My one year anniversary!!!

Well Hello There!!!!

Can you believe it? I am FIFTEEN DAYS away from my one year anniversary
of travelling to Alberta :)

Not a WHOLE lot has changed since returning to the "East"...

Keeping in mind my reasons for returning:
I got my income taxes complete...
I studied and PASSED my national exam....
I renewed my PEI and Military drivers licence...
AND
I learned to drive my "beast" of a car....

I accepted my military contract for the summer and so, I was a flight instructor yet again! I finished that stint around the middle of August, after which I decided that instead of rushing back to Alberta, I would look around the Maritimes and around PEI for some jobs in the veterinary field. Particularly working with large animals.

The hunt began very optimistically. When I saw a few job postings that interested me, it motivated me to get my butt in gear and to put out resumes. But, week after week, I didn't hear back from anyone, and I became a little worried.

Luckily my father happened to see a friend of his, (a veterinarian), at Canadian Tire one day. Their conversation went a little like " How's your family?", "Good! How's yours?", "Well, as a matter of fact, Ashley is a Registered Veterinary Technician now!", "blah blah blah"..."Tell her to drop off a resume". And so, I did!

I worked at his clinic from the beginning of September until the last week of November. I was working both full time and part time, while his receptionist/ vet assistant was having multiple surgeries. So when she was there, I was part time, and when she wasn't I was full time!

I decided however that I would give myself a cut off. A deadline if you will. I was either going to find a large animal job or I wasn't. I would either STAY in the maritimes, or I would not. And if I were to NOT find a job then I decided that I would return to Alberta.

Why not just stay at the Clinic I was working at? Well, I didn't want it to become "safe". I didn't want it to feel comfortable, or stay because it was EASY. It's not what I wanted! Great people, great fun, but not cows and horses...

That's when I came across a job posting for a Large animal tech position at teh Atlantic Verterinary College. I was pretty pumped about this position...right up until I found out that I wouldn't get it because there was someone internal that was applying for it. Again, I got really discourraged, and kind of decided right then and there that I was heading back to Alberta. That night however I checked the website again, and found another position, a casual position. This 6 month term position was for Large animal and Small animal ICU, working mostly nights, weekends, holidays, sick leaves etc. So, I applied, but didn't really get my hopes up. I had already been let down once or twice before...I didn't figure it necessary to become a repeat offender. But this time was different...

I got a call for an interview on Tuesday
Had the interview on Thursday
Got an email Monday asking if they could call my references
And then,
Got a call on the 20th of November telling me that I got the job!!!!

The last week of November was my opportunity to CELEBRATE!!!! So, I went west ! hahaha
Not to Alberta though, instead I went to Regina, Saskatchewan!! I attended the Canadian Western Agribition for about 5 days and then when I returned I started my new job :)

I really like working at the college. I've gotten to do a lot since starting, and I seem to get along well with everyone. I just wish that "everyone" would get along with "everyone else"....

Since the moment I arrived I've found that everyone talks about people behind their backs, they ALWAYS find something to complain about, never seem to give someone the benefit of the doubt, would rather complain about something and do NOTHING than to help out a friend and work together...There's just way too much animosity!! Maybe I should find a John Lennon CD and play it for them all. He sang about peace didn't he??....Jeeze, how would I know, I listen to country music....

Anyway, I find this really frustrating because I LIKE my job. I LIKE coming to work...I LIKE people?...I can't imagine complaining just to hear my own voice?! I mean, I just can't believe that I left Alberta, the AWESOME clinic, with the AWESOME people for a group of coworkers that hate coming to work everyday, and refuse to help you!?.......

SO- that's why I've come up with THE MASTER PLAN!!!!!

This plan includes making loads and tones of money, and falling in love with either a canadian or american cowboy that is attending the college. Then I will travel with said cowboy to anywhere but PEI, and away from immature adults and then I can rodeo on weekends and enjoy my job in the tranquility of the West.....

The End.... hahahah wonderful plan isn't it? Now I justneed to find me a cowboy....

But no, seriously, I've come to realize ( something that I've always kind of known) that although my body was born in Ontario, my soul was born in the West. I kind of feel like an outcast all the time...I wish I could wear my wranglers, fatbaby's, plaid shirt and belt buckle every day of the week.... So I'll ride the immature bus out, but when I do finally have enough money to establish myself, AND, when a position becomes available at another Equine facility, I'm going to move back.

Until then- I'm going to keep in contact with all of the friends that I made in Alberta, and I may even head back this July and take in the Calgary Stampede!!

So for now I guess I'll just have to dig in my heels and hold on tight ( while saying YEEEEEHAWW) and hope that my cowboy is not all that far away....

Night y'all.
-A