Easter Sunday here in the Big Sandy and I had a physio therapy session today.
My post Operative goals for the first 6 weeks were: by the end of week 2 bending to 40 degrees, end of week 4 bending to 60 degrees, and the end of week 6 bending to 90 degrees.
Today was 6 weeks and 2 days post op - I was bending to 110 degrees!!!
Big milestones in my therapy are things like full weight bearing, no crutches, no brace, straight leg lifts, functional quadricep muscles (no driving a vehicle without those!), pedalling on a stationary bike, having a bath, having a shower.... all fairly mundane things but huge steps in my recovery.
I've been full weight bearing for a couple of weeks now; crutch and brace free (using a cane when I am outside my apartment) for 10 days (bath was achieved at 9 days post op and shower was achieved at 5 weeks). ALL big steps to independence and knee health.
I have not been able to activate my quadriceps successfully - until today. (big grin). Today I was able to contract my quads (I still have good, strong muscle contractions) while seated in a chair and with effort straighten my lower leg and raise it to a 45 degree angle! This is huge. I managed to do 10, slow, steady lower leg raises!!!! WOOO HOOO!!!!!
Today was also a big step in the bending department in only 7 days I have gone from 95 degrees (with tension and some discomfort) to 110 degrees (much less tension and decreased discomfort!). This increased Range of Motion (ROM) meant I was able to get full forward rotation on the pedals of the stationary bike (and while pedalling my ROM was closer to 115 degrees). My knee is still tight so no stationary bike at home this week and a retry next week during physio MIGHT mean I am cleared to stationary bike at home 10 - 15 minutes a day. This biking will help restore my poor atrophied quads, lubricate my hip and knee joints, and move that step closer to functional quads (and independence!)
I am super pleased that things are going well.
It is easy to get frustrated and down when something as simple and mundane as getting yourself a cup of coffee ( difficult to carry while on crutches) or rolling over in bed (atrophied quads make this a difficulty) are big challenges. But, remembering that each day is a bit better than the last and, in my case, I have been there / done this only a few months ago when I "kicked butt and didn't take prisoners" on that recovery so, I can do this again (pfft, no biggie).
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Friday, April 3, 2015
My not so adventure filled life
So, it has been awhile since I have been here... basically things have been pretty quiet and therefore not much to write about.
Well, except for the last 6 months...
In October 2014 I had knee surgery to replace a problematic Medial Patella Femoral Ligament (MPFL) on my right leg. Things went pretty smoothly with that process. I opted for a regional / spinal / epidural type anesthetic so I was able to watch the arthroscopy and the rest of the surgery.
The operation involved: harvesting a semitendinous hamstring and inserting the new "ligament" in to the patella with 2 swivel locks and the opposing end in to the femur with a screw - the swivel locks and screw are bio-absorbable and don't show up on X-rays. All in all I was in the operating room for a bit over 90 minutes.
The Hospital was really nice - more akin to a 5 star hotel than a typical hospital. The bathroom had a bath, shower, and all the little travel amenities that you find in a hotel.
I stayed in hospital for 2 nights and was sent home with 3 nights of "significant" pain medication .... there is a great concern where I am that pain medication (Doctor prescribed Morphine while in hospital for example) will cause addiction so, any medication you are sent home with isn't very strong UNLESS several pages of paperwork are completed for a MAXIMUM of 3 days of medication.
The first few days went ok... sleep was a challenge - hip to ankle knee immobilizer and compression stocking 24 / 7.... and then it was time for my first physio appointment. I had a good therapist ( I'd seen her prior to the surgery to try to prevent surgery...) and I mentioned that my knee hurt more than was usual -- but then again, what is usually? I hadn't had this type of surgery before. After a call to the surgeon to clarify my treatment regimen and a brief discussion about my pain it was decided that is pain did not get better to see the surgeon that evening.... the pain did not get better.
In the evening I saw the surgeon and it was discovered that I had developed Synovitis - NOT FUN AT ALL!!! - an inflammation of the synovial sacs in my knee. Treatment? Well, first it had to be determined if it was 1) due to infection or 2) irritation from all that had been happening to my knee lately. This determination is made by drawing out some of the fluid and testing it..... USING A REALLY BIG NEEDLE.
My synovia was so inflammed that the needle touching it drove me mad with pain... screaming, crying, almost hitting, finger crushing MAD with pain.... Then some blessed LIDOCAINE was injected along with some steroids, an X-ray taken and blood tests. After 2 and a half hours I was on my way home... my leg in a temporary cast (hip to ankle) to prevent ANY movement of the knee in the hope that things would settle down, a prescription for antibiotics, and bed rest for a week.... Thankfully all the tests showed no infection and after a week I was back in the immobilizer and allowed to move about once again. All in I spent 6 weeks at home recuperating before I was ready/cleared to return to work.
The next weeks, after the synovitis bed rest week, went by smoothly with gains in Range of Motion (ROM) and muscle recovery. By 4 months I was walking assistance free (no crutches, canes, or immobilizer) and hitting 6 month milestones! YAY!!!!!! I was doing well.
I went in on the evening of Tuesday February 17th 2015 to start the next phase of my recuperation - Hyalgan injections in to my knee to help rehydrate the cartilage. This injection was done using the same size - REALLY BIG - needle but it didn't hurt in the least. :-)
The Doctor told me I was a star patient - my hard work and dedication helping me make such a good comeback. :-) :-)
Wednesday February 18th I went to my scheduled physio session and the Therapist told me much the same as the doctor had the evening before... my hard work and dedication were helping me come back and I was amazing. :-)
I was pleased on all fronts - my medical team was happy, my leg muscles were almost back to what they had been before the surgery, I was back to regular exercising (while being cautious of my knee)... things were looking GREAT!
Then while doing squats in that physio session there was a UNBELIEVABLY loud crack and it felt like one of those REALLY BIG NEEDLES was injecting liquid fire in to my knee. NOT a pleasant experience.
My surgeon was not at the clinic so I was seen by another surgeon (in-between his scheduled patients) and nearly 4 hours later I was sent home -- MY AMAZING therapist drove me home AFTER I had more lidocaine and steroids injected in to my knee, followed by the application of a hip to ankle, and instructions to see my surgeon as a walk in the next evening. On the way home I realized that my house keys were locked in my vehicle at the clinic... I called the one person who had a spare and they graciously drove across the city in the middle of the night (in their PJs) to let me in to my apartment.
I managed some sleep that evening.. then a day at work. Well, I was physically present at work and doing my best but my keys were in my vehicle at the clinic and I was limited as all my materials were locked in my office.
Another friend went to the clinic with me on the evening of Thursday February 19th and did some shopping while I saw the surgeon.
The surgeons (my regular surgeon and the one I had seen the evening before as an emergency) thought I had soft tissue damage - ligament or tendon... The Ultrasound showed nothing unusual.... now, the decision was to send me for X-rays... my surgeon had revised his thought of a ligament tear to a QUADRICEPS TENDON rupture and the surgeon from the evening before thought it was a PATELLAR TENDON rupture....
When the X-rays came back they showed my patella sitting right where it should be in the joint - ruling out either of the tendon ruptures - but, showing a displaced fracture of the superior pole ( top portion) of the patella. This would require surgery.
I was sent directly to the hospital - my shopping friend was going to have to drive me to the hospital in my vehicle and then drive my vehicle to my place... in conjunction with collecting things from the apartment for my stay in hospital.
I checked in to the hospital through the Emergency Department (A&E) and eventually got to a room around midnight. The surgery was scheduled for 8AM Friday February 20th 2015 (the next morning).
I was put in a semi-isolated room as I had been hospitalized in the last 6 months and there was a concern that I MIGHT have a Methicillin-resitant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Precautions were taken, tests run, and all my meals were brought on disposable dishes with plastic cutlery...
The operation went as scheduled Friday morning. Again I opted for a regional anesthetic and was able to have up to date information as the surgery went on.
