I'm free!

Dylan comes home on Friday!

Yesterday was free museum day in Montreal - 32 museums around town opened their doors and let just any ol' person in. We had grand plans to spend a carefree afternoon wandering around downtown museums, sipping coffee and pretending to be more sophisticated than we really are. We then remember that people were coming by to look at the apartment between 1-2pm. But we figured we could still make it to the two museums that we really wanted to see. So at 2pm on the dot (that's a lie, I am not that punctual), we headed out. We hit up the McCord Museum, where they have a pretty cool exhibit of 90 treasures, 90 stories, 90 years. The museum is 90 years old; most of the 90 things were much older. There was also this really cool mosaic panorama of Montreal from this guy who stood on a roof and took hundreds of pictures throughout the year at different times of the day. It's hard to explain, but it was cool. So cool, in fact, that by the time we were done looking at it we were exhausted and decided to scrap the second museum in favour of skipping straight to the coffee.

Weird baby horse seat thing. Looks terrifying if you ask me.

Hmm, then I got to run around trying to get money in to the right bank account for rent. Turns out that if you don't use any of your accounts at a bank for over a year, leave a whopping $0.01 in it, and forget your telephone and online banking passwords, things get somewhat complicated. Almost forgot my PIN, but remembered after a few tries. I got money into my savings account no prob with the help of the nice telephone person, but of course the cheques I had written were from my chequings account that is apparently just gone. Maybe I closed it? Maybe they did? Who knows. Second telephone person told me that I would have to figure something else out for the immediate future, and could order cheques for the account that is exists. So I went onto my online banking, that I miraculously remembered all the answers to the security questions and could therefore get into, then promptly got even more confused. Apparently, I remembered to change my name with them so it welcomed Tamara MarriedName, but then when I went to order cheques it said that they would come in the name Miss Tammy MaidenName. But my old cheques are in Tamara MaidenName, so I don't even know. We'll just leave that for now.

But, the most exciting news of all: I am no longer employed! Friday was my last day. It was sad to say goodbye to people. Ok, it was sad to say goodbye to the 5-6 people out of 65ish I actually liked and talked to on a regular basis. Other than that, I am so happy to be done! Have I mentioned that I really hated working there? Because I really hated working there. I wasn't bad at it. Ok, I was awful at selling, but I was good at the customer service part and my quality scores were always really, really good. I was punctual, polite and didn't cause any problems, so my supervisors all liked me and got around the sucky selling thing by putting me in a department that had less selling pressure, which worked out well for both me and for them. But I think I'm too introverted to be able to comfortably talk on the phone to strangers all day. And, at the end of the day, it was just too stressful for me. I would feel physically nauseous every single day before I went to work and at least the first hour or so of my shift and I developed this weird eye twitch. Definitely the worst job I've ever had, and that is including the job that didn't pay me for the two months I worked there and the job where my boss yelled at me for 20 mins about whipped cream, telling me that I was single handedly ruining his business (even though he was always telling other people how amazing I was), and made me cry. That being said, I and everyone who knows me at all, knew going into it that I would find it awful. I needed money, and I am eternally grateful that I had the job. Because I have no idea what we would have done if I hadn't have gotten it. I will just not be losing any sleep lamenting leaving my call center days behind.

Now, out of respect for the company(ies?), I still won't say who I worked for or go into the specifics of the job. But, in celebration of being done, a short list of things that I will not miss:
- People who make up services that they think the company should offer, get huffy at me when I tell them that that's not how it works and then tell me that that is a really bad business practice/customer service.
- People who forget that they aren't the only customer that we have and yell at me when I tell them that we can't get to them immediately. Personally, in 90% of circumstances I think that getting service within 24 hrs is more than acceptable. This makes more sense if you know what I'm talking about, but oh well.
- People who think that just because they exist, they deserve preferential treatment and are entitled to discounts. Then, when I explain to them that we have set prices, that that is a really bad business practice/really bad customer service. Because they can switch companies, but they thought that we'd like to keep them as a customer! Well, yah, we would but if we give you everything for free then there really isn't any point.
- Oh, which directly leads into people who don't read the terms and conditions and then yell at me when we tell them that they have to pay for things that aren't covered.
-People who yell at me for billing issues that are actually issues with a completely different company. Then yell at me about how awful that company's automated system is and how they can't get through to them. Ok, but there is still nothing I can do for you. You not being able to get through to them doesn't magically mean we are suddenly the same company.
- Other agents who work with me (or at one of the other centers) that just do not know how to do their jobs and screw up, leaving me to have to explain to the customer why things didn't go the way they were supposed to. Agents who inappropriately transfer calls to me. Agents who do not know how to write useful, coherent notes of customers' files and make me waste a whole bunch of time going back over the same things again. Or, my favourite, agents who just seem to blatantly lie to customers and tell them things that are not at all true.

