Amazing what random contact will do

I have to head off to work really quick, and Caitlin reminded me that I wanted to blog today. Here goes.

Weather has turned around so I can ride my bike to work, and pretty much everywhere else that I want to go by myself. I haven't quite figured out a good family bicycle solution yet since we are going to be giving away Caitlin's bike to my in-laws, but minor details. I'm sure we can find another bike for Caitlin before next spring when Rini would be old enough to ride in a bicycle trailer. Caitlin said a tandem bike would be quite nice. The hook to it all is where I'll be working.

I feel like I've been beating the job market like a dead horse. I've sent out applications to a number of places and I haven't heard back from anyone. I know with corporate stuff you have to be patient or just pester them until you either get a job or a PFO (or in Mormon terms, PGA - Please Go Away). However, last night as I was heading back from training on the northside, I passed by a vaccuum store, and there was a billboard that showed they were hiring techs. At this point, tech positions are a part of my job search. I just want something that I could apply my degree towards more than just retail. Hopefully something with better pay. Anywho, I took the number down on my phone, saved it, and didn't think anything of it until my phone rang about 30 minutes later. Turns out I had inadvertently called the number and hung up immediately. Glad I was running on $0.01/minute at that point. Anywho, long story short, I have an interview tomorrow for a vaccuum tech position. We'll see what comes of that.

I kind of feel sorry for Source, because I'm kind of leaving Londonderry in the lurch with only two people working there once I leave, unless they hire someone on this week, because vaccuum tech or not, I'm transferring to Kingsway May 1. That's six days from now. Why only two? One person went off to Northgate, and another was fired/arrested for theft. Kinda rough, I know.

Another bit of employment on the horizon is housesitting. My in-laws are taking a trip to France, and leaving the Clarks behind. I thought they said the next time they do a trip like that they were going to take us... Albeit, we were a family of two at the time, not the three we are now. Plus there is a family dance that is coming up May 25 that we are planning to DJ. Should be fun, if we can get a baby-sitter. Should be fine, but it's not good to count your penguins before they're hatched. Did I mention we bought Happy Feet and watched it ad nauseum?

All good things

I've been sending out applications to quite a few places. Enbridge, CN Rail, Colt, Fortis, Haliburton, heck I even sent off an application to a firm in Lloydminister. At this point, I'm looking for anything.

However, Londonderry is going JV in May. Good bye corporate pay, and good bye benifits. Hence, I'm thinking goodbye Londonderry. CD Plus is folding too, but I don't think that has anything to do with me. I'm thinking that I could stay with Source for a while longer, and keep the benifits. However, if I don't get an Engineering job by July, it would be best to relocate to Beaumont. The only reason I would stay at Source would be to keep our apartment. Once we move out, I know that we wouldn't be able to move back. The best plan would be to get a job downtown, and then we'd be fine until we have another baby. Then we would be looking into getting either a home or a townhouse. Hopefully by then housing prices would be a little more reasonable.

Or there's the idea of going back to school and getting a technician position. Would probably pay more than Source.

Nevertheless, transferring to Southgate, or to Kingsway, seems better than staying where I am.

We shall see very shortly. The only thing constant in life is change.

And here's a freaky picture of me after I got my head buzzed.
There's a split on whether the eyes or the hair is freakier, but it seems to prove the theory that the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Jobs and bikes

I've sent off some applications to Colt, both the electrical division, and to someone working directly on the Suncor Oilsands Project. I also got a call for someone at ALTIG International. Then there is the fact that there is the pay raise on the horizon, and Londonderry is going JV. Comes down to which job is the best for me and my family.

Oh! The irony! Spring Break ends, and so does the spring weather! I've been taking the bus the past two days because of the pile of snow that got dropped down on the city. I know it's not much, just a few centimeters, but it still sucks that I'm back taking ETS. I really like riding my bike to work, even though I do get to read a lot more riding public transit. Things should be warming up by the end of the week, maybe we'll have some good riding conditions then.

On the topic of bikes, Caitlin and I (and Rini too I suppose) watched Breaking Away. Nice show, but it was really weird to see Dennis Quaid so young! But it had quite a few elements that made for a great movie. It had bikes, cats, bikes, Italian opera, bike races, coming of age elements, a bike rebuilding scene, family values, oh and did I mention bikes?

Mmmmm... Bicycles...