Mo on the Go

The planning continues...

2010-08-04T14:02:00.003-04:00

Well, I managed to scout out a super cheap hostel in Bolzano AND an awesome B&B in Bologna. I also booked my hostel for Venice. Soooo, that means accommodations are taken care of for 15 of the 16 nights in Italy. I'm not booking anything for the last night of the trip. I'll likely splurge and treat myself to a swanky hotel in Rome.

Other than trip planning, the next two weeks will be focussed on finishing up some loose ends at work, updating my resume and finishing off a course I've been doing. My partner leaves for a family trip tomorrow. I'll be in the apartment alone. Weird! However, I'm only there for a week and then off to Ottawa for a week before I head off on my journey. Listen to me trying to pretend I'm all cool when deep down I'm a total sook and gonna miss my guy soooo much...especially during those first two weeks leading up to my own vacation. Le sigh.

La Dolce Vita

2010-08-02T13:55:00.003-04:00

I am taking a trip to Italy in a few weeks. I'm staying for 16 nights. And, I cannot wait! I just finished planning my route yesterday. I am starting in Rome and then heading to Cinque Terre, Pisa, Florence, Bologna, Bolzano (Dolomites), Venice and then back to Rome. I just booked my hostels for Rome, Cinque Terre, Pisa and Florence. Now I am exploring a few options for Bologna and Bolzano. There are not many hostels in those cities but there are a few B&Bs.

I think I love the trip planning almost as much as the trip! I love deciding which towns I will visit, how long I will spend in each, booking everything and then showing up for the ride! There's no doubt that travelling is exciting. But, there's also a huge sense of accomplishment as well. When all the researching, planning and decision-making turn into reality, there's no better feeling! Especially when you travel independantly! Less than 3 weeks to go and I can barely contain myself!

Here and there

2010-07-30T16:25:00.003-04:00

Another week on the move. I was in Ottawa from Monday until Wednesday. I was supposed to have a class on Wednesday evening so I arranged my flight to come back in time. My flight was delayed...twice...so I knew I would likely only make the second half if that. I hoofed it home, got changed, grab my stuff and headed for transit only to get greeted on the other end of the subway line with a massive downpour. Ya got to be kidding me! I was already super late. I waited a few minutes...then bailed. So, I hopped back on the subway, hit the LCBO and came home for a couple of beers with my guy. I also had cool ranch doritos for supper. And as we cracked our beers and munched on our chips, the sun started shining. Go figure.

Strengths

2010-07-23T09:51:00.003-04:00

So I've been doing a little introspection to review my interests, skills, etc. I went to Chapters and picked up the Strengths Finder 2.0 book, went online and did the test. The overall results (they give you your top 5 themes) were not a big surprise. However, reading all 34 themes really got me jazzed and made me think about the other themes that were probably nearing my top 5.

To be honest, the whole exercise got me jazzed. In fact, all of these exercises get me jazzed. I've always been super stoked about self-awareness exercises...for myself and others. The other thing that got me jazzed is the whole notion of maximizing your strengths. This approach TOTALLY aligns with my style and personality. Going through the exercise and reading the materials really reminded me how much further we get when we focus on what we and others are good at as opposed to always trying to develop those areas we are not-so-good at. I guess that's why the 'maximizer' theme came out as one of my top 5.

Anyhoo...I definitely felt a spark in this whole process... I felt energized. I felt excited. I felt like some dormant energy had been exposed! Now I have to run out and get the strengths-based leadership book! I am such a geek.

Career MO-bility

2010-07-20T15:52:00.004-04:00

As I mentioned in my last update, I'm now living and working in Toronto. I am continuing to do the same job that I did in Ottawa and so far, it has been great! It has been fun getting used to doing my work in a new way. At the same time, it has been an adjustment being away from my colleagues. However, things are about to change even more! We are about to go through a reorg at work and I will not likely be doing the same work.

Essentially, one of four things will happen: 1. I will stay in my current role with an expanded or new focus. 2. I will be deployed to another position at a similar level. 3. I will obtain a new position through competition. 4. I will be laid off. It seems that the most likely options will be 2 or 3. I'm actually ok with any scenario as I believe the reorg is the right thing to do and I believe that what will be will be.

