Saturday, April 21, 2012

Living Lean Part Two...



When we arrived here in rural New Brunswick, settling into our 'forever' home, my feet didn't touch the ground for a year. The beauty outside my window that greets me each morning is never taken for granted. The cultural changes, however, took time to adjust to and I had concerns about small town living. I carry a horrendous experience from my teen years, when my Mom moved me and my two younger sisters to small town PEI. I would leave home at the tender age of 17 and vowed to never live on the East Coast again. Famous last words.




Now, as a (ahem) mature adult, I'm here on the East Coast and it's been OK. One of the hurdles has been finding work but naive me thought "No problem! I have a skilled trade with 20 years experience!" I said I was naive, right? 


I was told one had to have a diploma in order to get a job.... any job. Nonsense! I have a trade. But wait! There are not many printers in the area and the demand for prepress technicians is almost non-existent. Uh oh. Red flag waving. And wait! This is a bilingual province. I'm not bilingual.


I found out I could attend full time school for a year and a half, receiving benefits for the duration. And by gosh, by golly, I got that coveted diploma. With honors, I might add. I had to work during the summer in order to continue with my schooling and was fortunate to work from home for a small print shop in a neighbouring Maritime province. Things were working out for me.


After finishing school I continued working for this sad little company. Trust me on the sad part. Unfortunately, the boss was a head case, highly abusive... name calling, swearing, yelling at me; a head gamer who toyed with my wages and emotions, accusing me of all manner of things that are totally not my character. I would tolerate this nonsense for five years. FIVE. LONG. YEARS! 


Last August, I couldn't do it anymore. I was either going to have a nervous breakdown, a stroke, an aneurysm, a heart attack or a combo of any two or three. I quit. Just like that. It was a desparate decision. I was miserable.


I'm standing at the crossroads and the winds of change are blowing. More like howling. What's not to love about it? Well.....  to be continued

7 comments:

  1. A cliff hanger! And now the wind is really howling at you cuz you have no more trees......poor you.

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  2. Hey that was not sarcastic....that is not my nature. I could have said it sucks.

    Cliff hanger. Are you really going to make me wait?

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  3. Oh now... you already have the inside scoop. I'm just needing to tell so I can possibly gain some insight or perspective. Good therapy!

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  4. Can't wait for the rest of it though with the above comments I can guess at some of it. Writing things out does help.
    Hugs

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  5. Methinks the words "living lean" has more than one meaning! Unlike the others I can wait patiently for the next installment of your unfolding life story...NOT!! I always knew you were a big tease!!
    I found myself very attracted to your front porch...then I realized that's because my PEI front porch is almost identical! You have good taste lol!

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  6. The lean part has nothing to do with my weight. Well, OK.. it does but I'm not lean in that department. LOL!

    I have good taste? No.. YOU have good taste. :oD

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  7. Wondering where all this is leading. Had no idea you went back to school and got a diploma, good for you, that must have been tough to do.

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