Quelques jours ailleurs

J'avais promis à ma fille que je retournerai m'occuper de ses enfants, lorsqu'elle irait en voyage au mois de septembre dernier. Lorsque je lui avais fait cette promesse, nous n'avions aucune intention de déménager à tant de kilomètres de distance. Cependant, tel que prévu, je me suis rendue chez elle aux dates indiquées l'an dernier. Cela faisait un mois que je n'avais pas vu les enfants,qui m'ont paru avoir changé et grandi en ce court laps de temps. Nous avons passé une semaine mouvementée,nous lever tôt le matin pour aller à la garderie, et bien sûr amener Chiqita avec nous...



Pour remplir mes journées, j'avais apporter mes tissus et mes patrons avec moi, et je me suis confectionnés quelques vêtements. Car de retour ici, je suis encore à la recherche de boulot et je me vois mal aller aux entretiens en portant des jeans, si propres soient-ils. Je me suis donc fait un pantalon, une jupe, 2 blouses et 2 hauts -genre T-shirts mais "propre". J'ai encore quelques items que je veux me faire, car à mon retour j'ai eu l'heureuse surprise de voir qu'Ousmane a acheté une table de salle à manger, donc je peux m'installer pour coudre ici aussi. Il a d'ailleurs complètement aménagé l'appartement et c'est très joli. Nous devons quand même finir de ranger les bacs, mais au moins pour le moment, ils sont cachés dans une des chambres.

J'ai eu le bonheur de revoir deux de mes bonnes amies pendant ce court séjour. Visites-éclair, mais au moins nous avons pu passer quelque temps ensemble et nous rattraper un peu dans les nouvelles. Peut-être auront-elles un jour la possibilité de venir ici à leur tour et nous pourrons les recevoir chez nous. Je l'espère bien! J'ai aussi pu découvrir 2 restos végétariens, aux menus délicieux, un offrant des mets chinois et l'autre des burgers. Je me suis régalée.

Je ne parlerai pas des mes mésaventures à l'aéroport avant de quitter ici. On m'a même fait passer dans la machine rayon x, le scanner, contre mon gré, mais... refuser est mauvais signe: on vous soupçonnera de tous les torts. Je n'étais pas de bonne humeur, mais je suppose que c'était (à peine) plus acceptable que de me faire palper... Au moins au retour, pas de problèmes suaf qu'on me dit que mon tube de lotion pour peau sèche est trop gros! Lorsque j'ai voulu en mettre un peu avant qu'ils me le confisque, ils ont refusé. Bandes de!!@#$! Heureusement que je ne l'avais pas payé cher, mais c'est énervant quand même. Un tube de lotion pour les mains. Rien du tout.

First interview

was a 10:30 this morning. I arrived at 10 after 10, afraid of being late, so walked around the mall for a bit. At 10:24 I went to the office and waited to meet my HR person. All went well, and we had a good conversation/discussion.

She explained about the hours, those hours I do not really want. Hey no one wants to work until 1:30 am, and really, do people actually enjoy getting up at five am to go to work??? Not me that's for sure. So we both talked abot it, and I think I had already made up my mind yesterday, but I thanked her for her time and decided that this job might not be a perfect fit. She did seem genuinely disappointed, and in a way, so was I, but I'm holding off my my dream job.

Speaking of which, I go to that interview tomorrow. It is supposed to last over 2 hours. Reminds me of my first interview with CVG... And I did quite well with that one. So keeping my fingers crossed, and reading up on the position and the company. It's still a call center, but the hours are a lot better.

And yet another interview on Friday, by phone this time. This is where our friend Abdouba works and if I don't find anything else, would be an acceptable choice, although once again, the hours are pretty crazy. Why are call centres opened so darned late all the time???

So things are going well, and fast. One of them is bound to be the good one.

Jobs, jobs, jobs

It's not like I really want to work. It's more like I have to.

So I have been poring over job sites on the internet, sending resumes, wondering if I should apply here where I don't really want to work, or wait till something really interesting catches my eye. Hummm I may end up waiting a really long time.

