We actually had snow in April … we didn’t even have any snow in March! That is odd for a Canadian winter, but it happened. March was so beautiful, so warm, especially towards the end of the month when the weather was in the 70′s and even the 80′s for a few days that I started thinking about getting out the patio furniture. I suppose I could have, but it would have sat unused for most of April the way the weathers been.

I know it sounds like I’m complaining. Sounds like – I suppose I am complaining – however, I am happy that we had a very warm winter and April wasn’t absolutely freezing or anything. The plants in my garden still grew and bloomed. Spring progressed. It just felt like a setback after the glorious weather of the previous month.

Was the last month a lot cooler for you than you’d been expecting? Are you looking forward to things warming up so that you can get outside and enjoy the season and whatever outdoor activities you want to do?

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No no … it’s time for us to be outside wearing light jackets or not coats at all .. perhaps even shorts and tank tops! Sandals!

One great thing about my neighborhood is that once the weather is nice and even when it isn’t – people are outside visiting each other, working on their houses and their yards, walking or biking everywhere. Parents are walking their kids to the school just down the street, pregnant women are walking around in hip maternity clothes and almost everyone is friendly. Perhaps not friendly enough to stop and talk but at least to wave hello or to smile or nod your head at – make eye contact and so on.

I’ve been in this neighborhood now for 11 years and I know pretty much everyone nearby. I know people in part because it’s a friendly neighborhood and in part because until I became ill and had to take some time off work I was a nurse in the Emergency ward at the hospital down the street from my house and eventually a lot of neighbors end up coming through the emerg either as patients themselves or with friends and relatives so it’s not hard to get to know them a little bit that way.

The only time I’ve ever found this neighborhood quite or “dead” was this past Christmas. I was alone myself and there just seemed to be no one around. Everyone was away.

Hopefully the weather warms up soon and it doesn’t snow tomorrow. I’d really hate to have to pull out the shovel again! Just when my garden is really starting to do fanatically!

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I bought a new purse. I really needed a new purse! Then I visited several of my favorite clothing stores and managed to pick up a few new tops, blouses, pants and one skirt. Yeah! The only thing that I really need that I didn’t get was a new pair of shoes. I guess that means another shopping trip … next weekend?

During my shopping spree I took a little break near the malls big fountain. There were two musicians there, playing music for the passersby. One was playing an acoustic guitar and the other was playing what I think was a Luna Guitars Bass. Together they sounded pretty good. It certainly made my little break all the nicer.

I needed the shopping trip. I’ve lost some weight in the last few months and I definitely needed new clothes. In fact I could probably use a lot of new clothes!

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Last Monday I had a meeting at the hospital in the Human Resources department. I knew that it would be with at least two people but to my surprise there were five people in the meeting! Ahhhh! I wasn’t prepared for that. I don’t think there were even that many people there for my two interview for the Emergency Department back in 2002. I think there were only three people for those interviews.

Since I’ve been off work on medical leave for 6 years the hospital wants to make sure that I’m ready to come back and they’re trying to decide where to place me. I’ll also have to learn the new computer programs for charting my nursing notes and so on.

So … I’m waiting and waiting and waiting. Between going to my doctors and telling them that I wanted to go back to work and then having meetings with Occupational Health at my workplace and then HR I’ve been working on getting back to work since January! I’m antsy to get back to work. If it takes my longer I’m going to start think about looking into a Walmart or walgreens employment application form just so I can get out and get working. It would be a waste of my Nursing education, but I’m tired of being at home.

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It doesn’t help that my phone keeps ringing and interrupting me from the work I’m doing on my computer. I’m seriously thinking of unplugging the phone. I have to get a few articles written, update some blogs, and do some behind the scenes work on a few of my sites. I’m not even going to include the housework that I need to get done because there’s no way I’m going to get to that today!

One of the phone calls that disrupted me was a friend calling me about a medical question. I guess he’s been trying to bulk up so he’s been drinking protein shakes and taking something called P6. I had to look that one up. He was wondering about p6 extreme side effects so I looked it up for him since I was in front of my computer – which I’m sure he knew I’d be and he felt a little better after our conversation. Personally I think he looks fine just the way he is and hope he doesn’t get cared away with these supplements etc.

Well, I’d better get back to work! Or have a nap … hmmm that sounds good.

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Then … there was a story about the Space Shuttle Discovery’s last trip. It flew on the back of an airplane as it was taken to Washington to be placed in the Smithsonian Museum. It’s hard to believe that there aren’t going to be any more Space Shuttles and that there doesn’t seem to be anything created to replace them as of yet. Well … maybe these galactic looking boots might do the trick? They’re called Alpinestars SMX 5 Boots and to me they look like they’d be perfect for space travel. LOL Yeah I’m just kidding but do take a look, they’re funky.

In my little world .. nothing historic going on here I’m afraid. I’m tired, I’m hungry and I have sore feet. Hmmm … what to do.

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Well, actually .. I don’t exactly have my old job anymore. My old position in emergency has been filled, so now Human Resources is apparently trying to find me a full time job elsewhere in the hospital. That’s the good news and the bad news I suppose … but there’s more bad news … the OC Health nurse that is handling my case told me that Human Resources was concerned that since I’ve been off for 6 years my nursing skills might be “rusty” and I might not qualify for whatever position they might find for me. That sounds like Bull to me since women take time off work all the time to have children and stay home until their child goes to school and most are able to re-enter the workforce again – nursing or other careers without huge problems. Believe me, my skills aren’t rusty. I’ve had some exceptional jobs in my career and I’m sure I’ll be fine with whatever they find for me … I just hope I like it. I really loved working in the ER. I mean I really really loved working in the ER.

I think things will work out for me, but if something happens and I don’t end up going back to the hospital perhaps I’ll look into an Online bs degree. I’ll definitely be submitting the resume that I updated last Friday to other hospitals!

I just don’t want to go looking for another job because technically I already have a full time job … they just have to tell me what it is. Hopefully I’ll be back to work (on moderated hours for a while) within a couple of weeks!

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I don’t just mean that she’s been working at the same career for 25 years, but that she’s also been working in the same company for that time as well. These days that’s pretty rare what with companies going out of business and layoffs and so on, not to mention people changing careers. A few days ago I realized that in June I’ll have been a nurse for 20 years, but I’ve worked in several private clinics and hospitals in that time.

I think I’m going to get my friend a special gift. I’ve been looking online and I found a site that has gourmet Anniversary gifts for her – things like delicious looking chocolate covered berries. Yum! I’m fairly certain she’ll love those. I’m going to order some for her and hope that she likes them.

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The weather broke records this week. Not just here in Toronto but across the country.

Today was the warmest day of all. It was 86 F! When I went into my backyard this afternoon I seriously thought about going back inside and getting the patio furniture. I mean, it’s March .. it’s way to early to be thinking about setting up the Patio furniture for all I know we could have a snow storm next week but with the kind of weather we’ve had most of the last month let alone the whole winter I think I probably could start setting up for summer.

Speaking of summer and patio furniture, I might look for some new modern outdoor furniture to accompany the patio furniture that I currently have. I’ve always wanted an outdoor couch or a true outdoor room.

Has the weather been warmer than normal in your area too? If it has, are you getting outside to enjoy it?

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Hmmm .. maybe I should just invest in gold bullion. Gold’s been staying high in value for the last year!

I feel bad hoping that the Canadian dollar falls below the US dollar again, but that’s what works best for me.

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