THE STAGIAIRE'S ABSENCE

The stagiare was there today. Her reason for not coming in was valid. For not calling in? A lack of experience.

Last Wednesday night her younger, 18 year old sister was crossing the street, 5 minutes away from home, and she was stuck by a hit-and-run driver. The girl is in an induced coma while they repair the broken bones in her arm and legs; she also has head trauma. Of course I understand C.’s feelings; it’s a frightful thing to go through. However, it would take one minute to call and warn us, or leave a message, and I know she had the opportunity to do so during the 4 past days. I’m sure she also thought about it, but, being young, decided that this was serious enough to absolve her of her personal responsibilities. Then again, that is why the students do temp-work before graduation – to learn how it is in the real world. Both the school supervisor and I, each in our own way, explained to her that, yes, it was a terrible thing, and no-one could fault her for not coming to work, but you need to advise your employer. She’s a very quick study; her reaction told me she understands.

It shows the kids are back in school – at least the CJEP (Quebec College) and universities are. Traffic is back to normal, aka super slow. Even leaving a little earlier from the office didn’t help. It was a 2 hour drive home. Accidents and stalls added to the construction…UGH! I have to get used to it all over again. With a good vehicle, and a funky sound system, it isn’t all that bad, until you begin counting how many hours per day you are sitting waiting…inching ahead…waiting…inching ahead…waiting, and today mine added up to 3 ¾ hours. Friday it was a total of 5 hours, the in and out of the city. Let’s see, what else could I be doing during those 5 hours? If you add it on to an 8 hour work day, you are away from house (and the doggies) for 13 hours!!! That’s a trip to Vancouver and back, isn’t it? Obviously it’s time to change the starting and finishing times – like, do your driving when the traffic is lightest. Yes. Working on it.

Because it is so late, I took a very short walk with the doggies. We wandered down to the apple tree, and I picked one to munch on for our return to the house. I like the tart, sweet taste of a Macintosh fresh off the tree. By the end of the month they’ll have ripened perfectly, and I’ll have another excuse to invite the grandchildren over, LOL!

Bud is doing better after his confined rest inside all day, so I’m hoping for a nice, long, uninterrupted sleep tonight. I could use it!

Have a good night y’all, and if you catch sight of a SMILING face in your dreams, it may very well be mine!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.

SHORT & SLEEPY....

I arrived home too late,then was too tired, to watch the season’s first Canadian-Leaf hockey game last night. It had been a long day – I was in the office from 6 AM, and by 21:30, I was practically sleep-walking. I wonder when I’ll learn that I just can’t handle those long hours anymore? Anyway, “vive le net” – because I checked out the write-up on the computer this morning and was happy to learn that the Habs won in overtime. I imagine that my son,Bow, is smiling ear to ear. I wonder if he called his Uncle Bird, who is a big Leaf fan? Each winter they banter back and forth and, with both of them being quick on the tongue, some of their remarks are hilarious!

Even at the late hour, the traffic on the 15 was still heavy last night. The good thing is that it kept me awake – you have to really pay attention. You can be rolling along, jiving to your music, then,bang! Brake lights in front! ARRG! Most of the time I am very patient, but it now seems the drive back and forth to the city is more difficult. It should only take an hour, but more often than not it lasts from 1 ½ to 2 ½ every day.... each way. To avoid it you leave the house before 5:30 AM, and sometimes that isn’t even early enough; the end of evening rush hour is anybody’s guess. It’s never the same time from day to day. Still, not much use beefing about something you can do nothing about, right?

The fires were lit in both the boxstove and the fireplace when I arrived home, so I was able to relax with a glass of wine, the doggies curled up on their over-stuffed cushions at my feet, the only sound the crackling of the wood...and Bud’s snores, LOL. Heinz came upstairs for a few minutes to see if the fires were going okay, then went back down to watch his TV. He’ll be doing his whole course nearby instead of Quebec City as planned, so will be around to help with the wood, the snow, etc.. That’s not a bad thing, especially when you drag your tired butt home and the house is warm already. It was much appreciated.

I’m still in slow mode this morning, and now need to prepare for another jaunt on the highway, so will wish you all a good day. There’s a big, sleepy SMILE going out with those wishes...hope you pass it on!

Luv from the Bush in Quebec.