I do have an interview tomorrow. It would be interesting, except the hours are brutal. Who wants to work every weekend, and sometimes until 1:30 am? I want to be able to spend some quality time with Ous, more than once a mnth. However going to a job interview is good, it allows me to hone my job interviewee skills. And who knows, maybe I am misinformed about the schedules. The good thing is that most of the jobs I am interested in don't start until October. Which gives me time to get my brain organized.

I did sent one resume to a potential employer that I find very interesting. Hours are good, schedule is acceptable, and pay is more than reasonable. I hope they contact me in the next couple of days. They did send me an email with a questionnaire to fill out, and hopefully they will be impressed enough with my answers to want to meet me. It's not to far away, accessible by bus and somewhat related to what I used to do in Winnipeg. We'll see.

Let the dust settle

The first couple of weeks we took care of paperwork: car and house insurance, new drivers licences, new health cards, changing all our addresses, getting the phone, internet and tv hooked up.

Unpacking... We still have a lot of plastic rubbermaid crates in the living room, as we have no storage area. Trying to unpack means also trying to find where to put all the stuff. C'est décourageant.On prend notre temps. I'd rather be outside.

It's been very hot in August. A nice change from Winnipeg, where it seems our last 3 summers were rain and cold. We found a lake close-by and went a few times. It felt so good to roll up my pant-legs, take off my shoes and walk in the almost warm water. Even went swimming one day last week, when it was sooo hot and school had started so the place was deserted. We thought we would bring a picnic, but as were are still in the middle of Ramadan, unless we have that picnic at night... it ain't gonna happen this summer.

Ousmane has discovered garage/yard sales. So now, as we drive around, he is forever on the prowl for"Deals". He is a pretty good negociator, and has managed to find us great "Deals" for our new place. We still need a few items, but as there is no room right now, I am boycotting any type of outdoor sales as we see them.

* * * *






We decided last Wednesday to drive out to Montreal. The plan was to see BenGen, Dima and dear old Matante Hélène. The plan did not take into account traveling time within the big city, and the fact that we wanted to be back home before sunset. So unfortunately, we did not get to see my sister. :(

Ben was busy in his studio, but Gen sweetly guided us to the bagel place, or should I say THE bagel place, where we bought 3 dozen to take back home with us. Their sweet smell in the car on the way back was mildly distracting, and we were quite happy not to have to wait too long when we got home before sitting down with our coffee and yummy fresh sweet sesame bagel, still warm might I add.

Matante Hélène was thrilled to see us. When I called her the night before, she sounded ecstatic to find out she would have visitors the next day: I'll wait for you by the front door at one o'clock. I gently told her that I would call her around 1PM, not knowing quite how our schedule would work out. We were there at 3:20. A smiling aunt sitting in her chair by the window, greeted us very cheerfully. Lots of hugging and kissing. Gee, I hadn't seen her in maybe 10 or maybe 15 years... Along time.

She immediately adopted Ousmane, and rumor has it she thinks he's the best thing since sliced bread. At least that's what she implied, when speaking with her younger sister, my mother, for an hour on the phone the next day. Mother called me to relay the story. Cute.

Back in business

Not to sure how to relate the past month.

Lots of packing. Lots of driving to and fro (Winnipeg, Ottawa, and back again). Looking for a new place to settled down and grow new roots.

Leaving Winnipeg for good on August 6th. Goodbye house on Walnut Street, finally all done up the way we wanted it. Goodbye friends and family, hopefully we'll meet again soon.

We saw a lynx on the drive out, late Friday afternoon. It slowly deambulated (?) across highway 17, nose sniffing the air, ears very much lynx ears, and legs stretching out on the dry pavement. I took it as a good luck omen. We had a safe ride, safe trip, arriving in Ottawa on Sunday afternoon around 2.