Despite being completely cool with the unknown and being excited about the possibilities ahead, I have started thinking about the various scenarios. Specifically, I've been thinking a lot about what I REALLY want to do. In terms of the possibilities, there are various options - each requiring different skill sets. I have a strong background in several areas. So there are likely a number of possibilities. However, this is really forcing me to think about what I like to do, when I am most happy, and where I would like to contribute in the long term. I'm maintaining an open mind and giving myself permission to be ok in this 'not knowing' zone. That being said, most of my thoughts these days are dominated by visioning, introspection, reflection, dilemmas, and a mixture of clarity and chaotic thoughts.

In any event, I think this grey zone is a gift because it is forcing me to reflect on who I am, what I want, and what I am good at. I thought I had a good grasp on this. However, I have grown and changed a lot over the past few years and so too have my ambitions and interests. As I come to terms with all this, I am looking forward to a few ah-ha moments. But for now, I'm all over the map!

Mo on the Go

2010-07-17T10:21:00.006-04:00

Well, it has been over 10 months since I have blogged. This blog, originally titled "Adventures in House Sitting," captured the tales of a year of living rent free, moving from home to home. In September 2009, I moved into the basement of friends of mine and stayed there until February 2010. Did I stay put? Hell no! Those 6 months included multiple trips for work and pleasure including 5 weeks in Australia and Bali enjoying the fruits of my labour as a house sitter...one who completely paid off his debt and can now live a 'sensible' life.

To top that off, in March 2010, I moved to Toronto! I now live with my partner in an actual apartment and I continue to work for the same employer in the same job from a distance. Since moving here, I have had numerous adventures here in the city along with travels to Halifax, Montreal, and multiple work trips to Ottawa and road trips throughout the area. Now, I am preparing for a 2-week holiday in Italy next month. Ironically, my trip to Australia was the longest I stayed in one place in forever. But then again, that's a lie because I hopped around from city to rainforest to mountains to the outback. Let's face it...I just can't stay put.

Soooo, after seeing a friend of mine start a new blog, I was inspired to get back at it. Here, I will share the stories of my adventures here and abroad, and of how much my life has changed since those house sitting days. Now if you excuse me, I have to go as I am taking off to Guelph for the weekend. See ya soon!!!!

Home Free

2009-09-02T14:50:00.001-04:00

Today, my house sitting and hobo living arrangement has paid off. Literally! I have now paid off my entire loan. This comes at a time when I say goodbye to a summer sublet and move into the lower deck of the home of friends. This next venue is longer term. No more hoboism, no more debt. Ahhhhhh.

Roam, if you want to!!!

2009-05-27T20:47:00.004-04:00

Ok, so I have not posted in over two months. Well, that's because I have not technically been house sitting. However, I did spend two months staying with friends and their 2-year old daughter (whilst travelling for work) and have recently sub-letted in downtown Ottawa for the summer...so I guess I'm technically a home carer! And no doubt, I'm still a wanderer!

In any case, aside from the roaming associated with my living arrangements, I have recently taken on significant roaming of a different kind. My work has taken me on a whole host of travels across Canada, which have led to a whole series of new adventures. This has wet my appetite for travelling in general...and there are a bunch of escapades planned for this summer. As such, I am contemplating renaming this blog to capture my adventures in roaming....house sitting, travelling, whatever.... all the things that keep me from standing still. If you have ideas, please let me know. As of now, I am leaning toward the address itself... "Littlest Homo."

Stay tuned!

Kid Again

2009-03-07T09:07:00.003-05:00

I love staying at Mike's. It is 9:00 am and so far Louise made breakfast and we've all sat around watching The Smurfs, Alvin and the Chipmunks and Fraggle Rock. So basically, I'm a kid again. Ok, I have to go....Megan and I have to sing a song.

Flat Line

2009-03-05T13:26:00.002-05:00

I paid off my line of credit today. Zero balance. The feeling when I saw those zero's was amazing. The timing was really cool... as soon as the last gig was over, so was my LOC. Sweet.

Adventures in...

2009-02-28T09:01:00.002-05:00

I guess that I won't really be a house sitter anymore as of this afternoon. Perhaps I need to rename this blog?

No need to worry

2009-02-27T18:43:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite books is Warrior of the Light by Paulo Coelho. It's an accompanying manual to the Alchemist. It starts with a story which has a simple message. Basically, the moment you stop concerning yourself with something, it will happen. My observations since reading this is that Mr. Coelho is on to something.