The surgeon had to install a figure 8 tension wire and 4 K-Wires to support the fracture once the pieces were realigned. This operation took almost as long as the MPFL surgery because the normal procedure for K-wires wasn't working and extra K-wires had to be used.
2 more nights in hospital and then home for 2 weeks of limited weight bearing recovery.
After 2 weeks at home I was back to work with 2 crutches and the hip to ankle immobilizer.
Today, April 3 2015 (Good Friday), I am at 6 weeks post op for the patella fracture and recovery is going well. A week and a half ago I had X-rays which show all the wires in the correct locations and the 2 parts of the patella where the surgeon had left them . I am able to weight bear in my apartment without mobility aids (no crutches or cane) and no longer require the immobilizer. BUT, I still get to wear the compression stocking (in +30C temperatures and rising it is even less enjoyable than it was before). Outside the apartment I still use a cane - in part to let people know to give me a bit more consideration and room and in part to help my leg muscles and balance.
I still have a long way to go with recovery from quadriceps atrophy - I lost every thing I had gained back after the first op and I still can not do a straight leg raise (SLR). Quad contractions are strong so it will just take more dedication and hard work.
I know that I will need another op on the right knee - probably in August - to remove the K-wires and tension band (Look at your knee. There isn't much flesh or padding there so you feel the wires all the time - can't 'see' my wires yet, but that will happen). I've done my research and know that this next op should be fairly simple and straight forward and be a lot easier to come back from.
Well, except for the last 6 months...
In October 2014 I had knee surgery to replace a problematic Medial Patella Femoral Ligament (MPFL) on my right leg. Things went pretty smoothly with that process. I opted for a regional / spinal / epidural type anesthetic so I was able to watch the arthroscopy and the rest of the surgery.
The operation involved: harvesting a semitendinous hamstring and inserting the new "ligament" in to the patella with 2 swivel locks and the opposing end in to the femur with a screw - the swivel locks and screw are bio-absorbable and don't show up on X-rays. All in all I was in the operating room for a bit over 90 minutes.
The Hospital was really nice - more akin to a 5 star hotel than a typical hospital. The bathroom had a bath, shower, and all the little travel amenities that you find in a hotel.
I stayed in hospital for 2 nights and was sent home with 3 nights of "significant" pain medication .... there is a great concern where I am that pain medication (Doctor prescribed Morphine while in hospital for example) will cause addiction so, any medication you are sent home with isn't very strong UNLESS several pages of paperwork are completed for a MAXIMUM of 3 days of medication.
The first few days went ok... sleep was a challenge - hip to ankle knee immobilizer and compression stocking 24 / 7.... and then it was time for my first physio appointment. I had a good therapist ( I'd seen her prior to the surgery to try to prevent surgery...) and I mentioned that my knee hurt more than was usual -- but then again, what is usually? I hadn't had this type of surgery before. After a call to the surgeon to clarify my treatment regimen and a brief discussion about my pain it was decided that is pain did not get better to see the surgeon that evening.... the pain did not get better.
In the evening I saw the surgeon and it was discovered that I had developed Synovitis - NOT FUN AT ALL!!! - an inflammation of the synovial sacs in my knee. Treatment? Well, first it had to be determined if it was 1) due to infection or 2) irritation from all that had been happening to my knee lately. This determination is made by drawing out some of the fluid and testing it..... USING A REALLY BIG NEEDLE.
My synovia was so inflammed that the needle touching it drove me mad with pain... screaming, crying, almost hitting, finger crushing MAD with pain.... Then some blessed LIDOCAINE was injected along with some steroids, an X-ray taken and blood tests. After 2 and a half hours I was on my way home... my leg in a temporary cast (hip to ankle) to prevent ANY movement of the knee in the hope that things would settle down, a prescription for antibiotics, and bed rest for a week.... Thankfully all the tests showed no infection and after a week I was back in the immobilizer and allowed to move about once again. All in I spent 6 weeks at home recuperating before I was ready/cleared to return to work.
The next weeks, after the synovitis bed rest week, went by smoothly with gains in Range of Motion (ROM) and muscle recovery. By 4 months I was walking assistance free (no crutches, canes, or immobilizer) and hitting 6 month milestones! YAY!!!!!! I was doing well.
I went in on the evening of Tuesday February 17th 2015 to start the next phase of my recuperation - Hyalgan injections in to my knee to help rehydrate the cartilage. This injection was done using the same size - REALLY BIG - needle but it didn't hurt in the least. :-)
The Doctor told me I was a star patient - my hard work and dedication helping me make such a good comeback. :-) :-)
Wednesday February 18th I went to my scheduled physio session and the Therapist told me much the same as the doctor had the evening before... my hard work and dedication were helping me come back and I was amazing. :-)
I was pleased on all fronts - my medical team was happy, my leg muscles were almost back to what they had been before the surgery, I was back to regular exercising (while being cautious of my knee)... things were looking GREAT!
Then while doing squats in that physio session there was a UNBELIEVABLY loud crack and it felt like one of those REALLY BIG NEEDLES was injecting liquid fire in to my knee. NOT a pleasant experience.
My surgeon was not at the clinic so I was seen by another surgeon (in-between his scheduled patients) and nearly 4 hours later I was sent home -- MY AMAZING therapist drove me home AFTER I had more lidocaine and steroids injected in to my knee, followed by the application of a hip to ankle, and instructions to see my surgeon as a walk in the next evening. On the way home I realized that my house keys were locked in my vehicle at the clinic... I called the one person who had a spare and they graciously drove across the city in the middle of the night (in their PJs) to let me in to my apartment.
I managed some sleep that evening.. then a day at work. Well, I was physically present at work and doing my best but my keys were in my vehicle at the clinic and I was limited as all my materials were locked in my office.
Another friend went to the clinic with me on the evening of Thursday February 19th and did some shopping while I saw the surgeon.
The surgeons (my regular surgeon and the one I had seen the evening before as an emergency) thought I had soft tissue damage - ligament or tendon... The Ultrasound showed nothing unusual.... now, the decision was to send me for X-rays... my surgeon had revised his thought of a ligament tear to a QUADRICEPS TENDON rupture and the surgeon from the evening before thought it was a PATELLAR TENDON rupture....
When the X-rays came back they showed my patella sitting right where it should be in the joint - ruling out either of the tendon ruptures - but, showing a displaced fracture of the superior pole ( top portion) of the patella. This would require surgery.
I was sent directly to the hospital - my shopping friend was going to have to drive me to the hospital in my vehicle and then drive my vehicle to my place... in conjunction with collecting things from the apartment for my stay in hospital.
I checked in to the hospital through the Emergency Department (A&E) and eventually got to a room around midnight. The surgery was scheduled for 8AM Friday February 20th 2015 (the next morning).
I was put in a semi-isolated room as I had been hospitalized in the last 6 months and there was a concern that I MIGHT have a Methicillin-resitant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Precautions were taken, tests run, and all my meals were brought on disposable dishes with plastic cutlery...
The operation went as scheduled Friday morning. Again I opted for a regional anesthetic and was able to have up to date information as the surgery went on.
The surgeon had to install a figure 8 tension wire and 4 K-Wires to support the fracture once the pieces were realigned. This operation took almost as long as the MPFL surgery because the normal procedure for K-wires wasn't working and extra K-wires had to be used.
2 more nights in hospital and then home for 2 weeks of limited weight bearing recovery.
After 2 weeks at home I was back to work with 2 crutches and the hip to ankle immobilizer.
Today, April 3 2015 (Good Friday), I am at 6 weeks post op for the patella fracture and recovery is going well. A week and a half ago I had X-rays which show all the wires in the correct locations and the 2 parts of the patella where the surgeon had left them . I am able to weight bear in my apartment without mobility aids (no crutches or cane) and no longer require the immobilizer. BUT, I still get to wear the compression stocking (in +30C temperatures and rising it is even less enjoyable than it was before). Outside the apartment I still use a cane - in part to let people know to give me a bit more consideration and room and in part to help my leg muscles and balance.