That first week was hectic. Running around in circles to change the plates on the car, oh but you need your Ontario driver's liscence for that (among a load of other documents). Going to transfer the driver's liscence, you need a valid passeport, or sorry your name will not be the way you want it, and the way it should be. My first name is not and has never been Marie, but according to my new Ontario driver's liscence, it is now. Go figure. I was too exhausted by the going around in circles to argue any more. Back to the "Service Ontario" office, who could use tips on appropriate customer service techniques... I took 4 days of bs to get the plates changed and the car insured.

We had managed to sell all our funiture before we left. The movers had only to worry about boxes and rubbermaid crates. Oh and my bike. Once here, we went shopping for a few items that could not wait. We bought a bed at Sears before we left, with a delivery date of the Tuesday after our arrival. After sleeping on the floor for over 2 weeks, that bed was very welcome in our new home. We bought a TV, some shelving, 2 desks, one for Ous for his studies, and one for my new computer, going into the corner of what could/should be a dinning area. We set up our dining area in the kitchen using the cart and bar stools Ben had given me a while ago. Yesterday we found a "curio cabinet" that fits perfectly in our tiny kitchen where I can now put the dishes. Someone having a yard sale, and we got it for $10. Ous is now convinced that for any other items we will be needing, we should check yard/garage sales...

And so all is well.

Found a house

Our road trip went well. It took 3 days to get here, 3 very tiring days, getting up early and driving till late. Eating cold pizza I had packed for lunches, drinking hot coffee atT*ms... take a pee break each time we could.

Staying with friends right now, and very little access to internet. We went to see 2 appartments, very discouraging, a house, and then this one. It is not our dream home, but the price is right (everything is much more expensive here, although I was expecting that), it's very conveniently located, the landlord seems nice and apparently the people upstairs are quiet. It is smaller than what we have now of course, but I think we will organize it quite well.

So here we are in Ottawa.

Oh yes, the street is named after my son...

Getting ready for the road trip.

I told him I would pack, but I am not too sure what we should bring. I've got the snacks planned, and drinks, and toilettries, and, well that'a bout it. Are we bringing the breakables with us? Are we packing up the computer, DVD player and other various electronics? I am not too sure. I think we might not be going to bed early tonight.

I went to see Sof & the boys for supper. I have very mixed feelings about this trip and have tried to focus only on the fun part of the adventure. Saying goodbye was very hard and we are both not talking about what happens after this trip. Pretend it's just a holiday. It's just easier right now to pretend. Yup, we're coming back in 10 days. Don't talk about what happens 5 days after that... As Basil Fawlty would say: Don't mention the War...

We had people come in to do estimates for moving our stuff to Ottawa. SOOOO expensive. I knew that , but still, a bit of a surprise. Ous is thinking we should just try to sell or donate everything and go empty handed. Maybe that would work for the furniture, but what about the books, CDs, winter clothes, and little every day items???? What about my shoe chair??? We are still undecided. But I am sure that spending quality time for the next 26 hours together in the car, we will be able to decipher all that.

I HATE moving.

Bittersweet goodbye

It was my last day at work today. I really liked working there and got along really well with everyone, and enjoyed my work. Sure, sometimes I had to deal with people who seemd to have limited common sense or (intelligence) but most of the clients were nice, pleasant and reasonable people to deal with.

I actually got some work done in the morning, even though they had planned a potluck for today, and we all know what that means: Huge amounts of delicious food all day, to nibble on and distract one from working. And of course, every once in a while, someone would drop by my desk to say goodbye. Hugs and tears. I gave some of my buddies littles mementos that I had decorated my desk with: a glass sculpture for Mary, a snow globe with tiny little robins inside for Irene, a bamboo wood chime for Martha. Asked Diana to nurse my dying bamboo plant (more like a stick) back to health and gave her a fabulous snow globe with a photo of moi inside... to watch over her. I also gave her my original sandstone bird sculpture that I had gotten as a souvenir during the Pan Am Games in 1999. She felt bad she didn't have anything for me. Hey, don't worry about it. Just tell any future employer I was a great employee! (No this wasn't a bribe.) They all said they will miss me, miss my sense of humour, my silly jokes and pranks, but also my dedication and hard work.

