My week off did not go quite as planned. Due to external delays with things like the mail service and other people, as well as my continual overestimation of my abilities I just could not do all the things I had hoped. BUT, I did manage to get some critical things done so it's not a complete bust. I finally got my certification exam done and it took 4+ hours! I have to say I was in quite the panic about it, since I really haven't taken a proper test in over a decade. So after 2 1/2 days of cramming I tackled it and it was pretty intense. My friend was my 'proctor' (a supervisor so I can't cheat) and she fed me potato salad and made me chocolate chip cookies so that really helped. I think I did okay, it was open book, but there were some questions that were a bit tricky so I am not sure if I got every question correct. Hopefully I did well enough to pass. I definitely don't want to take it again, but I suppose it would be a bit easier the second time.
I had my pet first aid course as well this week. I was very nervous about it as well, not being particularly inclined to handle gory things and emergency situations. But, it was actually great and helped reinforce or understand some of the course material regarding pet first aid I had for my test. Reading about first aid is really hard to get, until I actually see it in action. I can now, assuming I don't panic, muzzle an animal (long snout, short snout, and no snout techniques), split a broken leg, bandage a cut, treat shock, perform CPR... I also got one of the kits. It was only $25 so a good start. The one from the pet-sitting organization I belong to was more, plus shipping. I highly recommend the course, through St. John's Ambulance, if you just own pets. It's really helpful info, and very practical.
I have a bunch of stuff still to do, but I have finally accepted the fact that the majority of marketing, website, and other businessy things will have to wait till I return. It's just not possible, and I guess that's ok.
The recent history of Jenclyde World.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
4 days left
Another wonderful long weekend so I am relatively relaxed and content. As of this coming Friday I am on a leave from work officially which means 4 days of work to go! 4 days to go out of 7+ years...I have to say I'm more excited about that then anything else going on. Ideally I would be done already but I need the extra money desperately so I'll just have to make due. Technically I'm not unemployed, just 'on leave' and then when I go back in January I will be working part-time. This means that assuming I can make a success out of my business plan I will never have to work for 40+ hours a week there again. This is beyond liberating and I hope I can pull it off. Ideally if I work at least 12 hours a week there I can have enough money for rent and maybe car insurance which are the 2 big bills. Ideally I would like to phase it out completely by the summer so I do not have to be involved in the chaos of the 'busy season' ever again, but my contingency plan is to continue working part-time through the summer if needed. I have had a mixture of reactions as I keep telling more people, but most people seem to actually care & are happy for me. I am hoping that after 3 months I may not be a miserable pile of crap when I go back - and even perhaps enjoy my hours there. But, that may be way too much to hope for. I will settle for simple indifference.
I told my Mom finally - minus some details of course. I had it planned in my head and thought that it would end up being best if I segment the announcements. First - I'm visiting! Second (while visiting) - I'm going to Africa and here's my itinerary, and I'll be completely safe & don't worry! Third (after Africa) - I'm working at Christmas, sorry I can't visit! I love you, etc.! Fourth - I am running a successful pet-sitting business on the side so will only be at the office a few days a week and I'm making a crapload of money...!
Then last minute I opted to take the enforced furlough route since everyone has to take 3-4 weeks unpaid before the end of the year anyways. However, this was a major tactical error and I ended up blurting out that I would do some traveling when my Mom asked what I was doing with the time off, and then she kind of flipped out and then I said I wouldn't be back for Christmas and then she was upset. Luckily I managed to reign it in and not mention the business/work scenario. I am determined not to say anything about it at all until it's mid-January and actually happening. After a few brief and angry questions my Mom hung up. Then called again with a question and then hung up. And, then called again with another question and hung up. I was so pissed off, despite the fact that I know how she is I still wish for a more logical and supportive conversation which is crazy and unreasonable on my part.
Despite the rocky start she's actually dealing quite well now, though I get a call every day with another question. She called before work one day and asked if I had my passport, the next day was if I had my shots, that sort of thing. So she is processing it all in her own time. I am very thankful that she is doing okay with it and being moderately supportive. What I had to lie about was the full cost - I did not tell her the cost of the Safari (just the amount of my first deposit) because I don't want her to freak out. She has the most important details so that will be enough. I am not mean, I just have a strong sense of self-preservation.
Anyways, 4 more days and then crunch time. I was writing my to-do list for the next couple of weeks and it's massive so I am hoping I can pull it all off in time.
