Yep, today is the first day of my 8 day weekend. I'm sitting at my second airport of the day (Edmonton, having left from Ft. McMurray at 12:15 today) having some lunch and a Margarita. :) I figure I deserve it after 20 days working. I'm off to Winnipeg to visit my "spousal equivalent" for the week. I haven't been to Winnipeg in well over a year....year and a half maybe? Too long, anyway. I'm hoping to get down across the border to check out the e-readers before I make my final purchase. I have it narrowed down to two models, one of which I have seen and tried out, and seeing the other one is my mission. Right now I am loaded down with two heavy books to keep me company on my flights and airport waits. I was so excited to get this lime Margarita and now that I taste it it's not even that good :( Oh well, I guess that means it doesn't count and I can treat myself once more on this trip, haha.
Staffing is at an all-time low this week that I'm away, and I'm almost feeling guilty. Ok, I am feeling guilty. I know it's nothing for me to feel guilty about, but I just think of the few that are taking on the whole burden and feeling very sorry for them, and if it was me left behind how sad I'd be. Ok, it will probably BE me in a week when I get back so I will get over it, haha.
Still even lower occupancy as companies are laying off. I am not sure if it has to do with the time of year, as I know some are going to be back next month, or May at the latest. It is eerie, not quite as deserted as Christmas time, but still quiet. The Menu Express service is hot! People like to have nibbles delivered to them, even for a fee. I think the poor delivery girl needs a Segway, or at least some roller blades! Poor girl is sweating buckets whenever I run into her in the evenings.
Funny how smells trigger memories. Carpet cleaning is underway in A pod (my room is 3rd floor A in A pod) and they were cleaning carpets when I first arrived at the end of August. As soon as the smell hit my nostrils I was immediately taken back to the first walk down the "green mile" way back then. The corridor from mail building to A dorm in A pod is long, and one of the guys made a comment that he calls it the Green Mile and it kind of stuck.
Speaking of fitness....I thought Hannah was a task master....wow our new guy Ed makes her look like a nursery school gym teacher (no disrespect to Hannah whatsoever!). No messing around with Ed, he makes you work! He just wants to help you, he says with his innocent looking face. A Newfoundlander with all the Newfie jargon (think "yes boy" - only the boy is pronounced Bye), he wants us all to be fit and healthy. No pussy footing around. He's getting me set up with a new and improved fitness plan, and I am going to join the Core class on Sun and Wed nights. This old granny is going to get fit if it kills me! I'm not doing too bad though, up to 30 laps in the a.m. (that's about 1.5 miles) then my gym routine which takes about 15-20 minutes. He's got the same days off as I do, so I can't use the excuse that he's not there for me to skip classes. He does have a lot of people involved so it's very good. He can also carry the load on open mike nights and Karaoke at the bar. He left last night on his first turnaround and he was so excited to see his family he was pretty well dancing all day, lol. When I go back I am in for 22 days so I will definitely need something to burn off the crispiness. Once you hit about day 18...I tell ya, you can sure feel the difference.
I had an interesting drive in this morning with a couple of the camp attendants heading to Cape Breton. We all laughed so hard we were all hurting. The poor driver got his eyes opened I'll tell ya, as we let loose. He's used to seeing the professional side, haha. I know he couldn't wait to get back and tell Aimee what a bad influence her mother is LOLOL.
Well, I should make my way to the gate and get comfortable!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Crazy week at Albian!
It seems it's always a crazy week at Albian. Things just can never stay settled. We had a full complement of staff....well that didn't last. People leaving on their days off and sick leave and holy smokes....we're at the other end of the scale again. Menu Express is getting off to a great start, seems people want room service and are willing to pay for it! However it takes one staff out of our front desk mix because that person is delivering. And I just didn't have time to update the blog while I was working.
Occupancy is sort of low, but it doesn't seem to ease up the workload any. I haven't been out all week either. I was going to try and get into Ft. Mac one night, but just couldn't do it. Not with my 5 am wake up. Yes, now it's 5. I'm doing more walking/jogging so I need extra time. It's going well though, I'm feeling strong! (ok, that may be an overstatement) It seems that more people are getting on the fitness bandwagon, but at 5 am there aren't too many on the walking track or at the gym :)
I was just sitting here and realized that I look into the next dorm. I mean, I've always known that, but I thought how nice it would be to have a view out a window that doesn't look into another window. Oh well, I like my cozy room. My camp attendant has been very nice and I washed my sheets yesterday and just put them on the bed to make up later after work, and she did it for me! I know she would normally have to change the sheets on the bed anyway on Friday, but I figured since I had my own that was like a "stay off the grass" type sign.
Wow, international events are going crazy. I normally try and keep my head out of the real world while I'm here, but I am overhearing lots of people talking about Japan, and Libya, and closer to home...the fire in Listowel that destroyed a downtown building and took the lives of 2 firefighters. That happened this week. So tragic for so many people in the world.
