In like a Lion

Well, officially it's not March, but close enough to say March is coming in like a lion, in Wisconsin at least.

We had 6 inches of snow last night, followed by rain at 4 am.  Not too much rain, mind you, just enough to coat the plowed roads and parking lots with a nice layer of ice, then from 6 am on, more snow.  I think today may be just a wee bit treturous.

Schools are closed.  I'm not!  I actually should have a pretty busy day.

In like a lion, out like a lamb, that's how it's supposed to be.

Bonus Day

Hey, tomorrow is bonus day.  How do you plan on enjoying it?  I will be working.  I'm thinking Leap Day should be a bonus day off for everyone.  Wouldn't that be great.  Kind of like thanksgiving, or so it should be.

How do we misplace 6 hours a year?  So after 4 years, we add a day to our calendar.  How skewed would our calendar be if we never made up those days.  Would we eventually have summer in the winter?  Christmas when it's 80 degrees out.  We would basically switch seasons with Australia.  That wouldn't be so bad in my opinion.  Christmas in shorts.  It's not as though Christmas is white anymore, anyways.

Next stop....home

Well, l just found out where my next deal will be.  I will actually be inside in the Toronto office.  I guess my work partner changed her mind about working "inside" since the deal will be close to home this time and the fiance won't miss her and she can be home at nights.

Just another reason why l will be happy when l only have to count on  myself...in 33 days!!!!!  Yeah!!!  I guess l have officially started my count down since l have converted the time into a number of days.

[caption id="attachment_601" align="aligncenter" width="296" caption="Count Down Begins"][/caption]

I'm trying to look at the change in my situation in a positive light.  Because not less then 4 weeks ago this same person said they never wanted to go on the road again and would l be okay if she just worked inside.  I'm really getting the feeling that she only thinks of herself and only does what suits her.

So, back to the positive spin, that means l will have a weekend at home when l am not doing my ' visiting rounds', laundry, all the things that need my attention because l have been gone for 10 days.  A weekend puttering around with the van then?  Could be.  Just depends on the weather.  I can work with 45 - 50 degrees and sun.  I won't kid you and say no matter what l will be in there cleaning and such if the snow is flying and it's bitter cold. Ain't going to happen. So l will be tapping the 'good weather' dance the next couple of days/weeks.

Wow, 33 days.  It's coming full steam ahead.  And not a moment too soon.

Leaping Ahead

Even though February this year has an extra day in it, February is almost over.  And to me that means spring is just around the corner.  Yippee!!!

Of course l cheat a little bit, when l look at the weather forecast, l jump to the 10 day outlook, and March is there now, and milder temperature.

Only 5 weeks left until a new chapter for me.  Maybe when l get to spend the weekend at home the weather will be mild enough that l can get my hands on some van renovations.  That would be good.  When l was home last weekend, l went through some of my closet, bagging up unused clothes for the Salvation Army.  I still have a bunch of T-Shirts to go through and a seemingly large amount of socks and under-ware.  Living out of a suitcase for 10 days at a time really lets you see how much excess you have.  Crazy Stuff!!!!

Seeing all that stuff helps put a major damper on shopping and spending money also.  Not that l am much of a shopper anyways but sometimes when you see sales advertised, ya think, well maybe there will be something l can't resist at such a good price.  It is such a good price if it's not needed though?  That is the question.

I can understand why people shop incessantly, it can be tempting, and this is coming from me, me whose skin crawls when l get too close to a mall.

A cure to the "shopping therapy" is the "bag it up for Salvation Army" and picture all those dollar bills going out of your life for stuff you really didn't need.  Cures it fast.

Amish in Wisconsin

 

[caption id="attachment_594" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Amish horse and buggy"][/caption]

 

I am in Marsfield, Wisconsin for 11 days.  Not much to do in the area, it's cold here, not much snow and it's a small town in the middle of the state.

The other day when l was travelling from Marshfield to Colby for an appointment, as l was at a stop sign a horse and enclosed buggy went by me.  At first l was surprised, and then l thought, "how cool it that!".

When l got home l looked up the Amish lifestyle on the Internet where l learned that they use horse and buggy for travel,  they don't use electricity, they don't heat their homes  or cook with gas, if they have a phone, it's not in their house, and usually shared by a few families and located between farms, and they still use animal power to farm their fields.