Don't let my complete lack of updating lead you to believe that I haven't been doing anything. I have. I swear.

A couple weekends ago, Clair and I drove down to Ottawa to check out some neighbourhoods as potential places to live. Highlights of the trip: Getting really lost, getting really really lost, and then getting lost. Oh, then we got lost. Also, worrying the whole time that the muffler would fall off the car after I noticed it, umm, sagging somewhat. But I shoved a thing into some other thing so it was more firmly attached and it's stayed since. After all that excitement, we got coffee in downtown Ottawa to remind ourselves that we actually like the city. Then we got lost.

This last weekend, I decided to make up for all the excitement of the previous weekend by doing nothing. Clair and I had a movie day were we sat on the couch, ate junk food, and (shockingly) watched movies. It's Kinda a Funny Story, Happy-Go-Lucky, and Sunshine Cleaning. And last week's episode of Glee. It was fabulous. Ended the night with the Canucks game and some laundry.

And Sunday, Clair and I tried to go out for breakfast. Kinda failed because apparently a lot of other people had the same idea. Something about Mother's Day. Had singing lessons, which are finishing soon. I think I have two or three lessons left. Then spent most of the rest of the day calling my (grand)mommy(s) and doing some more sitting.

What else? I miss Dylan. That's probably the main reason I haven't been updating too much. Trying to not turn this into one big, 'I miss my husband' fest. He comes home in just over three and a half weeks!

I'm giving my two weeks notice at my job at the end of this week probably. That way, I can try and get some cleaning/packing done before Dylan comes back and before visitors come. (I'm sure our guest will have a lovely time amidst the boxes.) Yep yep.

Ok, by doing stuff, I'm starting to realize that most of what I've been doing is watching hockey and texting daddy-in-law about hockey. It makes me happy, but there's not really a lot for me expand on and it's probably not the most exciting thing for you to read about. I'm actually kinda sad, because I'll have to go the next few days without any Canucks while the other teams series finishes up.

But my feet are so soft now.

Another update? What? It's almost like I'm getting the hang of this or something! No, not really. I'm just avoiding watching the Canucks forget how to play hockey again.

Is taking a bath update worthy? ...No? 'Cause that's all I've really done today other than work (training, which I will not talking about). It was a really great bath.

I also was reading some of a book that Glynnis left here with me over the summer, A Short History of Nearly Everything. I'm impressed, because the guy actually talks about astronomy in a way that doesn't make me want to pull off chunks of my own skin out of boredom. And it was one of those times were I was all 'Reading is the best thing ever! I'm having so much fun!!' I think because most of the reading I've been doing lately has been during breaks at work and reading in 5 or 10 min chunks is definitely not the best way to do things. Now I just have to try and not stay up all night reading.

So, I MAY have a secret love of certain angsty tv dramas and one such show had an episode a while back that I must have had to pause and walk away from a good 6 or 7 times and ended up making Dylan (or Pauly?) watch with me. Because it was about some crazy lady cutting out someone else's baby. And it freaked me right out. But.. BUT... most terrifying thing ever - it has actually happened! Some crazy lady from the States is currently in court facing murder charges for befriending a pregnant lady on facebook, taking her out to the woods, killing her and then cutting out her baby with a knife. Ahhhghhh! That has to be one of the most disturbing things I can think of. It just makes my stomach clench. The lady brought the baby to the hospital with the uterus and ovaries. Yah. Just thought I'd share.

