Yesterday I was all excited about going to a craft store, I had planned on checking out yarn and rubber stamps. Sadly the yarn colors in the only half decent yarn they had were all pretty dull and they had zero stamps with a snowflake on it, barely a selection of holiday themed ones either. I was so disappointed, I wasn't expecting to not find anything. The store changed a lot since I had gone and it isn't as great in my opinion. So that pretty much shot my day at wanting to make a few holiday wish cards, now back to having none and no inspiration to create any either.
I get to meet Zoe's teacher next week and it will be soon enough, at least my daughter wants to go to school this week. Though it is hard to hear about how the teacher rewarded her class with computer time after screamed at the kids. ARGH!!!
Perhaps today, I will have time to cut out paper snowflakes!?
It has been three weeks tomorrow since I have officially finished school. Since june I have always been convinced that I was going to find a job at the end and all would be well. It sounds innocent perhaps but we have been drilled for five months that there were more than enough job opportunities for the thirteen students in the class. Since I left my 2nd internship place I have been promised a job elsewhere. Carl was to start at the same place also, we were both referred this store by different people. Carl has met the boss a few times and was presented to many other bosses in different stores, his job position is more than he expected but he is pleased. Bottom line, he'd be my immediate supervisor. LOL! This morning we were both schedule to start working, all we needed was a call from the store owner.
We got and we also received some weird news, the internship place Carl worked at doesn't want to let him go. He was offered a temporary job that he accepted while finding something better, they have been warned he was leaving and even went a day more to help them out. So now we are both on hold for the boutique and are stuck not working. It feels like all is crashing and we are loosing everything. I am now fearful that this won't end up well and frankly I don't know what to do. My unemployment will end right after Christmas and then nothing. This is not what I have expected and I just feel empty, another brick on the wall as I say...
So now today, I need/want something good to happen or I'll just loose my mind. It's so hard to not have a job and see the holidays arriving quickly. At least everyone is back to health, Zoe happily went to school today and we have a roof over our heads. Might go crazy and cut out a few snowflakes for the windows, oh how wild can I get?
Yesterday afternoon, Carl comes rushing home and we realise that he got hit by the bug, he is SICK! I mean violently S-I-C-K! Since last friday there's always been someone sick in this house, it's taking it's toll on both my mom and I. We are washing hands and everything else at lightning speed to help us not get hit too. I can't wait for a day where everyone will be healthy and where I get more than 4 hours of sleep in a row. I am exhausted, stressed, tired, everything is happening at the same time we can't cope with it all at the same time.
Zoe went to school wednesday afternoon, in the meantime Carl and Lucas baked and decorated a cake for her. She was SO happy when we celebrated her half-birthday, she smiled for the 1st time in days. It warmed my heart to finally see her happy! Of course her teacher told her it was a lie that we celebrated her birthday since she was born in may but whatever but Zoe knows she is right! On the school front, thanks to many messages of comfort, we will build our own chart of success for Zoe to follow. Her teacher has kept a few kids after class for extra help but Zoe wasn't one of them so perhaps she's doing better than we think!? Today the teachers were on strike in the morning and the kids had school in the afternoon, in Zoe's class there were only 8 or 9 so I hope she has a good time.
I am starting to feel like I want to knit everything all at once. I have so many works in progress though so it's hard to justify to myself to need to start yet another project. Also I keep needing more needles too. LOL!
Friday Lucas was sick, he got sick at a restaurant right before we ever got our food... I actually had to buy him new clothes before we got home, let's just say it wasn't a pretty sight but boy was he proud of his new clothing. LOL! We had a slow weekend monitering him back to health.
Monday evening Zoe got sick... Sadly for her it is all emotion related that makes her sick. We've been having a really tough time with her being in 1st grade this year. The lessons, the homeworks, the extra work the teacher gives them too, the demands of the teacher that we just don't believe in. Mostly, we are hating the teacher, it's tough to encourage Zoe when we understand why she's not to keen on going to school. My heart aches so much that all these feelings have made my daughter sick, she is very strong to hold her own in class though.
Both our kids have a very strong belief in what is fair, like respecting the rules, listening to teachers and whatnot. They will both get really hurt if a friend cheats, doesn't listen or just disturbs. Zoe's teacher also screams at the kids in class and has warned them of physical consequences if one didn't listen. ARGH!!!
