than Shopper's Drugmart), however, apparently it is suppose to help support the neck and back during sleep, which would result in less stress to the spine, causing a more deep, comfortable sleep.

I will admit I was skeptical. Earlier in the year, I had mentioned to PC that we needed to get better pillows, but I wasn't expecting to have take out a loan - and return home with only one pillow. PC was the first to use the pillow... and we learned that the reason the pillow was such a solution to our stiff neck problems, was because it would not allow you to sleep on your stomach. This took some getting use to, and I don't think PC really did adjust to the side/back sleeping.

We shared the pillow for two weeks. I got Monday, Wednesday, Friday, etc. and he took the other days. I found it worth while, but wasn't prepared to take out a second mortgage on the house just to buy another suped-up Sweeeeeeeeeeeeedish pillow.

On a rare outing together to Costco... PC came across a similar pillow, with the memory foam in it, for the low price of $30. I shook my head when we saw the pillow, as we could have had 6 of the Costco specials for the price of one Swedish one. However, we did agree that it looked like a good 'deal', so we bought it for the other person to use on the odd days.

Let's recap - that's now $170 we've spent on pillows - at least one of us better be sleeping like a Ba.by.

I had my own neck issues recently (as you may recall my pinched nerve story). Apparently the chiro tells me that its from sleeping on my stomach for many years. He said using the Swedish pillow full time would definitely solve a lot of my problems. Turns out the grand-daddy pillow is too thick for PC and he likes the Costco one better... so the expensive one is all mine.

I have been using it straight for about 10 days, and I don't have one complaint, my sleep patterns are solid, and there is no stress in the neck either. Its heaven waking up in the morning without being stiff and wanting die with the first stretch of the day.

However... what I found disturbing after visiting the Web site for Better Sleep Council Canada is that only 1 percent of couples are both stomach/front sleepers. PC and I make up that one percent of the country - WEIRD - very weird.

The Better Sleep Council also has some good info on their Web site about sleep positions, tips for better sleeping, and for the real investigators, there's a whole section of the science of sleeping. Its worth checking out, afterall, who can't afford to sleep better? And who knows, maybe it won't take the $140 Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeedish pillow to solve all your sleep problems!