I told my Mom finally - minus some details of course. I had it planned in my head and thought that it would end up being best if I segment the announcements. First - I'm visiting! Second (while visiting) - I'm going to Africa and here's my itinerary, and I'll be completely safe & don't worry! Third (after Africa) - I'm working at Christmas, sorry I can't visit! I love you, etc.! Fourth - I am running a successful pet-sitting business on the side so will only be at the office a few days a week and I'm making a crapload of money...!
Then last minute I opted to take the enforced furlough route since everyone has to take 3-4 weeks unpaid before the end of the year anyways. However, this was a major tactical error and I ended up blurting out that I would do some traveling when my Mom asked what I was doing with the time off, and then she kind of flipped out and then I said I wouldn't be back for Christmas and then she was upset. Luckily I managed to reign it in and not mention the business/work scenario. I am determined not to say anything about it at all until it's mid-January and actually happening. After a few brief and angry questions my Mom hung up. Then called again with a question and then hung up. And, then called again with another question and hung up. I was so pissed off, despite the fact that I know how she is I still wish for a more logical and supportive conversation which is crazy and unreasonable on my part.
Despite the rocky start she's actually dealing quite well now, though I get a call every day with another question. She called before work one day and asked if I had my passport, the next day was if I had my shots, that sort of thing. So she is processing it all in her own time. I am very thankful that she is doing okay with it and being moderately supportive. What I had to lie about was the full cost - I did not tell her the cost of the Safari (just the amount of my first deposit) because I don't want her to freak out. She has the most important details so that will be enough. I am not mean, I just have a strong sense of self-preservation.
Anyways, 4 more days and then crunch time. I was writing my to-do list for the next couple of weeks and it's massive so I am hoping I can pull it all off in time.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
3 weeks and counting
Things are really happening. It's kind of exciting and kind of unreal but I am planning my last day of work to be October 14 so only a few more weeks. My supervisor was understanding and is willing to give me part-time when I return in January so I will have 2 1/2-3 months off. This fills me with such joy I can't even believe it's really happening. I have felt so terrible so long, and now that's really coming to an end. The great relief was being allowed to come back part-time, which gives me a secure paycheck but also allows me to focus my time on growing my business. I got my business licence in the mail this week which by the way was incredibly easy. I expected more questioning or something I think. Anyways, it's all official and when I get back from Africa I will be able to go full force & start generating business. It's a bit unreal, but I feel really sure and good about it all, which is a new feeling for me. I still have a tonne of stuff to do but I should get most of it done before I go. Then I can just finish everything else when I get back so I'm not completely panicked (notice I say not completely...). I can't wait to start!
Monday, September 5, 2011
An update, cooking, and SYTYCD Canada
It's the finale of this season's So You Think You Can Dance tonight so I won't be long but one of my goals this weekend was to add a post so here I am. I have to vote so I have to pay attention.
Anyways, they're just talking about the judges now and the usual so I can be distracted. It's always nice to have a long weekend and I always end up getting just enough relaxation & domestic time in since I have 3 whole days off. I even cooked for the first time in MONTHS and MONTHS! I have warmed up, assembled, baked, fried, and cut food, but that's not really cooking. I made the yummy casserole (chicken & broccoli) so I will have lunch for a couple of days. It was delicious. I cleaned the kitchen, swept, vacuumed, did some laundry, tidied...I feel like a normal person. And, it's nice to be in reasonably clean environment.
Ok, I am totally distracted so I'll have to wrap this up. I think I'm going to start a special trip blog to document the progression of my plans. That way I can try to 'monetize' it and see if I can make a few bucks back. Everything has cost just a bit more than I had expected so I am over budget significantly now. But, the good thing is everything is pretty much paid for, including food and lodgings, so I will be completely broke but well taken care of there. The problem is when I get back, but if all goes well I will have a super busy Christmas break and financially ok. Wish me luck. I will try to post sooner this time.
Anyways, they're just talking about the judges now and the usual so I can be distracted. It's always nice to have a long weekend and I always end up getting just enough relaxation & domestic time in since I have 3 whole days off. I even cooked for the first time in MONTHS and MONTHS! I have warmed up, assembled, baked, fried, and cut food, but that's not really cooking. I made the yummy casserole (chicken & broccoli) so I will have lunch for a couple of days. It was delicious. I cleaned the kitchen, swept, vacuumed, did some laundry, tidied...I feel like a normal person. And, it's nice to be in reasonably clean environment.