I still have a long way to go with recovery from quadriceps atrophy - I lost every thing I had gained back after the first op and I still can not do a straight leg raise (SLR). Quad contractions are strong so it will just take more dedication and hard work.
I know that I will need another op on the right knee - probably in August - to remove the K-wires and tension band (Look at your knee. There isn't much flesh or padding there so you feel the wires all the time - can't 'see' my wires yet, but that will happen). I've done my research and know that this next op should be fairly simple and straight forward and be a lot easier to come back from.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Road Trip to Fort Hatta, UAE
Well, it has been a while since I posted (I never was very good at keeping a diary or a journal).
I spent the summer in the UAE: a couple of road trips, a few Iftar dinners (breaking the Ramadan Fast), lots of reading, and the all important re-energizing after a hectic end to the last school year (3 weeks of library inventory (1st proper inventory since the school opened) using 350 person hours - 180 of which were mine!).
The start of this school year has been HECTIC! There are many new systems being implemented and it seems that each week there is something "NEW" to do - I am glad I am not a classroom teacher as they seem to be getting hard with all the new systems.
After 6 long weeks we have a week break for Eid al Adha (this Eid is connected with the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son). To rejuvenate I spent the first 2 days with a fever and major flu like symptoms. :-(
Once I recovered sufficiently, I went on a 'Corleen style road trip'. This type of road trip involves either a) no clue where one is going, or b) a vague idea of a general destination but no real clue about what to do once one arrives. This type of trip is about the journey, discovery, and adventure.
I convinced my friend CZ to accompany me - adventure is always more fun when there is someone to share the silliness, expectation, and unknown with.
Our location was Fort Hatta UAE - approximately 1 hour from Dubai (The UAE isn't overly large so nothing is really that far away). The standard route take you through OMAN (Oman sticks up in to the UAE for a few 10s of kilometres). I wasn't sure about the technicalities (visas to transit back in to the UAE, costs, if my vehicle insurance covered a short trip in to OMAN, etc) so I had opted not to take that route. The alternate route would take us through more of the HAJAR MOUNTAINS and would probably only be approximately 30 minutes longer - the best laid plans....
WELL, there was some strangeness on the main 12 lane divided highway we needed to take to get to the turn off. There was a SEVERAL KILOMETRE tailback of transport trucks in the centre lane of my side of the divided highway (yes, the centre land - very strange); we exited the main road a bit earlier than planned and broke out the GPS to help guide us to the desired road. The GPS guided us to the standard route - which we still did not want to take so we added a few more kilometres, some new unexplored territory and another hour to our arrival journey.
When we arrived at Fort Hatta it had started to RAIN - YES RAIN in the UAE. The sky was gun metal grey and there was rumblings of thunder. We made it in to the hotel for lunch before the deluge and were lucky enough that the rain stopped as we finished lunch.
After lunch we walked around the Hatta Heritage Village - a restoration of some 16th century dwellings (not that spectacular - the write up made it sound fabulous), Hatta Hill Park (a lovely friendly stray cat walked with us most of the way to the top), and then we drove back through the mountains to go back to Dubai.
We did stop in the mountains for a short while to photograph some wandering goats - one in particular was quite curious and dog like. this goat even put both it's front feet up on my torso and was trying to get a better look at the camera....
All in all it was a fun, (micro)adventure filled day!
I spent the summer in the UAE: a couple of road trips, a few Iftar dinners (breaking the Ramadan Fast), lots of reading, and the all important re-energizing after a hectic end to the last school year (3 weeks of library inventory (1st proper inventory since the school opened) using 350 person hours - 180 of which were mine!).
The start of this school year has been HECTIC! There are many new systems being implemented and it seems that each week there is something "NEW" to do - I am glad I am not a classroom teacher as they seem to be getting hard with all the new systems.
After 6 long weeks we have a week break for Eid al Adha (this Eid is connected with the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son). To rejuvenate I spent the first 2 days with a fever and major flu like symptoms. :-(
Once I recovered sufficiently, I went on a 'Corleen style road trip'. This type of road trip involves either a) no clue where one is going, or b) a vague idea of a general destination but no real clue about what to do once one arrives. This type of trip is about the journey, discovery, and adventure.
I convinced my friend CZ to accompany me - adventure is always more fun when there is someone to share the silliness, expectation, and unknown with.
Our location was Fort Hatta UAE - approximately 1 hour from Dubai (The UAE isn't overly large so nothing is really that far away). The standard route take you through OMAN (Oman sticks up in to the UAE for a few 10s of kilometres). I wasn't sure about the technicalities (visas to transit back in to the UAE, costs, if my vehicle insurance covered a short trip in to OMAN, etc) so I had opted not to take that route. The alternate route would take us through more of the HAJAR MOUNTAINS and would probably only be approximately 30 minutes longer - the best laid plans....
WELL, there was some strangeness on the main 12 lane divided highway we needed to take to get to the turn off. There was a SEVERAL KILOMETRE tailback of transport trucks in the centre lane of my side of the divided highway (yes, the centre land - very strange); we exited the main road a bit earlier than planned and broke out the GPS to help guide us to the desired road. The GPS guided us to the standard route - which we still did not want to take so we added a few more kilometres, some new unexplored territory and another hour to our arrival journey.
When we arrived at Fort Hatta it had started to RAIN - YES RAIN in the UAE. The sky was gun metal grey and there was rumblings of thunder. We made it in to the hotel for lunch before the deluge and were lucky enough that the rain stopped as we finished lunch.
After lunch we walked around the Hatta Heritage Village - a restoration of some 16th century dwellings (not that spectacular - the write up made it sound fabulous), Hatta Hill Park (a lovely friendly stray cat walked with us most of the way to the top), and then we drove back through the mountains to go back to Dubai.
We did stop in the mountains for a short while to photograph some wandering goats - one in particular was quite curious and dog like. this goat even put both it's front feet up on my torso and was trying to get a better look at the camera....
All in all it was a fun, (micro)adventure filled day!
Some of the scenery along the drive
Courtyard of one of the houses in the heritage village (with watch tower in the background)
The friendly 'puppy-goat'.
Friday, May 17, 2013
New furry family member
Where to start....
Last summer Hooligan and I dealt with the passing of Koshka and then moved to Dubai - to say it was a bit of a stressful summer would be a bit of an understatement; there were a lot of roller coaster emotions.
Moving to Dubai seemed to be tough on Hooligan - I work long hours (new job, 25 minute drive from home), the many of children in the building are rambunctious and play in the corridors unsupervised, and there were a myriad of other 'adjustments' poor Hooligan had to make.
Hooligan had a few health issues related to the stress he was experiencing - easily treated but not fun. The latest issue was a bladder infection with no apparent cause (seems cats can get bladder infections because of stress!). When I had Hooligan in to the vet last Saturday (May 10 2013) I started to discuss with the vet the possibility of getting a "special needs" cat from one of the rescue societies as a companion for Hooligan (many of the special needs cats are difficult to re home - blind, deaf, amputee...). The Vet brought me into the surgical recovery room and in one of the cages was Boris, a kitty looking for a home.
Boris had been living in the recovery cage for 2 months, he is only about 9 months old! He was either a stray or someone wasn't prepared for kittenish "Joie de Vie" and Boris ended up at the vet's.
Hooligan and Boris were introduced in the examination room; Hooligan hissed, Boris rolled over. Hooligan hissed some more, Boris barked (ok, not quite a bark but much closer to a bark than a meow...)... I left the vet's with both cats.
It has been a week now, Things have gone remarkably smooth. There is still some hissing, and annoyed room leaving / getting off of the furniture but, no fighting.