Last night, as I packed my things for the umpteenth time, I kept thinking...I can't do this again. I've been thinking a lot lately about adding some stability to my living "arrangement." I've also been caught up in unknowns like when am I going on French training, when will I find out, where will it be, etc etc. Then today, I thought to myself, how did I get myself into the line of thinking that puts me in a position of being dependent on unknown information? That's just deferring a decision. So, today I decided to get out of my own head and just chill, enjoy my time in Orleans and take my time looking for a place knowing that everything would work itself out. I literally just finished having this thought and the phone rang. It was the guy who was subletting his place downtown but who had said he had a friend interested. The friend changed his mind. Long story short, I'm in.

I popped by Mike and Louise's house tonight to drop off my stuff. When I told them the news, Louise said, "well, you are welcome to stay here for March and April if you want." Within minutes, the next 6 months were covered.

So that's that. The minute I stopped worrying, it all fell into place.

Winding Down

2009-02-26T22:33:00.004-05:00

Another gig comes to an end. I am moving out of my temp rez in Gatineau on Saturday.

Tonight was prep time. I did all my laundry and packed all my clothes. Despite having purged yet again, the whole process of packing seemed sooooo long. I'm not sure I can do this anymore. I'm spent.

Anhyoo, I'm going to bring all my stuff over to Mike and Louise's tomorrow evening to have it done and over with. Tomorrow night is cleaning time. The goal is to not have to do a thing on Saturday except hand over the keys.

I will say this though...I am going to miss those cats! And, I'm gonna miss this freaky deaky house too. Overall, it was a very pleasant stay. And it was sooo good to be close to downtown. I'm gonna miss it here.

Running, Running

2009-02-23T22:51:00.004-05:00

I ran 10K tonight. It was actually an awesome run minus the pain at the end. I went from the place I am staying in Hull, down over the hill, over the Alexandria Bridge, across Sussex, across Wellington and back to my place. But when I passed Parliament, my knee started giving me shit again. The rest of the run was more of a hobble. Thank god for the cold...it provided just enough numbing to get 'er done. I gotta say...I love running in the downtown area... so much better than the burbs. Nice to see things like the Parliament Buildings and Supreme Court.... as opposed to..well...houses. That being said, there are some good flat areas in Orleans which are great for my knee issues. So bring on the burbs.

I don't know where my home is...

2009-02-22T19:51:00.009-05:00

...I'm like a bird, I'll only fly away!!!!

So, it is my last week in Gatineau. Next weekend I'm back in Orleans with Mike, Louise and Meg. That's where I am until...well...I dunno. After that...well...I dunno.

I started apartment hunting this week. I went to one apartment building on Wednesday...it smelled like cabbage. Next.

Yesterday I saw a few places. I saw an apartment in Little Italy...nice, but too many stairs. I saw a furnished place in the Glebe...bit pricey for whatcha get. And I saw a furnished place in centretown. The later was interesting. Sublet from May 1 to Aug 31... decent price, everything in. The idea of a shorter term arrangement (shorter than a full lease, longer than a month) and furnished is appealing. Gives me a chance to lay my hat for the summer while finding something longer term. Called the guy today...he had his buddy look at the place today who is likely gonna take it. Ah well. If nothing else, it got me in the "sub-let" market.

It is probably a blessing in disguise that this particular place did not pan out... I really would like to know when and where I will be going to school before moving forward. My new boss is back from vacay this week so I should get those answers soon enough.

Who knows....maybe the universe is telling me not to abandon my house sitting lifestyle. They say when you really want something, the whole universe conspires in your favour. It has kinda been true so far....when I decided to start this journey, everything just fell into place...and it has continued to fall into place ever since. Long story short: I really wanted to not pay rent and the universe obliged. I really wanted to pay off debt. The universe obliged. I really wanted steady gigs and the universe obliged....until l I started contemplating not doing it anymore. Is it giving me what I want or is it saying, "if you are not sure whether or not you want it, why should I give it to you?"

So, bottom line is I'm not sure what I want anymore. But I want to figure it out. And I know I will. But just in case the universe is listening and needs clarification on what I really really want....let me be direct. Dear Universe, I would like a long term house sitting gig in the downtown area with no pets involved. Much love.

K...lets see what happens.

Zzzzz

2009-02-20T22:24:00.002-05:00

I am so tired. Cat ears. Q-tips. Vomit. Cleaning. Tired. One week left. Zzzzz.