One of our front desk staff, a very nice young lady, is en route to her birth country of Ethiopia right now, for a 3 week visit. She's been so excited, hasn't been there for 7 or 8 years I think she said. She's with her father (who hasn't been back in 15 or so years) and her best friend. She's anxious to connect up with family and tour the country. I told her she should do a blog of her trip, as many people are anxious to hear about it. Bon Voyage and safe travels, Tigist!
I have decided to purchase an e-reader. You know, an electronic book reader. I was so against them, I always said I needed to feel the book, and turn the pages and I would NEVER switch over. Then Tina got one for her birthday. I held it, read a page, turned the page and I was hooked. How convenient for my travels! I won't have to lug 2 or 3 books in my carry-on luggage to keep me company on the plane and in airports. Also, the model I am looking at allows you to borrow library books...any time, any where! And books to purchase are very reasonable...new releases usually go for under $10. You can carry hundreds of books around with you in a device the size of a notepad. Half full. Anyway, that is my mission and my gift to myself!
Sunrise sunset times are almost exactly even. Stratford - sunrise 7:29 am, sunset 7:34 pm. Ft. Mac - sunrise 7:30 am, sunset 7:36 p. It will swing around until we are getting 2 or more hours of sunlight more than back home by June. Take care all!!
Occupancy is sort of low, but it doesn't seem to ease up the workload any. I haven't been out all week either. I was going to try and get into Ft. Mac one night, but just couldn't do it. Not with my 5 am wake up. Yes, now it's 5. I'm doing more walking/jogging so I need extra time. It's going well though, I'm feeling strong! (ok, that may be an overstatement) It seems that more people are getting on the fitness bandwagon, but at 5 am there aren't too many on the walking track or at the gym :)
I was just sitting here and realized that I look into the next dorm. I mean, I've always known that, but I thought how nice it would be to have a view out a window that doesn't look into another window. Oh well, I like my cozy room. My camp attendant has been very nice and I washed my sheets yesterday and just put them on the bed to make up later after work, and she did it for me! I know she would normally have to change the sheets on the bed anyway on Friday, but I figured since I had my own that was like a "stay off the grass" type sign.
Wow, international events are going crazy. I normally try and keep my head out of the real world while I'm here, but I am overhearing lots of people talking about Japan, and Libya, and closer to home...the fire in Listowel that destroyed a downtown building and took the lives of 2 firefighters. That happened this week. So tragic for so many people in the world.
One of our front desk staff, a very nice young lady, is en route to her birth country of Ethiopia right now, for a 3 week visit. She's been so excited, hasn't been there for 7 or 8 years I think she said. She's with her father (who hasn't been back in 15 or so years) and her best friend. She's anxious to connect up with family and tour the country. I told her she should do a blog of her trip, as many people are anxious to hear about it. Bon Voyage and safe travels, Tigist!
I have decided to purchase an e-reader. You know, an electronic book reader. I was so against them, I always said I needed to feel the book, and turn the pages and I would NEVER switch over. Then Tina got one for her birthday. I held it, read a page, turned the page and I was hooked. How convenient for my travels! I won't have to lug 2 or 3 books in my carry-on luggage to keep me company on the plane and in airports. Also, the model I am looking at allows you to borrow library books...any time, any where! And books to purchase are very reasonable...new releases usually go for under $10. You can carry hundreds of books around with you in a device the size of a notepad. Half full. Anyway, that is my mission and my gift to myself!
Sunrise sunset times are almost exactly even. Stratford - sunrise 7:29 am, sunset 7:34 pm. Ft. Mac - sunrise 7:30 am, sunset 7:36 p. It will swing around until we are getting 2 or more hours of sunlight more than back home by June. Take care all!!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sorry...to my faithful readers...if there are any left!!
I think what the problem is about is now that I am full time reservations, I am on a computer all day. So when I'm not working, I don't want to be sitting at the computer some more! I came up with a great idea....I will update my blog while I'm at work and on a break. Sounds like a win-win to me.
This past week has been a whirlwind, with trying to jump into the new role, deal with my cross-shift person not being here (*sad face*) and moving to three different desks and having the new office painted so having to move out all together for a few days....wow.
The back room has been completely cleared out and now there is a whole end (large cubicle size) that is my area for Reservations. Hopefully there will soon be another full time reservations person, because it is too much for one person and we're always scrambling to catch up on one thing or another. Amanda has been promoted to Housing Manager - good news for her too!
Albian has launched a new service - room service for pizza, wings, fries, chicken fingers, burgers, soft drinks delivered right to your room in the evenings. For a fee, of course. Well, no fee for the delivery, but items are for purchase. Selected items have been offered for free trial at the lounge the last couple of nights, and the actual service will start tomorrow. So if someone has the munchies after the dining room closes at 7:45 pm and before 10 pm, just pick up the phone!
The weather has still been darn cold! Went into town one night last week....Thursday maybe? and it was -24. I mean, come on already....-24??? That's -11 Fahrenheit, in case you were wondering. I hadn't been out since I got back, so it was a surprise to me. And come on daylight savings time! I went to dinner late tonight, just before 6 pm, and it was still bright out. That part I like. Except it is still the dead of night at 7 am again. Boo! Just checked the sunrise/sunset for here and sunrise is now 6:46 am and sunset is 6:23. In Stratford, sunrise is 6:40 and sunset is 6:28. (ok, apparently 7 am is not the dead of night.) We're almost equal, and soon Albian will surpass Stratford in terms of hours of daylight. And on the 14 day forecast, the temperature is moderating into more seasonable numbers.