How can I encourage my daughter in learning how to read when I know she is afraid to not meet her teacher's demands the next day in class!? The kids are not even learning the basis (to me) of how to read. So I try my best to help her out but since I am trying to have her understand reading instead of just learning the words by heart it's not easy. There are so many learn-to-read programs in english, sadly in french materials are lacking.
I'm meeting the teacher in 3 weeks and it will be hard for me not to bite my tongue and keep my views about her attitude and teaching to myself. How dare I judge a teacher on her work. How dare she make my kid hate school though... Tough job being a parent somedays, luckily both kids are great support to each other. You should see how Lucas was keeping Zoe laughing after she got sick or the other day when Zoe followed Lucas around the house carrying a bucket "just in case". LOL!
If you have a second today, I would really appreciate if you could take the time to think of us. I am loosing this battle and Zoe is missing her 2nd day of school. She look terrorised at the idea of going back, sadly I was supposed to start a new job today but that's been put on hold (not by my choice). Having her change teachers or school is just not a possibility at this time either. :(
The pink socks are both at the "finishing" stage, each need a heel and toe. At first I followed the Fleece Artist pattern for the heel but when my foot barely fit, I knew I had to rip it out. I tried a 2nd heel, using Dawn Brocco's tip, it made for a better more comfy heel. Now that the heel is knitted, I can see that there's too much in the foot part. So back to ripping an inch or two and knit the toes, most likely using the same star/toe method as the heel. As others have said prior to me, quick to knit, fiddly to complete! Of course after knitting the 1st pair I would know more about the measurements, it is great to knit and knit and knit make up the toes, finish the heels and tadah! Socks are done! I haven't worked on knitting socks top down in quite a while, it was fun to go back to that. The only reason I don't love knitting top down socks is that I am always worried about not having enough yarn in the end, also I try to use up all the yarn when I knit toe up.
On our way to our bestest of the best sitting spot to check out the parade, we walked by the place I had my 1st internship. Two of the workers were staring at us while we looked in, I was waving to them like crazy (they were just as bad as me LOL!) and had a huge grin for the rest of the day. Once the parade started the kids were so happy, it was about an hour long and I was really happy to be sitting instead of standing outside. The day was magical for the kiddos, it really started to feel like the holidays are upon us. Luckily most of my gifts are already purchased, I was worried that I would have a hard time finding what I was looking for but instead I was pleased to find my gifts on sale. Yay!!!
I am planning on knitting two gifts for each kid and then I should be done for these holidays. We are lucky in a way to not have many family gatherings and whatnot for the holidays, so gift giving is pretty much just us: the kids, Carl and my mom. The last two read my blog so... let's not talk about them for now... LOL!
The IK Winter 2005 previews are up and it is funny to see that four people from my knitting group are in this issue. I just wished there was something I'd actually knit in it though but nothing inspires me much. Generally though, nothing has inspired me in the past few motnhs anyways.
A few days ago I wrote how excited I was to receive a job offer. Since, I have decided to turn it down. Ever since I set foot in this place I have been unhappy, badly treated and my slef-esteem was getting lower each day. It's been two days now that I am home and I feel good, I feel alive, I am smiling again. The people at work have told Carl they are sad to see me go but are happy I didn't accept the offer, they say I will find better elsewhere...
For now I am taking a few days to absorb everything, so much has happened too quickly and I need to take a minute to recuperate. It hurts that I haven't got a job at the end of my schooling but it feels really good to take some time for myself. In a perfect world I'd hop on the train and go to Toronto for the weekend, that's my place to run away too when everything stresses me out. lol! This time I am staying closer to home, actually this weekend there is a Vision show in Montreal (conferences and exhibit for people in the eyewear business). We'll see what good can come out of that.
hugs, very chilly weekend ahead here.
A new week starts and it is back to waking up at 5am. Oye! This week will be filled with new challenges and I hope to get the best out of each day.
hugs,
After seeing it mentionned on Caroline's blog and the Montreal Knit Blog, I just HAD to see this for my very own eyes. Fleece Artist yarns offered locally, so after a tough day I went to reward myself. LOL!