Snow Go!

2009-02-19T08:54:00.010-05:00

Holy Pitt and Jolie... It's happening again! What? Snow!

I don't know why I went into the false delusional state of thinking we had entered Spring again. Perhaps it was the ice sculptures turned Popsicles at Winterlude. But, I had literally just commented yesterday on my friend's blog about winter woes and how it is much better outside the burbs. Then the snow came.

I was instantly affected. I am achy and painy and tired and I don't wanna do nutt'in. And I want my mommy. Wahhh!

It started when I got out of a meeting across campus yesterday and had to walk back with no hat or gloves. Then my drive home reverted to a bus-strike-style ordeal. Over an hour. I went out to dinner with my friend Krista and felt distracted and stupid until I had something to eat. I attributed my weakened state to hunger. But then I got home and went to bed at 9:30 pm and never moved until 7:30 am! Part of that has to do with my body adjusting to running. But part of it is the snow, b'ok! Wahhh!

I woke up feeling awake but totally stiff and lopsided. I kept banging into things. And if you saw the place where I am staying, there is a lot to bang into. I collided with an angel, a random gargoyle, and various items in the fridge. Who knew a fridge could be such an obstacle course? Anyhoo, I managed to feed the cats, change their litter (gross) and grab my lunch. It took forever.

I finally managed to get out of the house. It took 5 minutes but felt like an age. As I was leaving, I grabbed my lunch and the litter bag and fled. I hurried to the car and opened the back door to put my bags in the back seat. Then I realized that there were bags...plural...one for my lunch and one full of cat turds. Yes...that's right...I was about to take cat shit to work. I tossed the bag of piss and poo and went back to the car. I then sat there for a good 3-5 minutes without movement or sound. It took that long to come down from the past half-hour (half-centruy in snow-motion).

When I arrived at work, I hung up my coat...it felt like so much work. Then I had to walk all the way over to my computer, turn it on AND sit down. So many tasks. My legs were sore and my feet felt stupid. So I kicked off my shoes and curled up in my office chair to write this blog before I started my day.

I'm looking out the window and all I see is snow. That and all the snippets on facebook about how my friends in Newfoundland had a snow day yesterday. If only.

Apartment Hunting

2009-02-18T11:08:00.003-05:00

Could the adventures of house sitting be coming to an end? I think so.

Today, I am going to view an apartment. I have another couple of viewings set up for this weekend as well. Nothing carved in stone yet. But, I need to see what's out there and see how I feel going through the process.

I must admit that the minute I found out I would be staying in Ottawa, I totally checked out of this whole house hopping thing. Don't get me wrong...it has been amazing. It has taught me so much. It has put me light years ahead financially. But, it has been six months. It's time to lay roots.

All that being said, I have not given up on the marketing of my house sitting services. However, my services will likely be restricted to the downtown area and longer term....sans animaux.

Pussy Love

2009-02-18T08:27:00.005-05:00

I got a Valentine from Izzy the Cat! It was so sweet. She has no teeth yet she was able to sign a card. Now that's love!

What I especially like about the card is the way it starts off. It reads, "Love the way you stroke my fur, let me stalk you, make me purr." This card could have easily come from several men I know.

Seriously though...I had just gotten out of a crappy meeting and this little treat was on my desk. It made me smile :)

C'est officiel: je vais étudier à Ottawa

2009-02-16T11:34:00.007-05:00

It's official. My full time language training will take place in Ottawa. My application will go to the Canada School of the Public Service and they will determine which school I will attend. There are two on the Gatineau side and a whole bunch on the Ottawa side. I would prefer the later. If I am going to stay in Ottawa, then I would like to stay in Ottawa. But, I have also learned my lesson not to get my hopes up. I am just happy to get started. Whatever will be will be. C'est la vie, eh?

So now the hunt begins. But the question is, what am I hunting for? A long term house sitting gig? An apartment? A condo? A house? Who knows?!?

I am leaning toward getting an apartment downtown so that I can be close to school. Unless of course I found a long term gig in the vicinity but that's unlikely. I considered going on the Gatineau side if that is where I end up going to school, but I think I'd rather keep my residence in Ontario for tax purposes, etc. I would have changed all that for a more substantial move but if I'm staying in this area, it's not really worth it.