SO, because I will be home today working on a bunch of computer files, which means I can supervise, I refreshed the catnip spray in the 'crazy pants' cat toy and the kitty condo. it has been an interesting morning. :-)
Last summer Hooligan and I dealt with the passing of Koshka and then moved to Dubai - to say it was a bit of a stressful summer would be a bit of an understatement; there were a lot of roller coaster emotions.
Moving to Dubai seemed to be tough on Hooligan - I work long hours (new job, 25 minute drive from home), the many of children in the building are rambunctious and play in the corridors unsupervised, and there were a myriad of other 'adjustments' poor Hooligan had to make.
Hooligan had a few health issues related to the stress he was experiencing - easily treated but not fun. The latest issue was a bladder infection with no apparent cause (seems cats can get bladder infections because of stress!). When I had Hooligan in to the vet last Saturday (May 10 2013) I started to discuss with the vet the possibility of getting a "special needs" cat from one of the rescue societies as a companion for Hooligan (many of the special needs cats are difficult to re home - blind, deaf, amputee...). The Vet brought me into the surgical recovery room and in one of the cages was Boris, a kitty looking for a home.
Boris had been living in the recovery cage for 2 months, he is only about 9 months old! He was either a stray or someone wasn't prepared for kittenish "Joie de Vie" and Boris ended up at the vet's.
Hooligan and Boris were introduced in the examination room; Hooligan hissed, Boris rolled over. Hooligan hissed some more, Boris barked (ok, not quite a bark but much closer to a bark than a meow...)... I left the vet's with both cats.
It has been a week now, Things have gone remarkably smooth. There is still some hissing, and annoyed room leaving / getting off of the furniture but, no fighting.
SO, because I will be home today working on a bunch of computer files, which means I can supervise, I refreshed the catnip spray in the 'crazy pants' cat toy and the kitty condo. it has been an interesting morning. :-)
Monday, December 31, 2012
December 31 2012
Well, this year is coming to a close. Boy, has it been an eventful year.
January
May
January
- I travelled to Canada to attend TORF and surprise my nieces - the first time I was actually with my oldest niece on her birthday AND it was the first double digit birthday!
- Signed a letter of intent to take a position in Dubai
February
- Returned to Korea from Canada and Koshka (aka girl cat) was ill; vet diagnosed her with end stage renal failure. This signalled weekly trips to the vet, multiple blood tests, and daily medications for Koshka
March
- Started part 1 of a 3 part specialist qualification in Teacher Librarianship through Queen's / Ontario College of Teachers - in conjunction with finishing up the remaining classes for my Master of Education Degree through Deakin University in Australia
April
- Started the paperwork process for my UAE visa. NOT fun or inexpensive. Hired a lawyer in Australia to take care of all my Australian paperwork and a firm in Canada to take care of all the Canadian paperwork while I was living in Korea. (Paperwork for UAE visa must go through several steps in the originating country before it can go to the UAE Embassy in that country, before it can pass through immigration in the UAE...)
- Koshka spends a week in hospital after a 'crash' with her blood work numbers. Sent home with a nasal gastric tube for feeding and hydration - she hates the tube and the tube is removed after 2 consecutive 'good' sets of numbers.
May
- Finishing up last papers for MEd and starting process for cats to leave Korea and enter UAE
- Finished part 1 of Teacher Librarianship specialization
June
- Finished all requirements for MEd degree. Waiting on confirmation of graduation
- Start part 2 of Teacher Librarian specialization
- Koshka has another ' crash', another week in hospital, and finally comes home with another nasal gastric tube which is replaced with an esophageal tube for hydration only - she would eat without the nasal tube.
July
- Waiting on visa confirmation from UAE
- Koshka goes in to have the esophageal tube checked and adjusted - doesn't come out of the anaesthetic. RIP Koshka
August
- Final preparations for moving to Dubai.
- Hooligan departs 6 hours before me for a road journey to Seoul, some time at the exporters facilities, transfer to veterinary quarantine in the afternoon for a midnight departure. Hooligan will arrive in Seoul 4 hours after I do and will go through the importation process with a local importer and be delivered to the Dubai apartment.
- I depart a few after Hooligan for a rail journey to Seoul, have too much baggage and have to pay baggage overages, flight delayed out of Seoul, arrive in transit through China - they don't like the fact that my passport isn't pristine and it takes 'awhile' to clear customs to change planes. Flight out of china delayed due to late arrival of onward aircraft, further delayed by bad weather (yes it was monsoon season and it was a near coastal airport), finally bussed out to plane several hours later to walk through the deluge to the steps of the aircraft to sit on the tarmac for a further 2 hours in the hopes that the weather would clear enough fora take off.
- Arrive in Dubai with all my paperwork to be told by UAE immigration officer I was denied entry - it was sorted when he looked up the correct flight. (he had assumed that because I had a Canadian Passport and a Canadian originating flight had just landed that I was on that flight and of course there was no record of my immigration status connected to that flight).
September
- Started work at the new school - hectic, busy
- Start to furnish my empty apartment
- Finish part 2 of Teacher Librarian specialization
October
- Start part 3 of Teacher Librarian specialization
- rented a car (Nissan Tiida 4 door coupe) and started to drive in Dubai (yikes!)
- Attended a 3 day IB workshop (level 3) on Librarianship and the IB
- MEd (Educational Leadership and Administration) degree arrives - it is official I now hold a MEd(EdLead&Admin) degree.
November
- Purchased a Mitsubishi Outlander GLS V6 3.0l CVT. Finding driving less stressful - in part due to some confidence and in part due to driving something a bit bigger
- Saw Skyfall (Daniel Craig is a very good blend of the earlier 'man of action' James Bond and the more recent ' ladies man' Bond)
- Hooligan still not acting himself after the loss of Koshka and the move. Off to the vet's. THANKFULLY just a bit of digestive and elimination issues - new food, some laxative paste and he was back to his old self. (the relief I felt was immense.)
December
- Finished part 3 of Teacher Librarian Specialization
- Awarded Teacher Librarian Specialist qualification on my Ontario College of Teachers teaching license.
- Spending the winter break in Dubai, watched Twilight Breaking Dawn pt 2 (I had seen the others on the movie channels while in Korea, it seemed only correct to finish the series), The Hobbit an unexpected journey 3D, The Life of Pi 3D, and Argo.
I hope that 2013 is a wonderful year for anyone who is reading this - that any challenges you face help you to grow and the opportunities which present themselves to you are breathtaking and adventurous.
Happy New Year one and all.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
How was your day?
I have spent the last 4 days nearly going blind doing data entry (ISBNs and Barcodes) due to a 2 year back log of cataloguing for the library - there is no scanner in the back room and the software/database license was allowed to lapse so EVERYTHING has to be done manually.
I am on a course over the weekend, 8- 4 both days, excited about the course but as I am feeling completely burnt out I am not so sure the timing is the best! Then, I return to work to spend another week doing more data entry ( I describe it as fighting a forest fire with a teaspoon) - basically I am working a 12 day week.
I find out this morning my CC is blocked due to a bogus $1000 charge - some place called " NO MORE RACK"... those who know me will see the humour in that! I need to fax the bank to sort this out as the bank can not find my POA forms for my POA can't do anything.
I attempted to rent a car today - will need it for this weekend course and to get around while I look for a car to purchase - but didn't have all the necessary papers. EVERYTHING requires a ton of copies of a ton of things!
Phoned an Electronic shop in the Mall of the Emirates to ensure they had what I wanted - the clerk swore blind that they had it in stock and yes, madam, several of them.
I took a taxi to a few blocks short of the Mall of the Emirates - forgot I hadn't gone to the bank yet, walked the rest of the way to the MoE and promptly went to the ATM.
I bought a printer and a few other electronic items (The printer I wanted, the one the fellow swore blind was in stock - of course it wasn't)!
