PTL it's Friday!
Hello!
It's September 22 and I am still in FSJ. So for those of you who picked september to be the month I came back home, you lose! Huahaha. Work has gone super well this week. I was busy busy doing chang-outs (thats when you find the meters and you take it out, and change it) I'm comfortable with it cause it's super straight forward (if the shut off is working that is) The fact still remains that I am installing water meters after years of university in Kinesiolgy. Poop happens.
The one cool thing is that all commercial buildings in FSJ have the meters already and so I have only been working in all the buisnesses so far. This makes my work (if possible) slightly enjoyalbe. During training I was advised to put my head down, do not sociallize and get the job done because that cuts down the time on your installs, therefore increasing your production daily...blablabla more money. I can't do it. I would rather lose out on an install or 2 daily if this means I get to interact with the people.
There are all sorts of different people here as you could imagine. Yesterday I met a dude from Australia (older fella about Rico's age) who moved here with his wife (a nurse) just to work and hike. He said he was disappointed about the mild winter FSJ had last year because it was the first winter they had spent in Canada and they were looking forward to the experience of a truely northern winter! Now that is the spirit I say. They are here on a temp visa to just explore. And in FSJ? Weid. He said they actually got the wrong memo that the mountains end before you get close to FSJ. None the less, they are loving it here, all the way from Australia.
Today I met a ol guy (like 70)who just had his first days off in 5 years! What the...I asked if he was bull--- me but he didn't seem like the funniest person alive. He said he may as well work since he is single. May as well I guess. He also said I must be "doing well" with the ratio of guys to girls up here. I guess.
Penny owns the sports card shop. Penny looks just like johnny cash. Sweet lady. Weird shop. I had no idea sports cards are still profittable. Maybe it was the case of pipes in the left corner.
The one good thing about these guys who work 20 hrs a day year round, they are more than willing to help out the little ol girl with the pony tail! This one guy literally got out the grinder, cut out the wall for me, had the old meter cleaned off, set up a ladder for me, yadayadayada. Oh and changed 2 light bulbs for me in order to get my job done. This was the one who referred to me as the little girl with the pony tail. Another called me a strong ranch girl. Pardon? Better than a "strapping young man" like that crazy from the Meno old folks home in Abby.
The lady's in the dental office were "delighted' that there was a girl here to change the meter. It must have been the carhart overalls that I rock everyday. The crazy thing is this is actually normal to see around town. I have seen a few other girls in the carhart overalls. And no one looks at me funny. I go shopping after work and feel normal to be in Walmart in these overall, dirt on my face and hands that are looking more and more ruffed up.
My latest story is the group of friends I now have at the Steel Toes store. I installed their meter on a sunday morning and Jack (the owner) was more than willing to help out the new girl in town. He gave me some money knee pads and said i had to have them. He told me to come and pay him back whenever I got the chance. He went on to give me the heads up about the drugs in town (specifically date rape) and said if I had trouble with anyone, let him know. He has lived here all his life, raised his kids here and worked up here. His store is like Mark's work warehouse. Full of carhart and plaid and the vital necessities to survive up here. I stopped in there the other morning. There were people in there just havin a cup of coffee staring their day out. It reminds me of Cheers, only with no beer and there is Jack, not Sam. His son is my age and pretty much runs the store. He gave me the low down on other job opportunites up here and what not. Also, about the local basketball leagues, activities ect. Super nice guy, chatty chatty, (not single in case that came into your mind)and more than willing to give details and local sectrets away.
Bottom line is that I suppose I'm gettin settled in here. It will never be home but it's do-able on this temporary basis. So far so good.
Sunday I went for a drive. I drove done the road off to Cecil lake and walked the river. There aren't too many mountains here and so I found a valley. Lots of valleys here. It was so sunny (after the snow) with a crispy breeze. It was beautiful. The fall leaves are out. I'm happy to be experience why fall is the best time to be up here. I should have had a horse that day. Or a 4-wheel thing. I'd rather have a horse though. I could have walked that river all day. I checked this look out point just south of town where you can see for miles over the Peace river. I'm going to love my sundays.
Who knows what the next twist will hold!
I have been told to visit Tumbler Ridge by the Australian guy. Maybe this Sunday.
Love you all!
Chief
PS It is so good to hear from friends down south! Olivia is starting to ride the rocking horse I got her for Christmas! Cass and Joel just sold their old place and bought a new place in Sardis! Jamie has a boyfriend in San Diego. Kalisha is living with JR on hastings street and working at Joey's Tomatoes dowwwwwwn town! Tanya is off to Switerland soon for a quick trip to see Justin..yaaa! Thompson is getting closer to running the New York Marathon. Wish i could be there for that. Estee starter her last semester ever at UCFV. Erin lee oficially has cuboards in her and Ryan's new house. Clav has his first game as head coach for CBC coming up! Wauthy is back in town after months in Europe...welcome back! Connie is going back to school for ECE and enroute to bring much joy into children's lives around the world. And Jenelle holdin out at UCFV like a trooper. Shiloh just bought a new car in Japan! Ange just got a teaching job at MEI! All so exciting!
It's September 22 and I am still in FSJ. So for those of you who picked september to be the month I came back home, you lose! Huahaha. Work has gone super well this week. I was busy busy doing chang-outs (thats when you find the meters and you take it out, and change it) I'm comfortable with it cause it's super straight forward (if the shut off is working that is) The fact still remains that I am installing water meters after years of university in Kinesiolgy. Poop happens.
