New job!

After years of saying that I wasn't looking for work more than the one and half days a week I was doing at the library, this week I'm starting an almost-full-time job at the desk of the Mount Allison Library. I'm both nervous and excited. It's going to be a huge change for me, working five days a week, having to wear something other than sweat pants, not being able to nap whenever I feel sleepy. Now it'll be all professional clothes, commutes to work, and probably an increased caffeine addiction along with everyone else. I'm excited about the actual job itself – more responsibilities, new computer system to learn, a university setting – and am mostly concerned that I'm not going to have the stamina for a five day a week position.

I'm going to have to be pro-active about putting my health as my top priority and realize that everything else will have to take second place. Especially for the first month when I imagine I'm going to be quite tired while learning the new position as well as the energy required in just being at work five days a week and moving more.

So I've been meal prepping all week, baking bread, making mini meatloafs, and freezing calzones that I can just grab and go for a solid meal. Isaiah would normally happily cook meals for us but he got Bell's Palsy last month and has been off work due to his very slow recovery. He's going back part-time this week but he's still unable to close his eye or chew food. Needless to say, he's also going to be quite tired for a few weeks.

I had always thought if I was going to switch jobs it would be more for maybe another part-time job or for a rec position but this one came up and Isaiah convinced me to apply even though I was positive I wasn't qualified. I figured it wouldn't hurt to apply and if nothing else, I would have updated my resume and then, to my surprise but not Isaiahs, I got a job interview. I wasn't hired for the actual job that had been posted but for a very similar one that is considered a 'temporary' position. So after next April, I may not have any job but at least I'll have tried something different and I'll know by then if I'm comfortable and healthy enough to work more hours.

You may be asking “but why would you take a job if you don't know that you can do it?” and the answer is “because I want to know if I can.” I'm almost five years post-transplant now and I want to push myself a bit and see if I'm ready for it. If I am, that's great. Once this job is over, if it's not renewed than I'll know I can start looking around at other positions. If it's a disaster than that's an answer as well. I'm really trying my best to recognize that this may not work out for me and that's okay. Sometimes it's enough just to see if it's possible and learn that it's not. Or so I keep telling myself. Eventually I'll believe it.

Word on the Street!

This past weekend I participated in Halifax's biggest book event, Word on the Street. It's the event's 25th year and while it use to take place on the waterfront, it's now in and around the Halifax Central Library. Friday night I attended the welcome reception for the authors and exhibitors on the beautiful 5th floor where we ate delicious canapes and sipped wine as the moon rose over the Halifax harbour. If you've never been to the library, the view alone from the balcony is worth the trip. It was a fun night even though I'm not great at mingling or inserting myself into conversations.

My room!

Saturday was the main event where I did a quick book signing at the Nimbus tent and presented as part of a "Life Stories" time slot and then had another quick book signing in the main signing area. I thought I would have more time to attend panels but all I managed to do between events was grab a quick snack. I did manage to attend a panel at the end of the day about romance writers of Atlantic Canada which was motivating to me to keep writing the romance novel I've been picking away at.

The event had a great energy to it and while I'm pretty sure I spent more time chatting to other authors than the general public, it was a fun day that required a 2 hour recovery nap once I got back to where I was staying.

So many good authors!

It's me!

It's the beginning of August and Mom and I haven't been on a single overnight hike yet! We're hoping to fix that this week but last summer we had already done three major hikes at this point, including the Fundy Footpath. I know I'm not suppose to compare summers and this year Isaiah and I actually made it to Yarmouth for a week which was great. Also, on the days we had planned on hiking, it rained for three days straight or was 30+ degrees so we wimped out. I'm hoping it remains nice enough into September that we'll be able to go before it cools off too much.

Last week, we spent several days in Mount Carleton hiking, paddling, and looking for moose. Amy and I also spent a lot of time sitting in the shade, dipping in the lake, and drinking iced coffee because it was too hot to do much else. Odin had some practice kayaking and only jumped out once on our first trip. After that, he stayed in the kayak although there were a few iffy moments. I'm not sure Mom and Dad are eager to talk him on a long paddle but he did well going around the lake. The massive amounts of treats he got while he was sitting nicely probably helped.

Odin with his little saddlebags before the hike.

Odin surveying the lake for ducks while I keep us upright.

Our cabin!

Yarmouth!

Isaiah and I had a mini vacation in Yarmouth last week. We stayed at the cabin, swam in the lake, playing many many games of crib, and visited with Isaiah's family. I had a book event with the Yarmouth Coles on the Saturday (called The Spirit of Litera-Sea"). It was nice to chat with other authors who have books out right now and to meet the welcoming, friendly staff at Coles. They said the turn out was better than last year, it was a bit of a rainy/muggy day so that probably helped as well as having all the authors talk on the local radio about their books. All in all, a great time on the other side of the province.

A photo gallery of things we did in Yarmouth:

Played Duck Hunt and Mario World 3

Read

Walked on the beach

Floated in the lake

Book fest!

S'mores!

Temperature Quilt

My temperature quilt is coming along! I'm deep into the yellows and oranges now. I haven't sewn up the latest strip yet but this past week will introduce the first reds of the quilt (high of 25+). I hope we don't end up getting too many red days this summer because I really don't handle them well. I never seem to be able to keep up with how much salt I lose. At least the house stays relatively cool and I've been able to spend the past few days in front of a fan.

Mid-May 

Until mid-June!