THEN, I spent a lovely time with security as I "BEEPED" leaving the story - clerk forgot to demagnetize one of my purchases and with several bags, multiple pockets and many places in my handbag it took awhile to find my receipt. The hysterical giggling woman (me) seemed to unnerve the security guards. There were many apologies from clerk, security and store once I produced the receipt - I kept giggling (I couldn't stop) and said " It was just that kind of day."
So how was your day?
I took a taxi to a few blocks short of the Mall of the Emirates - forgot I hadn't gone to the bank yet, walked the rest of the way to the MoE and promptly went to the ATM.
So how was your day?
Thursday, August 23, 2012
First day of Work in Dubai
Ok, well it wasn't exactly work, but it was all related to work.
The schedule was: 0800 pick by bus, delivery to school, introductions, then off to medicals 0900 - 1300. 1300 - 1400 lunch at school, 1400 - 1600 presentation, 1600- 1800 bank to cash furniture allowance cheques.
Reality:
at pick up for 0800... no bus... several phone calls... bus pick up a bit after 0900. direct to medicals.. dropped off at medicals to await individual from school with necessary paperwork....
eventually called for blood test, then a bit more waiting before being called for chest xray. Medical finished at 1230
off to school for lunch. Presentations cut short due to equipment malfunction. given to keys to my apartment as my bed had been located and moved to the apartment.
driven to bank number 1 - closed. driven to bank number 2 closed. driven to Dubai Mall, let off to wander the mall looking for a bank. eventually found a bank and cashed furniture allowance cheque.
driven back to morning pick up location and dropped off.
Stopped in to my apartment for a quick look - bright and sunny with LOTS of windows (kitchen 1 window, living room 3 windows and a glass door, bedroom glass patio door....)
back to my sponsor's apartment - Hooligan VERY vocal and pleased to see me...
Now for a shower and an early evening as tomorrow I will shift my luggage to my apartment. I will also measure the living room so that I can order a sofa and chairs etc....
The schedule was: 0800 pick by bus, delivery to school, introductions, then off to medicals 0900 - 1300. 1300 - 1400 lunch at school, 1400 - 1600 presentation, 1600- 1800 bank to cash furniture allowance cheques.
Reality:
at pick up for 0800... no bus... several phone calls... bus pick up a bit after 0900. direct to medicals.. dropped off at medicals to await individual from school with necessary paperwork....
eventually called for blood test, then a bit more waiting before being called for chest xray. Medical finished at 1230
off to school for lunch. Presentations cut short due to equipment malfunction. given to keys to my apartment as my bed had been located and moved to the apartment.
driven to bank number 1 - closed. driven to bank number 2 closed. driven to Dubai Mall, let off to wander the mall looking for a bank. eventually found a bank and cashed furniture allowance cheque.
driven back to morning pick up location and dropped off.
Stopped in to my apartment for a quick look - bright and sunny with LOTS of windows (kitchen 1 window, living room 3 windows and a glass door, bedroom glass patio door....)
back to my sponsor's apartment - Hooligan VERY vocal and pleased to see me...
Now for a shower and an early evening as tomorrow I will shift my luggage to my apartment. I will also measure the living room so that I can order a sofa and chairs etc....
August 21 2012 one very long day!!!
August 21 was the date for my journey to the next stage of my adventure - Dubai.
Up and at it at 0430 - last minute bits and pieces, coffee and a yogurt. Hooligan picked up at 0600 to start his journey - a drive to Seoul, a few hours at the Pet Travel Agency (Gina Nam at First Class Pet is amazing!) then off to Incheon International Airport for Quarantine Inspection and a few hours in the Live Cargo facilities, next a flight to Dubai. He cleared Dubai Customs and agriculture quickly and was delivered to Motor City shortly there after (DKC rocks!!).
Hooligan spent the next 3 hours telling me in minute detail all about his journey (I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't as fluent in MEOW as he thinks I am)...
My journey was a bit different from Hooligan's.
I left my Korean apartment at 0645 for a 45 minute drive to the KTX station in Eonyang. The Bakers helped my wrestle my 2 suitcases, 1 carry on and hand bag on to the train - they quickly hopped off before they had an unexpected trip to Seoul ( We had said our farewells just before the train pulled in to the station - it only stops for 5 minutes!). The train departed at 0822 and it was a smooth 300km/h ride to Seoul arriving at 1045. A porter helped me wrestle my luggage to the AREX (airport express) platform and then on to the train departing Seoul station at 1130.
Arriving at Incheon International Platform at 1212 I wrestled my luggage to the elevator and then to an electric car which delivered me to the terminal building.
I proceeded directly to check in. I was able to go straight to the counter - it took 45 minutes to check in my 60kg (limit of 25kg checked and 5kg carry on) of checked baggage (carry on baggage was happily 'over looked'). Thankfully the check in clerk only charged me for 10 kg and the rest sailed by (1 bag was 15kg, the other was 42kg). There were concerns about my entry permit versus a visa in the passport which meant signing papers to the effect that if I was refused entry in Dubai it was not the airlines fault of expense....
Through security quickly and easily... to find out flight was delayed. Departed Incheon 1 hour late, cutting my transit time in China in half.
Processing through Chinese transit immigration was an issue as my passport is old and well used (heavily wrinkled and full of stamps/visa) which made it SUSPICIOUS! Clearance took long enough that I raced to get to my gate.
The flight was delayed by 30 minutes with no explanation. Then as we were to start boarding the buses to to take us to the plane it started to rain - and rain heavily. The rain meant we could not be bused out to the plane AND that we might NOT take off at all.
EVENTUALLY, we were loaded on the plane (after walking 100ft through the deluge to the single set of stairs leading up to the aircraft). We sat at the 'gate' for 3 hours before being given clearance to line up for the run way at which point the rain picked up again. We sat in this purgatory for 40 minutes before being given clearance to take off - finally leaving china on to my final destination.
Arrival in Dubai was fairly smooth - an electric car to whisk my through the airport, a guide who whisked me through immigration (in the flight crew line!). Well, he was whisking me through until the official said "You can not enter."
Me, "Why not?"
Guide said something in Arabic to Immigration agent who had my Entry Permit, Passport and Boarding Card. Immigration agent typed some more on the computer and voila! I was in.
Baggage claim, pick up by my school sponsor. It is at this point I find out that the bed I order in April so I would have something in my empty apartment to sleep on had not been delivered. Correction, it had been delivered, but not to my apartment and no one knew where it was.
My school sponsor was pet sitting so I was graciously offered her apartment to sleep in and in the morning the hunt for the wayward furniture would begin.
Slept for a few hours and then Hooligan arrived....
Stage 1 of this new adventure has begun.
Up and at it at 0430 - last minute bits and pieces, coffee and a yogurt. Hooligan picked up at 0600 to start his journey - a drive to Seoul, a few hours at the Pet Travel Agency (Gina Nam at First Class Pet is amazing!) then off to Incheon International Airport for Quarantine Inspection and a few hours in the Live Cargo facilities, next a flight to Dubai. He cleared Dubai Customs and agriculture quickly and was delivered to Motor City shortly there after (DKC rocks!!).
Hooligan spent the next 3 hours telling me in minute detail all about his journey (I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't as fluent in MEOW as he thinks I am)...
My journey was a bit different from Hooligan's.
I left my Korean apartment at 0645 for a 45 minute drive to the KTX station in Eonyang. The Bakers helped my wrestle my 2 suitcases, 1 carry on and hand bag on to the train - they quickly hopped off before they had an unexpected trip to Seoul ( We had said our farewells just before the train pulled in to the station - it only stops for 5 minutes!). The train departed at 0822 and it was a smooth 300km/h ride to Seoul arriving at 1045. A porter helped me wrestle my luggage to the AREX (airport express) platform and then on to the train departing Seoul station at 1130.
Arriving at Incheon International Platform at 1212 I wrestled my luggage to the elevator and then to an electric car which delivered me to the terminal building.
