A new home

What a difference a few days can make.

Whilst checking my ever decreasing bank account balance, Laurel's parents gave me the ridiculously kind offer of staying with them once my accommodation runs out at the hotel I'm staying. Oh thank goodness. I am staying at a pretty cheap hotel ($60 a night) but it's just way too expensive to stay at indefinitely. Their (more than) kind offer took a massive weight off my shoulders. And of couse being so close to christmas, I knew it would be heard to find a place straight away, particularly without a job. They are just awesome people. They have opened up their house (and family) to me with some such warmth it is simply amazing. I am blessed.

The best news was that of a job offer. Laurel's sister's boyfriend Clint, knows the manager at a bar they frequent and noted to the manager that I was looking for work. His exact words to me where "I'm sure we can find something for you". Bloody awesome. After some corresponding over email, he said he would talk to his exectuve chef about a kitchen position - basically ensuring food orders left the kitchen in a timely matter and go to where they are supposed to. So Paul, the executive chef said to me on thursday to "come in between 2 and 4 over the next couple of days".

I went in for a "chat" yesterday. It was very quick. I was feeling surprisingly confident. Paul asked me about my restaurant experience, of course I have zero, but I joked that I've spent a fair amount of time drinking in them! Anyway, he said yes, we do have a position vacant, come in next tuesday and we'll wee how we go. Bloody fantastic! Such relief. Such bloody relief. I can now start looking for a place to live and can start saving some money and of course, meet more people. Bloody awesome!

I may have remarked in an earlier post how welcoming and warm Laurel's family are. Tonight (christmas eve) I'm joining them for dinner. Tomorrow, I join them for Christmas day festivities. I'm oh so bloody lucky. It's been a tough couple of weeks with all the uncertainty, but now I can call Calgary, home. Ah what a great feeling this is. Home. And with such fantastic people.

The plan now is to stay here until about July, when the Calgary stampede is on. The stampede is like Calgary's version of Oktoberfest. After that, I'll head off for some travel around Canada and then head down to Nevada in thw States for Burning Man (google it).

By the way, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, dear reader.