I started cleaning my desk (client files and updates) in the afternoon, being interrupted again by well-wishers. Then around 4:30, had to go back on the phones, and had calls till 6PM. After the last caller finished, the other girl left, and there I was, all by myself. Feeling a bit sad, and lonely. Gathering my personnal effects in a couple of bags and after one last look around, going down the stairs, alone, down the long hallway to the back door, alone, even the cleaning lady was nowhere to be seen, and finally leaving the building, making sure the door was locked behind me and getting to my one lonely car in the parking lot and leaving, alone... Bittersweet.

Preparing now for our new adventure.

This says it all

This neighbour is full of surprises.

We met him two days before moving in. He gave us a hard time about where exactly the line was between the two properties, and make sure you don't sneak a millimeter on mine. Gave us a hard time in the winter when we tried to park our 2nd car in our driveway in the back of our house. Was just generally unpleasant, or at most, neutral. Not very friendly.

But, we stayed polite, kept saying hello how are you, smiling and being neighbourly. I saw him on Saturday, taking out the garbage. "So... you guys are moving?" Gave him a brief update on our plans, including the fact that we are leaving next Saturday. Saw him again tonight, taking out the garbage ( we seem to have a lot of that in the past few days). He actually carried on a conversation for about 10 minutes! I'm guessing he has not suddenly turned into a friendly version of his former self, but maybe now that we are leaving, he realizes we were actually pretty ok people to have around, and does not know what to expect from the next owners... Haha, not our problem anymore, old man.

I also found out today that one of my collegues at work is also leaving, next week. There is going to be a completely different staff in that department in the next few weeks. They have already hired 3 new people, and will need 2 more in the next couple of weeks. Change is good.

Leave the house NOW.

Today was the open house chez the Nomad Family. So of course there are the last minute touch-ups, washing floors, dusting, rats I spilled my coffee on the counter clean-up, and then at 2:59 PM, leave the house NOW. There was already a carful of people (family of 4 pouring out of all its doors) wanting to come in. Inspect every nook and cranny, and don't forget the attic.

Looking for a place to hang out for the next 90 minutes,and disappointed I was missing the soccer match (Go Spain!) I headed out for Sof's. Had a few items I need to drop off for the kids like a miniature watermelon, and a big red plastic handle. And GenBen's gift. Halfway there, Sof texts me: they're at the beach. Hey what about me? I would have enjoyed the beach. But, good for them. And too bad, I'll drive out there anyway and drop everything on their doorstep.

Which is what I almost did, forgot the GenBen gift in the car and just realized that now. But maybe I'll go tomoorrow. If someone is checkng out our house after work and I need a place to disappear to, I'll go see the kids.

We are starting to look forward to next Saturday when we pack up and head out. One car caravan, loaded as much as can be with items that will stay at a friend's place in Ottawa, alogn with the car. We are flying back here and will be driving the other car in August to our new home out East. I suspect I might not be getting a lot of work done this week, although when I am there, I do try to focus on the job at hand and not think of the move. This is becoming more and more of a challenge.

And then will begin the job hunting.

Watching the World Cup is not the best idea.

But Ous and I have been working double shifts for the past months so an hour or two of relaxing in front of the tv felt quite nice.

The painters are hard at work, and after 2 coats of blue and multiple coats of yellow the house should look quite eye-catching for the open house tomorrow. The inside is all neat and tidy (if only I could get that energy flowing to keep it that way all the time), the basement is practically empty, so are the closets. So tomorrow, let's just hope we have a lot of people coming for a look. And a lot of them wanting to buy. We have our answer Tuesday night at 8:00 o'clock.

My last day at work will be Thursday. I was going to stay until Friday, but apparently I had some vacation time due and since the pay-period ends on Thur., my supervisor suggested I take Friday as a vacation day. What the heck. I am already not very much in a work mode anyway.

