Good or Well?

Ah, so “How are you doing?”

“I’m doing well.”

You’re or Your?

Next time: Who or Whom?

*hefty sigh*

My [report card] dent is becoming pretty substantial… and it feels pretty good.

I’ve been given a pretty great gift, that gift being a sizeable amount of coverage to tend to my non-standingandtalkinginfrontofaroom duties.  …and that gift has been gratefully taken and well-used.

Done?  No.

But, the end is in sight.  As are a few other things, related to life and summer and friends and plans and good.

So in the Peaks and Valleys style of this career another insurmountable valley looks as though it’s about to be surmounted.

Add on the sunniness and it all feels pretty darn good!

You know when you’re so obsessed about getting a letter that you talk about it 24/7?

…And when you’re not talking about it, you’re thinking about it?  Or, phoning the place asking if there was, perhaps, a mishap?  Or blogging about it?

It was maybe my abundance of letter-related conversation, rather than pure coincidence or sign-from-the-gods, that just on the heels of explaining that I had just phoned a second time to check on my French Language funding to attend a Summer Language Immersion program at L’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)… that *my cell phone rang*:
The letter has arrived.

The eagle has landed.  The world is as it should be.  The Alberta Government is granting my wish, as a public servant, to UQAM (verb).

So, seemingly it’s real.  I’m Quebec-bound for another Summer in the classroom, as a student.  So as this cog clicks, a series of more cogs click too.  Time to register.  Time to think of a night class here in Calgary to warm-up.  Time to make arrangements.  Time to notify the here-friends that they should consider being there; time to notify the there-friends that I’d like to say hello.  Time to set goals about what this whole trip will be about.  Time to realize that a season’s pass at the Piscine de Natation at Parc Jean Drapeau isn’t such a silly idea after all… last time I would have saved and benefited BIG TIME!
I wish I could explain the draw, the mission, the appeal… but try as I might, I can’t.  This is a language, city, and culture that continues to appeal to me in fairly ineffable ways.

The letter is here.  French is funded.  I’m excited and grateful.

Je suis, tu es, il est, elle est, Nous sommes, vous ete,  ils sont, elles sont…

The letter is here!!

It is 9:53 PM on Wednesday, February 20th.

I have yet to log in to the Student Information Records System (S.I.R.S.) once.

What does that mean?

It means that my Report Cards have not yet been started, unless technology, now, is SO good that report cards do themselves without log-ins.

Am I hooped?

Not yet.  I have concrete action plan, multiple evenings still, and a full Saturday?

Am I realizing that I am possibly hooped-bound?  Yes.

But, I’m also JUST starting to feel better and am comforting myself that with a gigantic staff there’s no way I’m already the furthest behind.

It is, however, maybe time to put the Grapefruit Consumer Action on hold and to consider a lengthy log-in soon.

Oy vey.

I don’t know how it happened, but instantaneously I became possessed by Wendy Mesley or Tony Tigh and magically transformed into a Consumer Advocate extraordinaire just right now.

It all started less than half an hour ago with my trip to the local grocery store.

I bought: milk, apples, grapefruits, hummus, and crackers.

All was well until I was charged 3.98 for my grapefruits when I was fairly sure I should have been charged 3.48.

Feeling like a total dumba**, I payed, went and checked the sign, and walked right up to the Customer Service counter and explained the events.

She apologized. And gave me .50 in the form of two quarters and asked me to sign for them.

All is right, right?

Well, no.

See the above mentioned grocery store in question participates in the Canadian Scanning Code of Practice (“How do I even know this?” is the bigger question.)

That means: according to the Code of Practice’s website, that “If the scanned price of a product is higher than the advertised or displayed price, the advertised or displayed price is considered by law to be the correct price. If the correct price of the product is $10 or less, the retailer must give the product to the customer for FREE.”

That didn’t happen.

So imagine, if feeling like a dumba** for bringing it up in the firstplace, how much of a dumba** I feel like for calling the retail chain’s 1-800 number leaving a brief message stating, “Uh, I think I got .50 when I should have got free grapefruits.” (How, oh how, could I sleep tonight if I didn’t stand up for my fellow consumer??)

I’ll let you know my progress tomorrow.

These grapefruits better be DAMN good.

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common–this is my symphony.

It has been a long time since I’ve been sick period, let alone sick like this.

Holy cow!  My teeth hurt.  My ear hurts [still].  Sneezing.  Coughing.  Unable to breathe AT ALL through my nose. I’m looking through two little tiny slits for eyes: it’s crazy.

…and yet did I change any of my plans this week or weekend? No, zero.

Haha, talk about priorities out of line.  I did convention and it’s social affairs entirely as planned.  People in last night; and out with people tonight.  [Can I just say here, I love Edmonton people!?]  Tomorrow: home, Dinner at Grandma’s.

It’s not that I don’t have time to be sick.  I do.  But, this was not part of the plan.

…and it’s so true.  When one looks at their calendar and jams it packed-full, one never accounts for times like these, at least I don’t.  I’m just glad that it’s not during Vegas.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m trying to drink TONS of water.

I ♥ convention.

I ♥ downtown.

I ♥ my profession.

When else can I hang out with my very best ex- and current coworkers as well as with Deb Grey and Ian Hanomansing amongst others.

I leave with it +10 outside Spring/Summer vacations in sight.

I leave recharged hearing speaker after speaker highlight the importance of an awesome education and a strong belief in the public education system.

I leave deeply proud to stand amongst colleagues whose hard-work, optimism, and enthusiasm is mind-blowing.

(and I leave with a bit of new game plan for a week long scheme next year after finding a contact within the halls of the trade-show).

And so I take away from this convention much of what I’ve taken away from the others (with the addition of a wonderful Osborne Book of Teachable Art Ideas courtesy of my school).  I do look forward to whole convention season for a multitude of reasons.

I saw convention through the car window nearly every year of my life growing up… and now I’m there after much-waiting.

Weather-warmer, self-surer, belly-fuller… I still have a long weekend to look forward to.

…bring on Report Cards.  …bring on Interviews. (followed nearly immediately by: …bring on Vegas!!). 🙂