In the short term, I'm heading back to Mike and Louise's in Orleans next month. I texted Mike to see that the offer was still good. His reply: "Of course. Megan still calls it Keith's room."

Purging Time!

2009-02-14T11:29:00.004-05:00

How many freak'in times have I purged stuff in the past year?!? Who knows??? Well, today I managed to purge a full garbage bag of clothes...yet again! This must be the 5th bag of goodies I've prepped for the bin in the past 6 months. That's not including all the other household items that have been cut out....little things like forks and mugs and TV's.

The funny thing about this purge is that most of the stuff actually started out as good clothes...and none of it is that old. About half of it is shoes...shoes that can no longer be worn with my orthotics and/or do not support my newly aligned body.

The other half includes pants that were purchased just last summer but were either shrunken or destroyed during my last laundry drop-off on Elgin...I think they sensed I was moving out and wanted to ruin me. I was so annoyed but held on to the items in denial...about $300.00 worth of denial. The worst thing is that two pairs of pants look fine...except it looks like there's rain coming and I'm the only one ready. Oh well...no point opening the floodgates anymore.

The rest of it was garbage...old skool socks I was too lazy to sort through and random stuff like my outfit from the cheezie sweater party. I ain't lugging that crap into a new home and/or apartment and/or gig and/or my car...wherever I happen to land. My next place is going to be sooooo minimalist it is not even funny.

Off to the charity bin.

Coming Soon: Clarity!

2009-02-14T08:06:00.003-05:00

Good news! It looks like I will be going on language training sooner than later. That means an April/May entry or a June/July entry depending on logistics. Whatever the case, I am school bound soon! Yay!!!!

I want my own lunchbox!!!

The part that is not clear is "where" I will be going to school. Right now it looks like Ottawa, which is cool. None of the schools on the Feds' standing offer in Quebec have any immersion programs running in Montreal or Quebec City. Sounds surprising but not really... for two main reasons: 1. There is not a huge demand for government workers to learn French in those cities...English maybe, French no. 2. There are tons of shorter immersion programs for people starting at more advanced levels but few programs for people who need the full meal deal. C'est ca.

Sooooo....the language peeps at work are snooping around to see if there are any private schools within the rate limit in Montreal or Quebec City but it is unlikely. While I was slightly disappointed at first, I'm coming around to the idea and surprisingly fast. After all, it is only recently that I came back to the notion of moving. Plus, I am at the point where I would just like to know either way and get on with it.

The bottom line is that I am sooo fortunate and extremely grateful. I just got a promotion and now I am going to be sent on full time language training. Getting to do that in a French-speaking city would have just been gravy. But hey...gravy is good but it makes you fat.

Soooo....now the question is, what the hell to do next in terms of living arrangement?!? As I said before, Mike and Louise have offered their place for March. I think I am going to snap that up and use the month to figure out a longer term plan and look for a place. Plus, if by some fluke the Montreal thing worked out, I'm not locked in yet. And I'll know that either way in the next week or so.

Stay tuned!

Catitude

2009-02-13T18:19:00.001-05:00

I just finished cleaning out the ears of two hairless cats with q-tips. It took four q-tips per cat. I then gave eye drops to one cat and cleaned gook from its eyes. I need my own apartment.

Crossroads

2009-02-12T21:58:00.006-05:00

I am at a crossroads. I have no idea what lies ahead. More importantly, I have no idea where I am living next month. And...um...next month is in two weeks!

I mentioned before that I had a potential gig in March. Well, I have to go out of town on a couple of occasions, which poses a problem as the gig involves caring for dogs. So, I felt it was best to back out as I did not want to mislead the owners. Besides, Mike and Louise have offered their place to stay and that would allow the flexibility to come and go for the month.

What happens after March is the bigger question.

I'm at a turning point. I am waiting to hear if my language training will begin sooner or later. If sooner, it may be as early as April or May. If later, it may be upwards of a year away. Why does this matter? Well, if it is sooner, I will likely be relocating to another city to live in a more immersed environment. And if later, I need to decide whether to continue my life as a hobo or to settle down somewhere for the year. I'm leaning toward the later...but the idea of forking out that kind of cash makes me feel icky inside. We'll see.

Soooo...rather than draft a decision tree with all of the if-then scenarios, I am just gonna wait until I hear about the language training. That should happen tomorrow or Monday. If I go on training soon, I will have to apply to schools in Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa/Gatineau, see who has room for me, and go from there. If training is no go, it's decision time.