One funny thing I have to mention....one of the companies cancelled work for their night shift last night, and their day shift today. Why, you might ask? They had no fuel. That may not seem really funny until you think about the fact that we are in the oil sands, working for Shell. I suggested maybe they run down the road to Syncrude and maybe borrow a bit of theirs, haha.
Well, I am finally headed back to my room and hopefully make up for that hour of sleep I lost last night!
This past week has been a whirlwind, with trying to jump into the new role, deal with my cross-shift person not being here (*sad face*) and moving to three different desks and having the new office painted so having to move out all together for a few days....wow.
The back room has been completely cleared out and now there is a whole end (large cubicle size) that is my area for Reservations. Hopefully there will soon be another full time reservations person, because it is too much for one person and we're always scrambling to catch up on one thing or another. Amanda has been promoted to Housing Manager - good news for her too!
Albian has launched a new service - room service for pizza, wings, fries, chicken fingers, burgers, soft drinks delivered right to your room in the evenings. For a fee, of course. Well, no fee for the delivery, but items are for purchase. Selected items have been offered for free trial at the lounge the last couple of nights, and the actual service will start tomorrow. So if someone has the munchies after the dining room closes at 7:45 pm and before 10 pm, just pick up the phone!
The weather has still been darn cold! Went into town one night last week....Thursday maybe? and it was -24. I mean, come on already....-24??? That's -11 Fahrenheit, in case you were wondering. I hadn't been out since I got back, so it was a surprise to me. And come on daylight savings time! I went to dinner late tonight, just before 6 pm, and it was still bright out. That part I like. Except it is still the dead of night at 7 am again. Boo! Just checked the sunrise/sunset for here and sunrise is now 6:46 am and sunset is 6:23. In Stratford, sunrise is 6:40 and sunset is 6:28. (ok, apparently 7 am is not the dead of night.) We're almost equal, and soon Albian will surpass Stratford in terms of hours of daylight. And on the 14 day forecast, the temperature is moderating into more seasonable numbers.
One funny thing I have to mention....one of the companies cancelled work for their night shift last night, and their day shift today. Why, you might ask? They had no fuel. That may not seem really funny until you think about the fact that we are in the oil sands, working for Shell. I suggested maybe they run down the road to Syncrude and maybe borrow a bit of theirs, haha.
Well, I am finally headed back to my room and hopefully make up for that hour of sleep I lost last night!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Back to work...
Hi all. I'm wondering if anyone is still reading. Six months I've been doing this and thinking it's got to be boring to read my ramblings after all this time. However I like to write and ramble so I'll keep on rambling! So I'.m sitting in the airport in Toronto waiting for my flight to Ft. Mac. Flights have been horrible this last couple of months. Too expensive and bad times. When I came home last Friday, I had to leave at 6:30 in the morning on my first day off (I like to fly out either late on my last day of work, or the redeye that leaves at midnight so I don't waste my whole first day off travelling!) plus I had TWO stops (always have at least one, but two with waits in between is so tedious). Seems like the times and prices improve in May....sigh.
I did get some good news while I was home. A call from the GM to tell me when I get back I will be full time reservations. That's a good thing. More money. Regular shifts (always 7-5). Fits well with my date with gym (5:30 a.m.). I'm still undecided as to how long I will be staying, but right now I'm thinking I'll finish out this year.
I am Jomama to most of the people I know there. That's ok, I'm old enough to be their mama :) It does feel like family, because it feels like everyone is living together in the same large house. It's amazing how quickly the days are getting longer. Right now in Stratford, sunrise is 6:55 am and sunset is 6:18 pm. In Ft. MacKay sunrise is 7:04 am and sunset is 6:04 pm. Very soon there will be more hours of daylight there than at home. Camp had been pretty full when I left, so I'm anxious to get back at it and jump into my new role with both feet.
I am really getting tired of airports though. I should have counted how many airport visits I've had in the last six months, but maybe it's best not to know, haha.
I did get some good news while I was home. A call from the GM to tell me when I get back I will be full time reservations. That's a good thing. More money. Regular shifts (always 7-5). Fits well with my date with gym (5:30 a.m.). I'm still undecided as to how long I will be staying, but right now I'm thinking I'll finish out this year.
I am Jomama to most of the people I know there. That's ok, I'm old enough to be their mama :) It does feel like family, because it feels like everyone is living together in the same large house. It's amazing how quickly the days are getting longer. Right now in Stratford, sunrise is 6:55 am and sunset is 6:18 pm. In Ft. MacKay sunrise is 7:04 am and sunset is 6:04 pm. Very soon there will be more hours of daylight there than at home. Camp had been pretty full when I left, so I'm anxious to get back at it and jump into my new role with both feet.
I am really getting tired of airports though. I should have counted how many airport visits I've had in the last six months, but maybe it's best not to know, haha.
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