The one cool thing is that all commercial buildings in FSJ have the meters already and so I have only been working in all the buisnesses so far. This makes my work (if possible) slightly enjoyalbe. During training I was advised to put my head down, do not sociallize and get the job done because that cuts down the time on your installs, therefore increasing your production daily...blablabla more money. I can't do it. I would rather lose out on an install or 2 daily if this means I get to interact with the people.
There are all sorts of different people here as you could imagine. Yesterday I met a dude from Australia (older fella about Rico's age) who moved here with his wife (a nurse) just to work and hike. He said he was disappointed about the mild winter FSJ had last year because it was the first winter they had spent in Canada and they were looking forward to the experience of a truely northern winter! Now that is the spirit I say. They are here on a temp visa to just explore. And in FSJ? Weid. He said they actually got the wrong memo that the mountains end before you get close to FSJ. None the less, they are loving it here, all the way from Australia.
Today I met a ol guy (like 70)who just had his first days off in 5 years! What the...I asked if he was bull--- me but he didn't seem like the funniest person alive. He said he may as well work since he is single. May as well I guess. He also said I must be "doing well" with the ratio of guys to girls up here. I guess.
Penny owns the sports card shop. Penny looks just like johnny cash. Sweet lady. Weird shop. I had no idea sports cards are still profittable. Maybe it was the case of pipes in the left corner.
The one good thing about these guys who work 20 hrs a day year round, they are more than willing to help out the little ol girl with the pony tail! This one guy literally got out the grinder, cut out the wall for me, had the old meter cleaned off, set up a ladder for me, yadayadayada. Oh and changed 2 light bulbs for me in order to get my job done. This was the one who referred to me as the little girl with the pony tail. Another called me a strong ranch girl. Pardon? Better than a "strapping young man" like that crazy from the Meno old folks home in Abby.
The lady's in the dental office were "delighted' that there was a girl here to change the meter. It must have been the carhart overalls that I rock everyday. The crazy thing is this is actually normal to see around town. I have seen a few other girls in the carhart overalls. And no one looks at me funny. I go shopping after work and feel normal to be in Walmart in these overall, dirt on my face and hands that are looking more and more ruffed up.
My latest story is the group of friends I now have at the Steel Toes store. I installed their meter on a sunday morning and Jack (the owner) was more than willing to help out the new girl in town. He gave me some money knee pads and said i had to have them. He told me to come and pay him back whenever I got the chance. He went on to give me the heads up about the drugs in town (specifically date rape) and said if I had trouble with anyone, let him know. He has lived here all his life, raised his kids here and worked up here. His store is like Mark's work warehouse. Full of carhart and plaid and the vital necessities to survive up here. I stopped in there the other morning. There were people in there just havin a cup of coffee staring their day out. It reminds me of Cheers, only with no beer and there is Jack, not Sam. His son is my age and pretty much runs the store. He gave me the low down on other job opportunites up here and what not. Also, about the local basketball leagues, activities ect. Super nice guy, chatty chatty, (not single in case that came into your mind)and more than willing to give details and local sectrets away.
Bottom line is that I suppose I'm gettin settled in here. It will never be home but it's do-able on this temporary basis. So far so good.
Sunday I went for a drive. I drove done the road off to Cecil lake and walked the river. There aren't too many mountains here and so I found a valley. Lots of valleys here. It was so sunny (after the snow) with a crispy breeze. It was beautiful. The fall leaves are out. I'm happy to be experience why fall is the best time to be up here. I should have had a horse that day. Or a 4-wheel thing. I'd rather have a horse though. I could have walked that river all day. I checked this look out point just south of town where you can see for miles over the Peace river. I'm going to love my sundays.
Who knows what the next twist will hold!
I have been told to visit Tumbler Ridge by the Australian guy. Maybe this Sunday.
Love you all!
Chief
PS It is so good to hear from friends down south! Olivia is starting to ride the rocking horse I got her for Christmas! Cass and Joel just sold their old place and bought a new place in Sardis! Jamie has a boyfriend in San Diego. Kalisha is living with JR on hastings street and working at Joey's Tomatoes dowwwwwwn town! Tanya is off to Switerland soon for a quick trip to see Justin..yaaa! Thompson is getting closer to running the New York Marathon. Wish i could be there for that. Estee starter her last semester ever at UCFV. Erin lee oficially has cuboards in her and Ryan's new house. Clav has his first game as head coach for CBC coming up! Wauthy is back in town after months in Europe...welcome back! Connie is going back to school for ECE and enroute to bring much joy into children's lives around the world. And Jenelle holdin out at UCFV like a trooper. Shiloh just bought a new car in Japan! Ange just got a teaching job at MEI! All so exciting!
posted by Lauren | 12:52 PM
2 Comments:
You are such a great story teller! I love hearing about the whos who of FSJ! Thanks for keeping us posted! I love it.
Hi sweetie! Coach & I are so jealous as we always wanted to live up North. I have had many dear freinds live in FSJ and all flat out loved it!! One still is bitter that her husband was transferred to Prince George. All still live 'up North' some where and you couldn't pay them to move back to the Fraser Valley. Glad to hear you are doing well. Love & hugs...Vickie
PS do you watch the new TV series 'MEn on Trees'?
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