In any event, I'm not sure what my future holds as a house sitter. This whole experience has been a great way to experience Ottawa, save money and learn a whole bunch of nifty lessons. But at this point, I'm kinda tired. I'm tired and I want my own life back.

All that being said, the second week of any gig is always tiring. It's that Post Nomadic Stress Disorder thing I talked about in a previous entry. By Week Two, all of the excitement of the novelty wears off and the effects of the transition and return to abnormality kick in. This on top of the job transition and the return to running, and my body is wiped by the end of the day. Last night I went to sleep at 9:30 pm and did not budge until 7:00 am.

Are the adventures of the littlest homo nearing an end? Or shall they continue in another far off land? Stay tuned. Cause I haven't got a frigg'in clue.

La semaine dernière

2009-02-12T17:24:00.006-05:00

It's been a little over a week since I last posted...quite the stretch for me. Work is kinda crazy as I clue up one job and prepare for the next. I have also been catching up with friends, etc etc. Rather than bore you with all the minute details, let me just share my lessons learned.

Lessons of the Last Week

1. Importance of audiovisuals - I have not been much of a TV person over the past year. However, I am a huge fan of catching shows on DVD....especially in winter. This past week, the crew of Gallactica met the home entertainment loft. Let's just say I was literally blown away. Lesson: a future home must be rigged out with proper AV equipment.

2. Importance of home furnishings (and an associated expert) - I went shopping this past weekend with my friend Adam. He knows a lot of stuff about stuff and has a lot of neat stuff and, if he does not know stuff, he has the right taste in stuff to get the right stuff. Lesson: Whenever I have to dress a future bed or kitchen or what not, he will be involved.

3. Importance of good running routes - I started my running room clinic last week and subsequently started my routine for the next four months. I found a couple of routes here in Gatineau - some good, some bad. Lesson: stick with streets. Sidewalks suck. Sidewalks in winter suck even harder.

4. Cats can be gross - One of the bald pussies threw up a few times the other day...and neglected to alert me. First deposit greeted me in the morning in the washroom, second greeted me at the front door and third greeted my foot en route to do laundry. On top of that, his brother has grossness coming out of his eye. Lesson: I'm a dog person.

5. Cats can be cute - Despite the previous lesson, the cats do make good company. When I watch TV, both of the boys lie side by side on my chest. I have to admit - it's kinda nice. I also started letting them sleep where they want....which means my bed. One curls up by my feet...the other behind my knees. I feel the love. Lesson: who needs stuffed animals when you have the real thing. Ok, they are more like rubber chickens. But you get the point.

6. Importance of Groceries - I purchased groceries on Sunday. It was the first time since November. That's right...3 months. No wonder I put on weight and felt like crap all the time. One minute I'm at boot camp, the next minute I'm bubbling out over my jeans. This lifestyle is kinda like traveling. All the short stays make you a little lazy...so it takes extra diligence to keep on track. When I finally landed at the Maxi, just being there made me happy! And buying food following a run inspired healthy choices. I've felt amazing since. And the pounds are already shedding. Lesson: shop regularly, shop smart.

That's all for now! Off to the running room!

Working From Home

2009-02-03T14:07:00.002-05:00

I am working from home today....and I love it!

I have worked from home at 3 or 4 of my past gigs. To be honest, I never really enjoyed it. But, I am this time!

I'm sure a big part of it has to do with what I am actually working on. But, there are a bunch of other factors as well. So far I've come up with: good lighting, the actual work environment, eating properly (minus the espresso which is vital), and having a great night's rest. All that, and I am just plain happy to be where I am. That makes a big difference!

I think it is also because I've been reflecting a lot lately on years gone by...particularly those years when I was super productive and a total Johnny Keener. I guess that's spilled over into my work. I think the upcoming new job is having a motivating effect too. Not to mention, that I've worked through and moved past a lot of things that were holding me back.

Whatever the case...I'm loving it! So much so that I gotta get back at it! Laters!!!!

Skin Cares

2009-02-02T22:38:00.004-05:00

I saw Lorna at work today. Stopped by to see that everything was ok with Izzy and the house. She passed me a bag and said "I think you left this here." Expecting the worst, I was somewhat relieved to see that it was stuff from the Body Shop that Adam had got for my skin woes (toner, pads, skin cream). But still...Awkward! I felt precious. Whatever. Truth is I have been drying up, evaporating or crusting over since I moved to this place and the shit works!