Ok, I am totally distracted so I'll have to wrap this up. I think I'm going to start a special trip blog to document the progression of my plans. That way I can try to 'monetize' it and see if I can make a few bucks back. Everything has cost just a bit more than I had expected so I am over budget significantly now. But, the good thing is everything is pretty much paid for, including food and lodgings, so I will be completely broke but well taken care of there. The problem is when I get back, but if all goes well I will have a super busy Christmas break and financially ok. Wish me luck. I will try to post sooner this time.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
At the Kennel
Except for the bug bites, aches and pains, and no HGTV, W, or Food Network I was happy to be at the Kennel! Really! I got lucky and the dog-walkers came on Saturday and Monday morning which makes it much easier to deal with everything else. I did walk all the dogs Sunday though which took me almost 4 hours! FOUR HOURS!!! That almost did me in, but after resting for a bit with my feet up I got enough of a second wind to get all the Kennels cleaned in the afternoon so I felt very accomplished for the day. There were A LOT of dogs this weekend.
The biggest nuts so far are Zara and Diesel - crazy crazy dogs. They're some sort of Boxer type dog and go CRAZY with other dogs. They also occasionally fight with each other inside their Kennel which has resulted in several water dish spills and puddles of water. We also broke one of their dishes - and I say 'we' because I was there getting jumped on and pushed around and one of them knocked their dish in the mayhem and it rolled and shattered....The good part was that they stopped jumping long enough for me to pick up the pieces because they were so startled.
Amie is here too which is awesome because I LOVE her. She's the beer commercial type dog I met one of the last times I was here. There's also Abby and Zeta (both Schnauzers) but they're not together, just side by side, so I kept worrying I would mix them up...I think I haven't.. Hopefully. Then there was Willow, a sweet little willow of a dog who left Saturday. Misha and Bella (a wee dog and a large retriever or lab) took her spot. Then there was Deacon and Sarah.The owner was very worried Deacon would be too vicious but he was actually totally nice to me. Sarah and him were always barking like mad at the other dogs, particularly Zeta. Not sure why her more so that the others. Siska is a really funny one, she's one of those super furry medium sized white dogs (you know the ones, they look like large Arctic Foxes) and she pees and poops by standing on her front paws with her back paws up off the ground. HILARIOUS. Cody, a large dog, liked to gnaw on my arms affectionately. So he was really great, even more when he had his orange ball in his mouth so I was not gnawed on at the same time. Then there is Jersey who has endless energy and won't stop playing or pulling his blanket into the middle of the yard. Keiko was an Akita who also loved playing endlessly and was a real cuddler. Romeo, a yellow lab, was a real nut and very lovable. He loved the belly rub and jumping and running, and so on. Boone is a runner, and runs and runs and runs and jumps and then runs some more and jumps some more. Cesar and Ruby are really cute too. Cesar is a bit of a suck, but really quite charming. Ruby is a jumper and LOVES dinner time. Max and Summer left Saturday, and were really funny. Summer was a massive dog and a barker, but as sweet as can be with me. Max was a huge chub of a dog and super furry so he was more like a bear. He was good to hug. Emma is a real cutie too, a bit nervous of the Kennel door but really nice. Her and Ruby did not get along so well though, or at least got into barking matches, but not all day luckily. Misty just came today and is a cute grey and black Sheltie. Then there's little Max. He was smaller than the Kennel owners kittens - seriously. He was really adorable though, and loved running and playing. I kind of cheated and let him run in the home's backyard which he was super excited about. The kittens were less excited, but at the very least curious about it, despite the occasional hissing.
There were also 3 cats, Tigger (came with Ruby and Cesar), Misty and I can't remember the 3rd one's name. Oh, yeah, Muggles. Misty growls a bit at the other kitties. Muggles is the shy one, though I think she's gotten use to me. They all want to be in the big play area, so don't like me putting them back in their Kennel to let the next cat out. But, what can I do? Fair is fair.
I think I am partially recovered now, back at home. But, I kind of miss them. However, Hal was very cuddly when I got back so I shouldn't complain.
The biggest nuts so far are Zara and Diesel - crazy crazy dogs. They're some sort of Boxer type dog and go CRAZY with other dogs. They also occasionally fight with each other inside their Kennel which has resulted in several water dish spills and puddles of water. We also broke one of their dishes - and I say 'we' because I was there getting jumped on and pushed around and one of them knocked their dish in the mayhem and it rolled and shattered....The good part was that they stopped jumping long enough for me to pick up the pieces because they were so startled.