I proceeded directly to check in. I was able to go straight to the counter - it took 45 minutes to check in my 60kg (limit of 25kg checked and 5kg carry on) of checked baggage (carry on baggage was happily 'over looked'). Thankfully the check in clerk only charged me for 10 kg and the rest sailed by (1 bag was 15kg, the other was 42kg). There were concerns about my entry permit versus a visa in the passport which meant signing papers to the effect that if I was refused entry in Dubai it was not the airlines fault of expense....
Through security quickly and easily... to find out flight was delayed. Departed Incheon 1 hour late, cutting my transit time in China in half.
Processing through Chinese transit immigration was an issue as my passport is old and well used (heavily wrinkled and full of stamps/visa) which made it SUSPICIOUS! Clearance took long enough that I raced to get to my gate.
The flight was delayed by 30 minutes with no explanation. Then as we were to start boarding the buses to to take us to the plane it started to rain - and rain heavily. The rain meant we could not be bused out to the plane AND that we might NOT take off at all.
EVENTUALLY, we were loaded on the plane (after walking 100ft through the deluge to the single set of stairs leading up to the aircraft). We sat at the 'gate' for 3 hours before being given clearance to line up for the run way at which point the rain picked up again. We sat in this purgatory for 40 minutes before being given clearance to take off - finally leaving china on to my final destination.
Arrival in Dubai was fairly smooth - an electric car to whisk my through the airport, a guide who whisked me through immigration (in the flight crew line!). Well, he was whisking me through until the official said "You can not enter."
Me, "Why not?"
Guide said something in Arabic to Immigration agent who had my Entry Permit, Passport and Boarding Card. Immigration agent typed some more on the computer and voila! I was in.
Baggage claim, pick up by my school sponsor. It is at this point I find out that the bed I order in April so I would have something in my empty apartment to sleep on had not been delivered. Correction, it had been delivered, but not to my apartment and no one knew where it was.
My school sponsor was pet sitting so I was graciously offered her apartment to sleep in and in the morning the hunt for the wayward furniture would begin.
Slept for a few hours and then Hooligan arrived....
Stage 1 of this new adventure has begun.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Less than 72 hours...
Today is my last Saturday in Ulsan, South Korea. I am spending it playing the ' I CAN make this all fit within my baggage allowance' game. Hooligan is spending it getting a bit more freaked out as more of the apartment is empty...
Hooligan and I will not be traveling together. My employer booked me on a 1 stopover flight on China Southern Airlines; Hooligan will fly direct with Emirates. We both have long travel days coming up:
Hooligan and I will not be traveling together. My employer booked me on a 1 stopover flight on China Southern Airlines; Hooligan will fly direct with Emirates. We both have long travel days coming up:
August 21, 2012
Hooligan:
Ulsan to Seoul 0600KST (2100 Aug 20 GMT) departure
Seoul to Dubai via Emirates EK323 departing 2305KST Aug 21 (1405GMT)
arrives 0425GST Aug 22 (0025GMT)
travel time = 27 hours
Then several hours of customs and agriculture clearances....
Corleen:
Depart HFC Apartment 0700 (2200 Aug 20 GMT) by Car
Ulsan to Seoul KTX (Bullet Train) #114 departs 0822KST (2322 Aug 20 GMT)
arrives 1045KST (0145 Aug 21 GMT)
Seoul Staion to Incheon Airport AREX (airport express train) #2823 departs 1130KST (0230 GMT) arrives 1215KST (0315GMT)
Incheon Airport (Seoul) to Guanzhou CZ0338 departs 1415KST (0515GMT)
arrives 1710CT (0910GMT)
Guanzhou to Dubai CZ0383 departs 1940CT (1140GMT)
ARRIVES DUBAI 0005GST August 22 (2005 Aug 21GMT)
travel time = 22 hours
KST = Korean Standard Time
GMT = Greenwich Mean time = UST Universal Standard Time
GST = Gulf Standard Time
CT = China Time
Thankfully Hooligan has a travel agency in Dubai that will take care of his clearances and deliver him to my accommodations.
On my behalf the school has book a welcoming service to meet me just inside my arrivals gate and assist me through the airport, customs, immigration, and baggage.
I have also learned where I will be living. I have attached a web sourced photo of the outside of the building.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Friday the 13th
So, this past Friday (July 13 2012) wasn't a great day. Girl cat (aka Koshka) lost her battle with kidney disease. She had a good last week but then ...
Boy cat (aka Hooligan) and I miss her. The house is a bit odd without her around; Hooligan looks around for her, but realizes she isn't here after a few minutes looking (the joys of a 50m square apartment).
She was a wonderful girl and a clever kitty. As a kitten she was "Koshka the brave" exploring any and every place she could find a way to / in to.
I know she is better now - where ever she is, but it will take awhile to stop the instinctual call to her when she isn't beside H when I open the door....
Time heals...
Boy cat (aka Hooligan) and I miss her. The house is a bit odd without her around; Hooligan looks around for her, but realizes she isn't here after a few minutes looking (the joys of a 50m square apartment).
She was a wonderful girl and a clever kitty. As a kitten she was "Koshka the brave" exploring any and every place she could find a way to / in to.
I know she is better now - where ever she is, but it will take awhile to stop the instinctual call to her when she isn't beside H when I open the door....
Time heals...
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Roller Coaster Month of June
June has definitely been a roller coaster month.
- last month of academic year for my current school which means:
- Scholastic Achievement Tests for Yr 5 - 9
- Marking the above tests
- Report card writing
- end of term for my university course
- writing and submitting final paper for the course
- waiting for marks
- final month of specialist AQ part 1 to my teaching certification
- start of specialist AQ part 2
- visa and movement issues / planning for August move
AND to top it all off the female cat (CRF/CKD cat) crashes and spends 2 weeks in hospital. Roller Coaster is an appropriate description. It wasn't one of those kiddie coasters either - rather it was one of the most intense, old style wooden track coasters you can imagine. Thankfully June is coming to a close in a few days and things should get a bit better / easier.
- Tests have been administered and marked
- reports have been written and sent home
- paper has been submitted - still waiting on final confirmation of marks :-S
- AQ part 1 completed with A+ mark :-)
- AQ part 2 started and all resources have arrived :-)
- Visa and movement issues are ticking along all in the hands of my new employer
- Cat back from the hospital, blood levels as normal as they get for her, she is eating and drinking without a feeding tube. :-D
Now, off to a nice dinner out at a new spot with some friends. :-)))
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Gender Neutrality and Equality - Yay Right, not here!
There are rumors that ALL individuals that work for this company and live in company housing will be moved to a standard size apartment. YAY! If I was staying I would have finally been moved to an appropriate sized apartment for a professional. (Some members of staff are a bit upset as they see it as a downgrade.)
When I was chatting the the manager in charge of the school I said this is a positive development for those of us in the "ghetto" apartments.
The manager paled, looked uncomfortable and told me that those of us in the "ghetto" will stay in the "ghetto" as that is all we are entitled to because of our martial status.
I replied to the gentle man well, how come, if we have to be in the "ghetto" we don't all get moved to the "ghetto 2"? The "ghetto2" is also slated for this particular marital status and there is currently a member of staff, with the same marital status as those of us in "the ghetto", living there AND said member has had the "ghetto 2" written in to their contract.
Well, it seems that the "ghetto 2" is more expensive as it has no washing machines and there is an included housekeeping service. Females PREFER to do their own laundry and housework that is why the females are in the "ghetto", not "ghetto 2".
I told the gentleman that I was NEVER asked what I preferred.
He looked further pained and made an excuse to leave.
Just a bit of Gender discrimination going on.
In the same vein, a single female teacher who is also a local national has a 3 bedroom family sized apartment. I was told this is because she has children. To which I replied, yes GROWN children who do not live with her. Again, that pained express of "oh, oh I have been caught in my own deception, best pretend I don't understand what is being said to me."