Ok, back to hockey. Sigh.

Feast.

Good morning internets.

I'm a liar. I told Pauly I'd update yesterday and I didn't. I feel shamed.

What have I been up to? Well, work mostly. And watching hockey. But other than that, Clair and I have been continuing our efforts to get out there in the world and explore Montreal since the clock is ticking down. Yesterday we continued our quest to find good coffee and picked a place went out in Westmount. Which, upon further inspection, turned out to be really close the Atwater Market (the other big market in Montreal besides the Jean Talon Market), so we went and checked that out before coffee. The market was nice, probably smaller than Jean Talon and it seemed to have a much bigger focus on meat over vegetables. Maybe that's why it seemed smaller? Because I'm not really the type to walk through all of the 6 or so butcher shops, so they mostly got skipped over. There were also a billion cafes, which I thought was weird. I'm sure they were different in important ways. We did stop and split a spanakopita, which was definitely one of the best I've ever had.


Made our way down to coffee and had a yummy latte. And then we played chess. Should I be embarrassed that I taught Clair how to play and she beat me? 'Cause I am. I think Dylan and Jordan would have been in tears. As an indication of how bad I am, I very successfully managed to lose my Queen in three moves, maybe four.

Our plan was to go from there and walk around the neighbourhood and explore previously unexplored areas. But the hard balls of ice pelting us from the sky quickly convinced us otherwise. We just headed back to the Metro, made a slight detour to the grocery store (confusingly, also called Metro), and came home. Have I mentioned how grateful I am that Clair exists? Without her, I'm sure I would be eating Kraft Dinner every night. Instead, we have vegetables and scalloped potatoes and chicken. Woah.

Applesauce.

Ok, so less timely than part 3. But I promised Pauly that I'd upload this today. What better way to start my weekend?

Apparently I say, 'shocking!' too much.



Unfortunately, part 3 contains the least exciting questions, in our humble opinion.

In other news, really, Japan got another earthquake? Really?! For those of you not following the trip, Hubby is there now and was no where near where it was. So he's perfectly fine. But the poor country just can't seem to catch a break. Although their trip has so far raised almost half their goal, which is awesome! Especially since the bike trip itself doesn't start for another 4 days. I'm so proud of them for taking a really fun thing and turning it into a way to raise money for such a good cause. ...Because I'm just that kind of cheesy wife, apparently. Who knew?

And my fantastically wonderful coworker friend found another job, so today was our last day working together. Which is sad for me, but her new job sounds like it is a really good opportunity for her. And I'm determined to hang with her so we don't loose touch. We're having celebration sushi tomorrow.

Part 2

Apparently this is a good way to have me update in a much more timely manner. Who knew?

Today, Clair and I actually ventured out into the excitingness that is Montreal. We went to a cute sports cafe, Cafe Olypmico, that we had been to once last summer and had a surprisingly delicious latte (although the lineup should have given away the fact that they're good). Then we wandered around, exploring a some little home decorating stores, and enjoying the fact that Spring is actually coming. We didn't wear coats! Sure, we were kinda cold, but it was worth it. Had some quiche at a deli/bakery that we came across and ate it outside an adorable little church before coming home. All in all, a pretty awesome day. Living in Victoria, you don't really get the city-wide feeling of relief that comes with the onset of Spring. But man, do you get that feeling here! It is hilarious because all of a sudden everyone is just happy. The streets are suddenly filled with bikes, patio furniture is out and no one is in nearly as big of a hurry anymore.

Ok, video.



Tammy + Clair + free time = weird things. I feel like I should be embarrassed...

Woah.

What up? So, Hubby left. Not quite as expected, but it did happen eventually.

But, I have been keeping busy so it hasn't been too bad yet. Clair has been especially helpful with that. How so?



It turned out to be reaaaaalllllly long, so part 1 of 3. And sorry for the repeat there for you, Pauly.

Feel free to make fun of me starting now. But at least you get to see my face while doing it?