Today l saw another go by when l was on the way to the store to grab some food for dinner.  This buggy wasn't enclosed, the family inside looked cold.  They had a blanket covering their legs but the upper half of their body was protected from the frigid weather by their coats.

It made me think, they don't have to worry about rising gas prices.   l wonder if l could get a couple of horses to pull my van.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why l'm proud to be Canadian

I came across this video today, take a look.

http://www.nbc.com/2010-winter-olympics/videos/

 

 

Hanging at the Airport

One thing with this job, is l spend a lot of time in Airports or up in the air.  Right now l am hanging out in Lincoln, Nebraska's airport.  Not a lot to do here, but at least there is free Wi-Fi.  All airports should get on board with that, sadly they are not.

It was a beautiful sunny day here today.  My jacket was off, but sweater on.  Lincoln is a big, small town.  They love their football.  Not a lot to do here, and l am looking forward to heading home.

I'm heading off to Wisconsin on Monday.  I've been there before, but not the same town.  It's a small town too.  Marshfield has 17,000 people.  I think l will be catching up on some Netflix in the evenings.  lol

 

Vegas in April

I just booked a plane ticket to Vegas for beginning of April.

I'm not actually going to Vegas though, okay yes l am, it's just not my final destination.  Confused yet?

I will be heading to Desert Palm, California for 5 days, it's  cheaper to fly to Vegas, rent the car there, and an added bonus of driving through the desert in the spring time.  I'm hoping to see the desert bloom.

When l fly in l will stay two nights in Vegas, then move on.  I've been to Vegas a few times, and not really excited about being there, hotels are cheap though.  Maybe l will go and drive to Red Rock Canyon, l have been there before, but not in the spring time.

That plane ride might be the last one for a long time for me.  I will be moving into my van when l return home to Toronto.  Pretty exciting stuff for me.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate with my plans, 50 and 60's would be acceptable.  I don't think l can expect more then that in April in Toronto.

Who's watching?

So, l have to admit, it's been a bit hard coming up with topics worthy to write about on this blog.  I am travelling, just not in an adventure kind of way.  And unless the area l go to is "touristy", there isn't much to do, which doesn't leave me much to "chat" about.

I also have another concern, is if you know my name and do a web search for me, this blog comes up.  Which is a good thing, l can have old friends find out about this blog, get new readers etc...  and l can also have my employers find out about it.  Which isn't so good.  There are things that l just can't write about right now, but l will later.  I don't mean to sound so secretive, l'm just protecting my employment position.

I don't think they have looked online.  I haven't had anyone at work comment about this blog, and l haven't mentioned to anyone there that l write a blog.  I just don't know.

So l am still here, and l am still alive, just not much to comment on.

Well, there is one thing......has anyone else noticed the increased male traffic near the card isle in the Walmarts, Targets...etc?  These guys look almost scared that if they don't pick out the right card for their Valentine they will be thrown in the dog house.  Maybe they will.

My opinion is, l don't want someone to buy me a gift because "society" says today is the day, but because they are inspired to do it.  That and 35 cents will get ya, well, nothing!

 

Excitement

[caption id="attachment_577" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Fire trucks in the night"][/caption]

Nothing too crazy exciting, but in the big small town of Lincoln, Nebraska...this rates pretty high up there, at least for my time in Lincoln, so far.

I was laying in bed in the hotel, trying to fall asleep, which usually isn't hard, tonight it is a bit of a challenge since l had a wee nap at 6pm.  Not on purpose, mind you, it just sort of happened when l was laying on my bed after work watching some news.

Well l guess the news l missed while dosing, l get to witness first hand now.

I could hear fire trucks in the distance, getting closer.  Imagine my surprise when they pulled into the hotel parking lot, lights flashing, sirens going.  Of course, instinct was to give a test sniff of the air to see if l smelt any smoke.  Negative.  No smoke. No immediate danger for me.

A couple doors down from me,  yes, l did peek through the peep hole.   I guess someone wasn't feeling well and had front desk call 911.  They came in, strapped her up on the stretcher and rolled her out.  She was conscious, no blood, all very tame.  I hope she's okay, there wasn't anyone really attending to her as she rolled by, maybe just heading for some tests.