When I was chatting the the manager in charge of the school I said this is a positive development for those of us in the "ghetto" apartments.
The manager paled, looked uncomfortable and told me that those of us in the "ghetto" will stay in the "ghetto" as that is all we are entitled to because of our martial status.
I replied to the gentle man well, how come, if we have to be in the "ghetto" we don't all get moved to the "ghetto 2"? The "ghetto2" is also slated for this particular marital status and there is currently a member of staff, with the same marital status as those of us in "the ghetto", living there AND said member has had the "ghetto 2" written in to their contract.
Well, it seems that the "ghetto 2" is more expensive as it has no washing machines and there is an included housekeeping service. Females PREFER to do their own laundry and housework that is why the females are in the "ghetto", not "ghetto 2".
I told the gentleman that I was NEVER asked what I preferred.
He looked further pained and made an excuse to leave.
Just a bit of Gender discrimination going on.
In the same vein, a single female teacher who is also a local national has a 3 bedroom family sized apartment. I was told this is because she has children. To which I replied, yes GROWN children who do not live with her. Again, that pained express of "oh, oh I have been caught in my own deception, best pretend I don't understand what is being said to me."
disbelief
So as most of you know I am off on a new adventure this summer. I plan on leaving directly from Korea as it will be easier with cats, luggage and books etc. AND under my current contract I have my apartment until the end of my contract which is the end of August. Sound plan.
2 weeks ago I was in the school office and the school secretary blurted out, "When are you leaving?"
I was understandably taken aback. I replied, " At the moment I don't have firm dates for travel/visa but I think it will be around mid August. Say the 15th or 18th."
"Oh, that won't work. The new teacher coming in is to get your apartment and she wants to come mid August, around the 15th and we need a week for the cleaners between the two of you."
"Well, I can't leave any sooner than I have my dates. When I know the dates, I will let you know." I turn to leave, stop at the door and sweetly say, " The cats and I will GLADLY move to a bigger apartment now if that will be of any help."
I received a blank, I am in pain grin in reply.
This week I was in the office picking up some supplies for the class and the self same secretary says,"Have you got your flights yet?"
I am less taken aback this time. I smile sweetly and say, "The dates have still not been confirmed." I take a few items out of the supply cabinet and turn back to the secretary and ask, very politely, "Have you found out how much I will be given for my flight? I can't book a ticket until I know how much, as per my contract, I will be given."
The secretary seemed to be put on the back foot by this. She hastily said, " I haven't looked yet, I am busy."
And so the latest round in the "Bum's rush shuffle" ends. Stay tuned for more - you know there will be more.
2 weeks ago I was in the school office and the school secretary blurted out, "When are you leaving?"
I was understandably taken aback. I replied, " At the moment I don't have firm dates for travel/visa but I think it will be around mid August. Say the 15th or 18th."
"Oh, that won't work. The new teacher coming in is to get your apartment and she wants to come mid August, around the 15th and we need a week for the cleaners between the two of you."
"Well, I can't leave any sooner than I have my dates. When I know the dates, I will let you know." I turn to leave, stop at the door and sweetly say, " The cats and I will GLADLY move to a bigger apartment now if that will be of any help."
I received a blank, I am in pain grin in reply.
This week I was in the office picking up some supplies for the class and the self same secretary says,"Have you got your flights yet?"
I am less taken aback this time. I smile sweetly and say, "The dates have still not been confirmed." I take a few items out of the supply cabinet and turn back to the secretary and ask, very politely, "Have you found out how much I will be given for my flight? I can't book a ticket until I know how much, as per my contract, I will be given."
The secretary seemed to be put on the back foot by this. She hastily said, " I haven't looked yet, I am busy."
And so the latest round in the "Bum's rush shuffle" ends. Stay tuned for more - you know there will be more.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
May 2
Well,
Today was my birthday. All in all an enjoyable day. A half day of contact time at work, and afternoon of easy, if time consuming, paperwork, pizza for dinner, and a bit of web surfing.
I decided that in honour of my B-day and because I worked my backside off yesterday (labour day holiday) on intellectual work I am in the middle of I would have a 'non-academic work' evening. Caught up on some emails, checked all the discussion boards for my studies, and updating my blog.
Waiting on my visa and apartment information for my new job. My current job seems to be 'rushing me out the door' or at least that is how it felt today when I was asked when I would be vacating my apartment. My contract runs to the end of August and I had planned on moving sometime in mid August. Seems my replacement wants to move in mid August and as there needs to be a 'semi professional clean' done between occupants it is looking like there many be a bit of a conflict. I did offer to move to better accommodations for the last few months of my contract - if it would be helpful. My offer was greeted with a blank, empty grin that sort of said " Yay, right, ain't gonna happen."
Today was my birthday. All in all an enjoyable day. A half day of contact time at work, and afternoon of easy, if time consuming, paperwork, pizza for dinner, and a bit of web surfing.
I decided that in honour of my B-day and because I worked my backside off yesterday (labour day holiday) on intellectual work I am in the middle of I would have a 'non-academic work' evening. Caught up on some emails, checked all the discussion boards for my studies, and updating my blog.
Waiting on my visa and apartment information for my new job. My current job seems to be 'rushing me out the door' or at least that is how it felt today when I was asked when I would be vacating my apartment. My contract runs to the end of August and I had planned on moving sometime in mid August. Seems my replacement wants to move in mid August and as there needs to be a 'semi professional clean' done between occupants it is looking like there many be a bit of a conflict. I did offer to move to better accommodations for the last few months of my contract - if it would be helpful. My offer was greeted with a blank, empty grin that sort of said " Yay, right, ain't gonna happen."
Monday, April 16, 2012
Updates
Well,
All my documents are back from the lawyers/governments/embassies, arranging to have them scanned (most are larger than a standard, personal use flatbed scanner).
Was at the vets today with Hooligan -- his liver enzymes are all back within the normal range!! YEAH!!!!! BUT, his bilirubin levels are still four times higher than they should be!?! He had an ultrasound - yeah, lots of fun trying to hold him still while he had his liver/gallbladder region scanned. Good news - the scan did not show any abnormalities (I'll take the vet's word on that as I couldn't make ANYTHING out on the scan). Hooligan is free from visits to the vet to draw blood for 4 more weeks (we had been going every two weeks) but, he is on powdered meds until the next visit.
Koshka will head off to the vet in a week's time to check her kidney functions but, will not have to have a complete blood work up this time as her anemia is under control (her haemoglobin levels were low, so I added B12 to her meds) although, her reticulocytes are still low.
I am trying to enjoy my two week break from teaching...
All my documents are back from the lawyers/governments/embassies, arranging to have them scanned (most are larger than a standard, personal use flatbed scanner).
Was at the vets today with Hooligan -- his liver enzymes are all back within the normal range!! YEAH!!!!! BUT, his bilirubin levels are still four times higher than they should be!?! He had an ultrasound - yeah, lots of fun trying to hold him still while he had his liver/gallbladder region scanned. Good news - the scan did not show any abnormalities (I'll take the vet's word on that as I couldn't make ANYTHING out on the scan). Hooligan is free from visits to the vet to draw blood for 4 more weeks (we had been going every two weeks) but, he is on powdered meds until the next visit.
Koshka will head off to the vet in a week's time to check her kidney functions but, will not have to have a complete blood work up this time as her anemia is under control (her haemoglobin levels were low, so I added B12 to her meds) although, her reticulocytes are still low.
I am trying to enjoy my two week break from teaching...
Monday, March 26, 2012
Changes
Well, life has been a tad busy. Every Monday to the vet with one of the cats for blood tests; sorting documents for Canadian notary, authentication, legalization; sorting documents for Australian notary, apostille, legalization....
Good news is that the Australian documents are in the final stages in Australia.
Koshka's blood tests are showing that the medicine for her CRF is having a positive effect.
Hooligan is not fighting his 'huge, horse sized' caplet to help his liver function.