Most people still do not know we are moving. Ous preferred keeping it fairly secret. I think he is maybe just a bit superstitious and thought that if we talk about it too soon it will not happen. Well, it's happening now. And a lot faster than I would like.

Looking forward to being closer to my siblings. Will certainly miss my kids here.

Un océan de boîtes

Peut-être que les vrais nomades savent voyager avec tous leurs bien sur leur dos, ou celui de leur chameau, ou, le cas échéant, dans le coffre de leur voiture, mais ça n'est pas mon cas. J'ai fini de trier toutes les boîtes qui nous avaient accompagnés lors de notre précédent déménagement, cela m'aura pris presque trois mois. Je travaille de façon aléatoire, dépendant du niveau d'énergie (ou de fatigue) et bien sûr Ous me trouve un peu lente. J'ai quand même réussi ce tour de force: éliminer au moins à moitié des cartons que nous avions, et il reste maintenant à passer à l'assaut les armoires de cuisine, les articles ménagers et quotidiens et nos effets personnels.

Nous partons samedi prochain. La première étape de cette grande aventure. Environ 26 heures de route nous appellent. J'ai déjà prévu la plupart des bagages qui nous tiendront compagnie dans la voiture, ainsi que les CD à écouter (une bonne vingtaine, car il nous faut de la variété) et pour les ravitaillements, nous nous contenterons de sandwichs et d'eau froide. Et sûrement des cafés en cours de route. Ce n'est pas la première fois que je fais ce trajet, et quant à Ous se sera la deuxième. Nous laisserons tous nos bagages là-bas et revenons, nomades des temps modernes, en avion.

Au retour nous nous attaquerons aux derniers préparatifs, et d'ici le début du mois prochain espérons nous retrouver au prochain oasif sans trop de traumatismes psychologiques.

Pour le moment nous flottons sur un océan de boîtes.

Demain matin, Montréal m'attend...

Tomorrow we do Step 1 of Plan B. Boxes (viva Rubbermaid) are packed, all ligned up in what was the dining room, ready to go. Ous and a friend have rented a truck, will be loading it up and off they go to the storage place, bright and early, to finish bright and early. I get to stay home and cook. Suits me fine.

Ça ne devrait pas prendre trop de temps, il y a environ une douzaine de gros bacs rubbermaid et quelques autres articles plus petits. J'ai hâte de voir la maison vidée de ces choses qui pour le moment sont trop encombrantes. Je suis fatiguée juste à les regarder, mais je continue tous les jours de "faire des boîtes" même si ce n'est qu'une par jour. Courage!

Then all we need is to find a place to stay when we are in Ottawa. And a job for moi. Oh and don't be mislead by the title, it's only a song, and we are going to Ottawa, not Montréal.

Maybe I was born a gipsy.

My parents lived in a tiny village in Northern Ontario. My mother went back to her hometowm to give birth to me. I've been on the road ever since. When I was about 2, we moved to a town in northern Québec, and again the next year,another town close to the first. Then when I was six, we moved back to Ontario. Three years after that, packin' up and movin' agin... Three more years and my parents bought a house in the country and kinda settled down for 20 odds years.

I left home when I was nineteen, travelled across Canada for 6 months and lived in Mexico for 5 months. Not by myself, I was part of a cultural exchange programm called Canada World Youth, in its second year. Wow! Who wants to stay put after that?!

I moved to Manitoba, and for a while my only wanderings were limited to going "back Home" for Christmas. Lived in Manitoba all of my adult life. In the past ten years or so, travelled to many places, some more exotic than other: Mexico again, Costa Rica, Ireland, France, Sénégal, Gambia, my own country of course and a bit of the USA.

Even living here, I have moved many times, from one street to another, one part of town to another. And now, going back to my roots I guess, back to Ontario. For how long? We'll see.

I want to retire to Senegal. That may be only a few years away, but nothing like planning ahead.

I always have a suitcase, packed and ready to go, hidden away in the closet. You just never know.