 

 

Truckin' along

I know you are as disappointed as l am....nothing much going on here in Nebraska.

I got the snow, l got the cold moist wind that eats through to your bones, l got work. Baa Hum Bug!!!

I have heard  from friends that spring is coming to parts of the west and to parts of the east.  I'm stuck in the middle! :-(  At least l know that spring will come, no matter where l am, eventually.  I know, winter hasn't been that bad this year, and l appreciate that, but l am still not a fan of the Ol' Man.  I'm counting down the days l can follow the weather.

 

 

Damn

When l left my house today it was with regret.  Only because it is absolutely stunningly beautiful outside and it would be a great day to get down and dirty cleaning out the van and organizing it.

Every other day that l have been home, and it hasn't been many it was cold or rainy or cold and rainy.  Not a day to tackle outdoor activities.  Today would have been perfect.  I've got 4 projects or 8 weeks left then l can concentrate on it. :-)  Patience.  Not one of my virtues.

Busy Weekend

I had a busy weekend.  I guess l need to go back to work to catch up on sleep!   Not that l sleep at work, that would be dangerous since l drive from appointment to appointment.  It just means l can go to bed at 8pm if l need to catch up on sleep.  Not that l will, but just the thought of it is comforting.

My weekend on home turf was great.  I caught up with a lot of friends, visited my Grandpa who is looking a lot better and starting to get out of the hospital bed, which is good news.

I'm flying to Lincoln, Nebraska this afternoon.  That means l am heading from no snow to a foot of snow.  Yeah!  (not) I just have to think in my mind that spring is coming, spring is coming, to help me get through trudging through the snow.  Silly me, l was hoping or Capri's and sandals on this trip.

Luck and Work

I have been busting my tail the last 10 days here in Kamloops, BC.  The project l am working on was a bit hard.  I'm commission sales and the first 3 days, l sold nothing!!!!  It's nice to see that perseverance and the right attitude has paid off.  Things all fell into place the last couple of days.  I have one day left, and l might be able to add to the pot a bit before l fly out Thursday night.

I've beaten the sales of the team that was here before me, and that's always a good feeling.  Yes, l am a bit competitive.  Not a 'rub it in your face' but more of a 'hey, l did alright'.

Last night l got an email from my travel agent that l was going to be going to Johnson, Tennessee, and what flights did l want.  I made my choice, things were going along swimmingly.

Then today l got a text from my inside co-worker that l wasn't going to Johnson, the project wasn't ready yet, and that l was going to be going to Lincoln, Nebraska.  You may think, wow, big deal.  Nothing exciting about either one of those choices.

With Johnson, TN, l was thinking of calling up a friend in Virginia, and meeting up for the weekend for lunch or dinner (yes, it's a bit of a drive, but not nearly as far as Toronto to Virginia).  That would have been a nice thing to see her.  Its been a while.  I'm glad l never sent the e-mail last night suggesting it to her, thereby avoiding having to cancel on her.

Now with my project changing to Lincoln, NB, l am within driving distance to get some training in with a new job prospect on the weekend that l am in Nebraska.  The great thing about  that is, l get to save about $1000 out of my own pocket for airfair and what not.  And work an extra two weeks at my current job.  How cool is that!!!!

Gotta Love Thrift Shops

Thrift shops are the bomb when it comes to buying paperback books.  Where else can you get good entertainment for hours for only a buck?

Of course a library is much cheaper, but considering l do finish my books when l'm on the road, the last thing l want to do it lug a library book around.  Thrift shops are the next best thing.  If l forget the book somewhere (in my hotel after check out, or on the plane) it's no major loss.

The only other place for cheap read is Chapters/Barnes & Noble or any of those chains that have those super comfortable chairs that you can sit in and read for an hour or two.  I just did that on Sunday.  A book that l have been meaning to grab, actually grabbed my attention when l popped in to the book store on Sunday.  'Wheat Belly', pretty interesting/compelling stuff.  Once l am in my van travelling with a kitchen and a fridge, l plan on cutting out the wheat in my diet.