Both cats are so full of energy that they seem to making up for all the mischief that they didn't get up to before their health issues were diagnosed and treatment was started. :-D
It is test week at work - so, tons of marking to try and stay on top of; feeling ZERO motivation to complete my MEd tasks - the motivation vampires certainly did a good job!
quite looking forward to the Easter break - a necessary battery recharge and butt kicked into high gear to catch up and (possibly) get ahead with my MEd tasks.
Good news is that the Australian documents are in the final stages in Australia.
Koshka's blood tests are showing that the medicine for her CRF is having a positive effect.
Hooligan is not fighting his 'huge, horse sized' caplet to help his liver function.
Both cats are so full of energy that they seem to making up for all the mischief that they didn't get up to before their health issues were diagnosed and treatment was started. :-D
It is test week at work - so, tons of marking to try and stay on top of; feeling ZERO motivation to complete my MEd tasks - the motivation vampires certainly did a good job!
quite looking forward to the Easter break - a necessary battery recharge and butt kicked into high gear to catch up and (possibly) get ahead with my MEd tasks.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Is the cyber world out to drive me insane today??
Trying to organize an email to request that my university transcripts be sent directly to an embassy (visa requirement) from the university. Email request keeps bouncing from the university's address - the BCC to myself works fine!
Time critical on this SO NOW, I am having to courier the request in!!
Then I tried to sign in to another site and the internet kept bouncing me out -- took 25 minutes to actually get in to the site!!!!
ALL this mucking about has taken 2 HOURS!!! all just to 1) download a form 2) fill in the form 3)scan the form 4) attach and email the form!!!!! somehow I thought, albeit foolishly, that this whole process should have taken a maximum of 30 minutes!!
In cyberspace no one can hear you scream!
Time critical on this SO NOW, I am having to courier the request in!!
Then I tried to sign in to another site and the internet kept bouncing me out -- took 25 minutes to actually get in to the site!!!!
ALL this mucking about has taken 2 HOURS!!! all just to 1) download a form 2) fill in the form 3)scan the form 4) attach and email the form!!!!! somehow I thought, albeit foolishly, that this whole process should have taken a maximum of 30 minutes!!
In cyberspace no one can hear you scream!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Paperwork Dragons redux
SO, I have spent a small fortune but my Australian documents are well and truly in the process of dragon's fire! I hope they will be back to me in a few weeks (the sooner the better) but everything is out of my control so not worth thinking about for at least 2 weeks! ;-)
I am waiting on some documents from Canada - they were sent out through Canadapost International priority mail which meant, according to tracking information, they sat in the drop off post office for 24 hours; then left the country - no further information on the tracking site - BECAUSE they left the country (funny how international mail LEAVES the country). I am hoping that they will arrive in no more than 3 days, then I can verify that they meet all the government requirements and add a few documents I have here to send them all to the lawyer back in Canada! I should get those documents back in a approximately 5 weeks from now.
Nothing is ever easy! :-S
I am waiting on some documents from Canada - they were sent out through Canadapost International priority mail which meant, according to tracking information, they sat in the drop off post office for 24 hours; then left the country - no further information on the tracking site - BECAUSE they left the country (funny how international mail LEAVES the country). I am hoping that they will arrive in no more than 3 days, then I can verify that they meet all the government requirements and add a few documents I have here to send them all to the lawyer back in Canada! I should get those documents back in a approximately 5 weeks from now.
Nothing is ever easy! :-S
Lord Buddha was a wise man
'The evils of the body are murder, theft, and adultery; of the tongue, lying, slander, abuse, and idle talk; of the mind, covetousness, hatred, and error.' Buddha
An apropos quote to start this musing off.
Recently I had overheard a few 'colleagues' speaking less than kindly about me (the ringleader of this group is one who frequently needs my assistance with various things - guess who just shot themselves in the foot.)... the comments I overheard ranged from patent lies 'she spends all day surfing on the internet, even when the students are in the class' to unflattering personal opinions 'last year we had a good teacher in that position, now we have her.' I was even so lucky as to hear that I have said I am a better teacher than the previous one. (NEVER crossed these lips! I did say that based on testing the students are weak in certain areas - but I NEVER attributed to someone else's not teaching them these items.)
Basically, all evils of the tongue were employed in the overheard conversation. Now I understand how evil of the mind and envy could lead some people to commit evils of the tongue as these same evils of the tongue are making me commit an evil of the mind - hatred - and fantasizing about torture and the first evil of the body!
I am angry. I am annoyed.
I mean really these are supposedly colleagues and professionals. FINE, you have an opinion of me. Fine you discuss your opinion with like minded people, BUT I draw the line at outright lying and false statements!
I DO NOT internet while my students are in class. I teach my backside off. I spend my breaks and lunch hours marking and or editing student work. I plan entire terms out BEFORE they start. IF testing shows a deficiency in previous learning or student recall - I REWORK the rest of the term to address this!!
I wonder why people are so small minded and petty. If you have an issue / problem with me wouldn't talking to me about it be the grown up thing to do?
An apropos quote to start this musing off.
Recently I had overheard a few 'colleagues' speaking less than kindly about me (the ringleader of this group is one who frequently needs my assistance with various things - guess who just shot themselves in the foot.)... the comments I overheard ranged from patent lies 'she spends all day surfing on the internet, even when the students are in the class' to unflattering personal opinions 'last year we had a good teacher in that position, now we have her.' I was even so lucky as to hear that I have said I am a better teacher than the previous one. (NEVER crossed these lips! I did say that based on testing the students are weak in certain areas - but I NEVER attributed to someone else's not teaching them these items.)
Basically, all evils of the tongue were employed in the overheard conversation. Now I understand how evil of the mind and envy could lead some people to commit evils of the tongue as these same evils of the tongue are making me commit an evil of the mind - hatred - and fantasizing about torture and the first evil of the body!
I am angry. I am annoyed.
I mean really these are supposedly colleagues and professionals. FINE, you have an opinion of me. Fine you discuss your opinion with like minded people, BUT I draw the line at outright lying and false statements!
I DO NOT internet while my students are in class. I teach my backside off. I spend my breaks and lunch hours marking and or editing student work. I plan entire terms out BEFORE they start. IF testing shows a deficiency in previous learning or student recall - I REWORK the rest of the term to address this!!
I wonder why people are so small minded and petty. If you have an issue / problem with me wouldn't talking to me about it be the grown up thing to do?
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Frustrations
Illness, legal services, visas, university classes..... I feel a bit (ok more than a bit) overwhelmed at the moment. I thought I was dealing with all this... but a COMPLETELY sleepless night has indicated I am not.
I think the biggest stressor is trying to organize notary, apostille/authentication, embassy legalization services on 2 continents while I am on a third. I am waiting on final quotes and payment forms - although one place wants me to set up an escrow account (how do you do that from a different continent??).
Very stressful!
Girl cat has CRF and has to take medicines twice daily - she doesn't like the meds at all BUT I can see improvements in her activity and body conditions. I wonder how much help the meds are relevant to her displeasure and stress at having to take them. Are there alternate methods of delivery, alternative meds, alternative food???
Sometimes I wonder why no mater what destination I choose (literal or metaphorical) the journey - which is out of my control - is so complicated?
I think the biggest stressor is trying to organize notary, apostille/authentication, embassy legalization services on 2 continents while I am on a third. I am waiting on final quotes and payment forms - although one place wants me to set up an escrow account (how do you do that from a different continent??).
Very stressful!
Girl cat has CRF and has to take medicines twice daily - she doesn't like the meds at all BUT I can see improvements in her activity and body conditions. I wonder how much help the meds are relevant to her displeasure and stress at having to take them. Are there alternate methods of delivery, alternative meds, alternative food???
Sometimes I wonder why no mater what destination I choose (literal or metaphorical) the journey - which is out of my control - is so complicated?
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