Yesterday I received bad news at work, then worst news, still I smiled and did my work the best I could. The day ended with me receiving a job offer in the department I want! WOW! I sure never saw THAT coming, the girls I work with were bummed I was leaving them but at the end they said I was right to go in surface. I felt that having the same supervisor as Carl was not a good thing for either of us. I do not want to do something wrong and then have him receive comments or whatever. For me, it is easier to work on the 1st floor and Carl on the 2nd floor. I am pleased with this, I will have one of the most physical jobs but feel like I am really doing something that means a lot. I will be working at creating the prescription on a lens to make glasses.
hugs,
Well here's a little surprise, on day 10 of my internship I got to change department, this is the 4th one now in this company in barely two weeks. I'm stuck with a bunch of girly-girls that love David Beckham and can't believe that he isn't the perfect man in my opinion. SIGH... They wanted to gossip all afternoon and I felt like bolting out of the room, which is slightly bigger than a closet (we are 4 working there). I have today to prove myself or else they are switching me to God knows where. WOW!
Of course I insulted the girls apparently when after they asked which dpt I preferred, I answered the surface. But don't you get dirty there? SO WHAT!?!? Oye! In this company everyone b*tches against those working in surface, they are considered the lowest chain. Thing is, if the surface doesn't exist then half the people there don't have a work, we need surface people to make lenses. Argh! What is so wrong with that?
So now I am never knowing what to expect from one second to the next. Tomorrow I have no clue where I am supposed to go or what time I should go in at. The coating supervisor (whom never ever talked to me) simply said, well since you hate it here follow this guy and you'll work with him from now on.... Hummm, ok. She never looked me in the eyes because I sure felt like asking her if she had a problem with me. I did the job each and every day, sure I did hate it but I still did my best to do the tasks I had. She never talked to me, ask for feedback or give me any. All I know is that I am most likely never going back there.
I have been in all but two departments in this company, what are the odds they hire me next week? I am not holding my breath! I now work with Carl's supervisor (which is really nice to Carl) sadly in my 15 minutes interview with him, he seemed more mad than happy to train me. Gives you an idea of the atmosphere maybe? Sure, I am going in today, give everyone a chance but this isn't me. All I wanted was a hands on job on making a pair of glasses. At this time, no position they made me work at has given me the opportunity to use what I learned in school, nor make me feel like I am smart. All these jobs, they usually hire anybody that sends in a resume. Do I feel better than anyone? NO! I do feel like I am smart and that people should treat me with respect, that is all I ask for, oh and maybe give me feedback on my work 'cause I'm thinking I have to be the worst worker ever if I see how they keep switching me.
Argh! Off I go...
Both Carl and I are on the last leg of our internship. Today though I was offered something special, a new project from school. Either Plan A: I stay and work (well hopefully they'd hire me next week) at mycurrent internship place. We heard that most of us would be hired for 3 months then... who knows.
Plan B though is that I go on a program that is sponsored by unemployment. I would be on the program for 5 months possibly at the place I adored being at on my 1st internship.
The dilemma now is that, A) I am presently at a big company (Plan A), one of the biggest in optics, B) I could learn more and even get a 2nd certificate at the Plan B place but I'm not sure I want to be selling to customers though (that would be a part of the job, can't hide from it) C) Pay would be better at Plan A, the schedule I have at the moment is ideal compared to Plan B (where I would work some nights and some weekends) D) I can see Carl at lunchtime if I stay at Plan A. E) Location of Plan B is fun, it's downtown, I can go shopping at lunch time. LOL!
At this present time, my focus is the kids, I started school for a better future for all of us. Carl's position in the company is pretty much secured, if not he already has a 2nd offer elsewhere. At my internship I am at the start of the lens making chain, other departments say that "those people" are like the lowest in the company. I like the guys I work with, I like the mood we have in the department and they let me play (work) on a 1 000 000$ machine. Hey, it makes me happy! LOL! Although my internship is in coating and treatments, which I do not enjoy much (the room is so cold and so are the people...), I prefer to be with the surface guys anyway. They keep teaching me new things all the time, they enjoy my company and say I work well, one has told my supervisor twice how well I do the job. It makes my day! :)
So.... anyone has some wise advice for me? I really don't know what to choose.