Amie is here too which is awesome because I LOVE her. She's the beer commercial type dog I met one of the last times I was here. There's also Abby and Zeta (both Schnauzers) but they're not together, just side by side, so I kept worrying I would mix them up...I think I haven't.. Hopefully. Then there was Willow, a sweet little willow of a dog who left Saturday. Misha and Bella (a wee dog and a large retriever or lab) took her spot. Then there was Deacon and Sarah.The owner was very worried Deacon would be too vicious but he was actually totally nice to me. Sarah and him were always barking like mad at the other dogs, particularly Zeta. Not sure why her more so that the others. Siska is a really funny one, she's one of those super furry medium sized white dogs (you know the ones, they look like large Arctic Foxes) and she pees and poops by standing on her front paws with her back paws up off the ground. HILARIOUS. Cody, a large dog, liked to gnaw on my arms affectionately. So he was really great, even more when he had his orange ball in his mouth so I was not gnawed on at the same time. Then there is Jersey who has endless energy and won't stop playing or pulling his blanket into the middle of the yard. Keiko was an Akita who also loved playing endlessly and was a real cuddler. Romeo, a yellow lab, was a real nut and very lovable. He loved the belly rub and jumping and running, and so on. Boone is a runner, and runs and runs and runs and jumps and then runs some more and jumps some more. Cesar and Ruby are really cute too. Cesar is a bit of a suck, but really quite charming. Ruby is a jumper and LOVES dinner time. Max and Summer left Saturday, and were really funny. Summer was a massive dog and a barker, but as sweet as can be with me. Max was a huge chub of a dog and super furry so he was more like a bear. He was good to hug. Emma is a real cutie too, a bit nervous of the Kennel door but really nice. Her and Ruby did not get along so well though, or at least got into barking matches, but not all day luckily. Misty just came today and is a cute grey and black Sheltie. Then there's little Max. He was smaller than the Kennel owners kittens - seriously. He was really adorable though, and loved running and playing. I kind of cheated and let him run in the home's backyard which he was super excited about. The kittens were less excited, but at the very least curious about it, despite the occasional hissing.
There were also 3 cats, Tigger (came with Ruby and Cesar), Misty and I can't remember the 3rd one's name. Oh, yeah, Muggles. Misty growls a bit at the other kitties. Muggles is the shy one, though I think she's gotten use to me. They all want to be in the big play area, so don't like me putting them back in their Kennel to let the next cat out. But, what can I do? Fair is fair.
I think I am partially recovered now, back at home. But, I kind of miss them. However, Hal was very cuddly when I got back so I shouldn't complain.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Lame
So, Saturday I took Little Car in for some much needed love due to the scary grinding metal-on-metal break noise I was hearing. When the service guy inspected it he mentioned I did not have my renewed insurance label on the licence plate. Why is that? Because I DID NOT RENEW MY INSURANCE! F%$&! When was it due? June 10! When did I take my care in? July 30! JULY 30!!! AAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! My friend picked me up and we went to a farm animal auction of all things. It was a little hard to watch some of the man-handling of the animals but interesting overall. And, of course there were goats. Anyways, I got the insurance and had a bit of a hefty bill, $750, so no laptop yet...
Yesterday I went hiking to Lindeman Lake near Chilliwack Lake. It was pretty intense and my legs are very sore today. About half way up, and I mean Grand Canyon kind of up, I thought I would never do it again and would not recommend it to anyone. Then we got to the top and the lake and well, I would totally do it again and recommend it to anyone who loves to hike. It was totally worth the pain. You can also camp up there which I think would be just fantastic. My legs were very wobbly on the way down, but I managed it. The hardest part was getting my friend's dogs over the crazy tree bridge - but luckily we had a few people in the group so we got them all across and then back again. But ladders and dogs just do not work well.
http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/lindeman-lake/
Today is Cowboys &. Aliens - Daniel Craig in his full rugged cowboy glory. Plus explosions and cool alien stuff. I can't wait!
Yesterday I went hiking to Lindeman Lake near Chilliwack Lake. It was pretty intense and my legs are very sore today. About half way up, and I mean Grand Canyon kind of up, I thought I would never do it again and would not recommend it to anyone. Then we got to the top and the lake and well, I would totally do it again and recommend it to anyone who loves to hike. It was totally worth the pain. You can also camp up there which I think would be just fantastic. My legs were very wobbly on the way down, but I managed it. The hardest part was getting my friend's dogs over the crazy tree bridge - but luckily we had a few people in the group so we got them all across and then back again. But ladders and dogs just do not work well.
http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/lindeman-lake/
Today is Cowboys &. Aliens - Daniel Craig in his full rugged cowboy glory. Plus explosions and cool alien stuff. I can't wait!
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