lighthouse route

Arrived in Halifax yesterday afternoon and it already feels like I've been here for ages. It was a long red eye and then another flight. P. and I picked up the rental car and headed into town to check our stuff in. I took a nap as I was completely wiped from staying up all night. I find it terribly difficult to sleep on planes unless I am really exhausted. We went for a quick bite to make up for lunch. I had a lobster salad sandwich - too much mayo and it was disappointing but then we shared a seafood platter. Beautiful weather out and we walked around a little bit, in through the Public Garden and then grabbed some groceries. Drove by the Citadel and took some photos. Most stores don't open here on Sundays so you have to do it all when it's open.

We left early this morning for Peggy's Cove. Almos as picturesque as I had imagined and bringing back fond memories of the childhood book I read by the same name by Brian Doyle: You can Pick me up at Peggy's Cove. Lots of tourists so it required a bit of waiting to get some nice shots, but I did. Also paused by the Swiss Air Flight 111 Memorial. Then off on the Lighthouse Route to Chester Bay - a very small quaint town with a beautiful dinnerware store selling glass painted dishes, and then to Mahone Bay where there was the Wooden Boat Festival going on so it was packed. Lots of shops selling crafts and gifts. Then we had to hurry to make it to Lunenberg, probably the largest town after Halifax that we've seen. It's actually a UNESCO heritage site and reminded me a bit of White Rock.

Tomorrow we continue on the route to hunt some more lighthouses. We have been blessed with gorgeous sunny weather and have stuffed ourselves with some seafood at every meal; I can see that this pattern will continue!

first of many lasts

Yesterday was my last Saturday here. The next few ones will be away and then finally, I will be moving on a Friday. On Friday, it was a gorgeous sunny day so I asked P. to take me to the RainCity Grill down by English Bay. We sat on the patio where I had a gorgeous view of the bay and we dined on wild salmon and delicious dessert - he had a strawberry compote cake and I had the vanilla creme brulee. Fantastic meal and we wandered a bit on Denman with me joking that it was my last supper...

I went to a shamanic journey workshop last night. As per usual, I didn't 'see' anything although at one point when I was rocking back and forth in a bear position, I felt a "whoosh" of air down my back. Leonard confirmed afterwards that he saw light going up and down my back. And today I was able to do my rolldown with no pain in my neck. :) Two other girls had their arms starting to levitate! Leonard confirmed for me that my injury in my shoulder was a childhood one.

Today was a day spent at home packing and cleaning. All day long. I'm ready to hit the sack. More to do and all wired up. I haven't been sleeping well lately due to all the excitement.

job up for grabs

So they posted my job today. I got a call from someone who actually worked in my job and she called on the premise of asking for some materials which we didn't have. And then when I was about to hang up, she asked if I was leaving the firm. Haha. So I said yes, well no, that I was moving but to the other office. It seemed to satisfy her curiosity and I left it at that. No one else commented to me but that was probably because my current boss blabbed about it to the association, or my former boss blabbing it to her former colleagues. Either way, it seems like it's such a huge ass deal like I was getting married or had a kid or something. Is the world so small? Do people have nothing better to do than gossip?!

farewell meals

At lunch, I ate with a high school friend of mine who worked in the same building as me but for the last 5 years, we have never managed to have a meal together! We chatted and I was about to ask whether there was anything new and if he was seeing anyone when it suddenly dawned on me that he was gay. He actually told me so himself a few minutes later and said he hadn't even said anything to anyone else! I said I wouldn't say anything. Not my place and not that I'd be around to do so! He makes trips out to Toronto so I told him to visit the next time he came.

I had a dinner with the gang last night at Pacific Crab Co. I've been wanting to try this place for the longest time - it's only been open for a few months but already they've changed their menus - and downsized their dishes! We were told the Prawn tempura came in 8 but when it came out, there were only 5 pieces. Anyway, P. was the odd man out but K, L, A, and J all came and it was nice to see them all. P. commented how great it was that we still kept in touch and they all said it was thanks to me. And that now that I'm gone, it won't be til I get back before they have their next dinner! I think it's half serious.

Today was a late lunch with another high school friend, D. who used to be my lab partner. We caught up a bit - it's been over a year since we last saw each other I think. Things have changed a bit for him, he's bought a new place and no longer with a girl I thought he would marry.

