Pulling a George, BC Style

I'd like to start this post by apologizing for the lack of December Entries. A lot of what seems like nothing has kept me from posting. I will definitely attempt to go back to the old ways of posting almost every day. So let me tell you what's been holding me up over the past few weeks.

Two weeks ago, this past weekend, I made the journey from Edmonton, Alberta back to my home town of Vernon, BC. Finally deciding to make the move was not an easy decision to make by any means. I had made a life in Edmonton over the past seven and a half years. I had a routine down, I had friends, I knew the city pretty well, had a job - albeit a dead end job.... I know in the past I've cut Edmonton down by calling it Deadmonton, Hellberta.. I've bitched about the weather and how cold winters can be... I've crabbed about how the pot holes in the streets tend to swallow cars... I've mentioned that the streets are dirty long after snow disappeared.... I've not been a fan of Edmontonians that seem to mirror their cold weather. I needed a break from it all...

The trip from Edmonton to Vernon was fairly un-eventful. No accidents to report. The road conditions were clear for the most part - except at the summit where the plow made the road washboardy bumpy. We came across a few herds of Bighorn Sheep and only had to slow to a stop for one of those herds as they stretched across the road. There were sheep of varying ages, some with tiny baby horns to the full out majestic rounded horns of the elders of the herd. I was disappointed when I missed an amazing photo op.... The alpha male of the herd stood at the edge of the highway protecting his "sheep-le" that were behind him grazing. He reminded me of how Bambi's father was depicted in Bambi. The Bighorn Sheep were the memorable part of the trip, for the most part, except when we passed the Welcome to British Columbia sign signalling that I had made it back to where I belong. (A few pictures were posted here on my blog.)

So, let me tell you what I've traded my Albertan life in for.... Essentially, I am pulling a "George" from the TV show Seinfeld. While I'm not a short, portly, balding, unemployed man with glasses living in my parents' basement... I do bare two of the characteristics... I'm unemployed and living with my parents again... I moved out for the first time at the age of 19 and now, 10 years later - I feel like a George. In the harder economic times, I know I'm not the first person to move back in with my parents, but that bears little comfort for me. I won't rag though, I know some people don't have the option of family to fall back on. I'll try to put as positive a spin on it that I can.

I'm back in BC where I belong. I will be a BC girl until my ticket gets punched. Driving through the mountains, that the tall buildings of Edmonton seemed to cover the absence of, was the first thing that settled me back into BC life. Lakes were the second thing I missed. Lucky for me, my parents just moved into a lake front property right on Okanagan Lake. (Maybe this summer I'll attempt to find and wrestle the Ogopogo! Tee Hee.) The scenery is beautiful, the sunrises and sunsets on the lake... One morning the lake was steaming, it was quite a sight. I've been out on the deck at night and heard the coyotes yipping to each other. (At first I found it unsettling, it sounded like a bunch of people cheering.) Also while out on the deck at night, I saw a beaver's fat bum kind of waddle and splash into the lake. I watched him swim under the neighbours' dock, then back to ours then out into the lake back to his family. I've seen deer tracks in the snow of my parents' lawn as well as actual deer. My family is here, and God love 'em... We're going to drive each other mental! (But it's nice to have them around to drive me nuts!)

One of the downfalls is that I haven't been employed in about two and a half weeks.... Boredom mixed with feelings of guilt... Gnarly combination. Vernon is a smaller center and finding a job here, that doesn't include flipping burgers, is very competitive... You may have heard the line "It's not what you know, it's who you know." Vernon seems to be the epitome of that statement. I am more than qualified to push paper, but I haven't lived in Vernon for 10 or so years... So I really don't know anyone here, other than family of course. Most people that I was friends with in the area, have moved on to other areas of the country, so count that out.

My parents live out on the Okanagan Indian Reserve on the outskirts of Vernon's West side... That makes for a 25-35 minute drive from home to Vernon's actual city limits.... My parents both drive standard transmission cars... I've had a valid drivers licence since I was 16, and even took driving lessons at 16 on standards... Over the last 10 or so years, I have fallen out of practice... (So I've been practicing on the back roads and haven't stalled once! YAY ME!) So we go into town with a mission, like looking for work, restocking groceries, an appointment or visiting someone.... There are a few places I would love to snap pictures of to cure the boredom, but until I am comfortable behind the wheel, they'll have to wait.

So, that's what I've been up to while I've been neglectful of my blog. I didn't want to be whiny and drive anyone away from reading future posts. I promise I'll get back to my old jaded self and make an effort though!

It's not always about me; and I still cringe when I pass a loaded logging truck... I must be back in BC!!!

FREEDOM!!!!?? : The Unemployment Apprehension Game

Well, here it is, my last day at work! I'm ecstatic! (And a little uneasy.) This job has, at least, afforded me the ability to pay most of my bills..... That's about it. This job has allowed me to do a few things that most jobs otherwise wouldn't. I get a little exercise a day, I deliver mail in a government building. I've gotten an inside look at how some government agencies function. (No - I'm not talking about the President/CEO of the Alberta Health Services eating a cookie either! Disgusting little man that he is.) I've been able to catch up on my book reading. (There are quite a few amusing ones out there.) As well as post to this blog and try to come up with something worth while reading... It's a dead end job, and I'm glad I've only spent just under four months at it. That being said, I still feel a tinge of guilt...

While I am happy that this chapter of my life is over, I still don't like the idea of being unemployed. Dead end job or not, I'd rather be working. Why? There are a few reasons... For example, I'm 29 and capable of working, and I was raised to be productive and not slack off... You know, do like your supposed to - support yourself and not live off of other people.... I feel guilty when I'm not working and being a positive, contributing member of society... I feel like I'm a drain on society when having to access and use the EI/UI system. As much as I enjoy the thought of eatting bon bons on the couch infront of the TV everyday, it gets boring suuuuuuuuuuper quickly... It's great for a week... Maybe two tops... But honestly, I get bored super quickly and I need something to do... You'd think I'd clean the house etc... But I won't... I don't live in a sty by any means... But I don't live in a sterile environment either.

Four months after my start date, I had no idea that I'd be quitting to relocate... If anything, I thought I'd be quitting because the job is boring, the pay sucks, or I was annoyed with the one co-worker enough due to his extreme laziness and far less than truthful behaviour. What ever the reason is for leaving, I still feel like a leech on "the system" and I haven't even left for the day yet, much less applied for the minuscule EI Benefits. I guess that's the point of the "Benefits" being so low, to try to kick start those lazies that don't have much ambition or drive. In the current economy, I hope I don't have to use the UI Services long... Depending on the length of non-work, I'd almost be inclined to apply to sling burgers and fries again... This is after being educated twice at the Post-Secondary Level and 10 years after the last time I had to flip burgers to make stuff happen. I guarantee, Fast Food is not the ideal position in the world... In my mind, it's still a cut above being an unemployed bum.

It's not always about me; but I do feel the need to work until I can't anymore...