Tomorrow's lunch is with another friend, J. and his wife. More catching up to do. And he had been so shocked when I told him I was moving; in fact, he'd told me he was planning on having me over for a bbq!! I can't believe it, now that I'm leaving, I'm getting invitations to all these things!

Another dinner tomorrow on my mom's side. Monday lunch with relatives on my dad's side. Dinner Monday night with another high school friend who couldn't make it to the dinner last night. And dinner/drinks on Tuesday with some co-workers at other firms who heard I was leaving!! So much eating and drinking to do. So little time!

busy-ness

The more busy things get, the more I eat. I was so hungry this morning that I went down for a hashbrowns at McDonalds...but it was 11am and they actually finished breakfast at 10:30. I wonder what they serve between 10:30 and 11, which I always thought was lunch. Weird. They sell muffins all day long. Instead, I settled for a small fries and chomped my way through that. Had a late lunch and ended up staying late to pack up my stuff. I think tomorrow I will go and pack stuff into boxes and just bring it home.

waiting for news

I'm waiting for news about the apartment. After excitement at the possibility of a roommate (and therefore much cheaper rent), things have fallen through - one already had plans with others, the other lives too far away, and the third hasn't even gotten back to me and I don't have the patience for it.

Workwise, my boss has given me a copy of my own position and wants me to go through it before we post for applicants. Interesting - sort of like conducting one's own funeral. At least the weather's improving.

apartment hunting

I spent a big part of today at work on the phone trying to figure out apartments...it was terrible since I don't have a door to my workspace so most of what I was doing had to be muttered and then repeated loudly so the person on the other end could decipher what I had mumbled. The place that I really liked at 85 Bloor was apparently taken by someone this morning; the agent called to say someone was going to hand in the cheque for August 1st. She said I could have the larger (more expensive suite) for August 15 if I wanted but the other small suite had to be for August 1st as well. It was high pressure and I didn't like it. I didn't even know if she was telling the truth that there was someone for August 1st. So now I'm looking at a different place and am hoping to have it nailed down within the next day or so. Once I get a place, it will alleviate some of my stress.

My old boss took me to lunch today and bought me flowers for my birthday. She was so nice to say she wanted to throw me a party/bbq at her place with the other two co-workers of mine but it would be on the day I was leaving for the Maritimes so she said perhaps when I came back in the fall. I took a one and half hour lunch...

And my new boss was asking how my day went, pointedly saying that she saw me on the phone a lot. I explained it away saying I was tracking down a difficult item - which was in fact true...just that some of the other calls I made weren't job related. She also said she wanted to have a going away lunch for me at the local posh hotel so I said sure. Might as well.

making plans

At home today to look up more accomodation/housing for the big move. I'm still a bit shocked at the price of renting but it seems to be that one can't really get a decent place to live for less than $1000/month but more likely $1200 per month. The weekend will continue to be busy with such planning.

Just booked the one-way flight out of here...

on the road to freedom

So yesterday, I gave the news to my boss after our conference call and she was her usual self - not much of a response. I said I wanted to tell my staff and she said she didn't want me to until I had spoken to HR and that she had a chance to tell the COO. And then she said she would hold a mini-meeting so that we could tell the staff!! I couldn't believe it. I told her that I wanted to tell them myself, if she didn't mind. The nerve. It's my job and I can do what I like with it. I was absolutely fuming. I didn't listen to her and told the other two when the boss was in a meeting and told them to pretend like they didn't know.

The news was sent out today - minus my quotes of who I thanked. I had thanked in particular my staff but that got left out. How nice. And political. Anyway, I received a lot of emails from people congratulating me. One partner even called me up and asked, "Why Toronto?" A lot of people on my floor told me that they'd miss me. Now I just have to tell my friends...

independent life

So I sent in a counteroffer for this position but they basically came back saying in not so many words, take it or leave it. It's Independence day but really, more like an independent life for me once I make the move...I go through the office each day trying to soak in the people (the good ones) and the views before I say goodbye forever. I still am hesitating on this but my parents tell me to treat it as if I'm going away to school for a year except that I'm getting paid. Yeah, or an internship. My other friend thinks they are taking advantage of me, which I agree with, but really, no guilt then if I decide to leave at any time.

So much to do, so little time...I don't even know where to begin.