Put your head on my shoulders...

2009-02-02T19:34:00.006-05:00

Vlad is permanently affixed to my shoulders. Seriously. Every single time I use the computer.

Sans Traffic!

2009-02-02T19:00:00.002-05:00

20 minutes!

That's how long it took to get from work to Gatineau. Thank you Jebus!

A little jaunt down Montreal Road, a smooth ride across the Rockcliffe Parkway with no westbound cars, a quick drive past the PM's house, then over Alexandria Bridge. Voila. I am home!

Gatineau just went to the top of the list!

Espresso

2009-02-01T13:14:00.000-05:00

This place has an espresso machine. How did I ever live without it?

Catineau

2009-02-01T12:28:00.010-05:00

And now the moment you've all been waiting for! Drum roll please....Hairless Cats!!!

The two beauties you see here are Vlad (rear) and Oudja. Two Canadian hairless cats..otherwise known as Sphynx cats. And they are siblings! No, they don't have hair. But, they do secrete oil! Yippee!

Their behaviour is peculiar to say the least. They are kinda like cats, dogs and monkeys all in one. Yes, monkeys. In fact, as I type this, Vlad is perched on my shoulder - moving from one shoulder to the other and rubbing his face against my beard. This is the second time in the past hour. On the first occasion, I had no shirt on. I did not mind until he walked down my back. I have claw marks down my spine. And he stayed there until I walked over to the bed for him to hop off.

Vlad definitely has the most personality of the two. He is one of those wild with a soft side kinda guys. He's assertive and snarly one minute...then affectionate and all over you the next. Oudja is more laid back. He rarely ventures away from the kitchen. But I really like him. He seems like a pretty grounded dude. I bet he will surprise me and do something profound one of these days.

It is funny watching them interact. One minute they fight or play. The next minute they are just hanging out. The next minute Oudja is rolling his eyes at Vlad's attention seeking antics. But they seem to balance each other out.

Ok...Vlad is literally wrapped around my neck right now. I just walked to another room and he stayed there. And now he wants to type too...wait a sec... $%jjhhhh. Apparently that is "hello" in Sphynx. Ok...I gotta go....

Fast as fast can be, you'll never catch me!

2009-02-01T10:24:00.008-05:00

Yesterday was nuts! Come to think of it, this week was nuts!

I found out this week that I got a promotion at work. Yay! I was also negotiating some stuff around a potential gig in March. All this and I was preparing to switch gigs this weekend. Yadda Yadda Yadda...it was a whirlwind of a week.

So, I moved from Orleans to Gatineau on Saturday. One problem. I thought I was moving to Gatineau on Sunday! Thankfully, when the owners called to touch base Saturday morning, I had already cleaned Palace D'Orleans from top to bottom and had all my gear packed and ready to go. So I cheerily reported that I was on my way. Total case of the stupids on my part. They said they were leaving Feb 1. But, they were actually leaving T.O. on Feb 1...Gatineau on the 31st! eek! My bad.

Long story short, I managed to hoof it from Orleans to Gatineau in fairly short order. My friend Adam came with me - he got to meet the hairless cats. This was after I got introduced to the house alarm - after I incorrectly entered my code. The alarm blared as Adam and the cats covered their ears in distress. Once that crisis was averted, we completed the move of my stuff from the car to the house. That took 5 minutes tops. We then mingled with the freaked out pussies for a bit before heading on to the next stop: Kanata.

We were supposed to arrive at Tanya's place in Kanata at 4:00 pm. We arrive 5:30 pm. We stay for an hour and then it's hoof time again...back downtown for dinner. En route, we get a call from Nadine advising that it would be an hour wait. Perfect - a window.

We hoof it back to Gatineau to buy food for the cat back in Orleans (so that the owners would not return to an empty cupboard). We then drop by to feed the hairless kitties and return to the Market. After dinner, we hoof it back to Orleans to feed gummy pussy one last time. And when it is all over, I drop Adam off - and drop in to take in some BSG - then return to Gatineau at about 12:30 am.

So....Orleans to Gatineau, Gatneau to Kanata, Kanata to the Market, Market to Gatineau, Gatineau to the Market, Market to Orleans, Orleans to Gatineau - one toothless cat, two hairless cats and a bewildered pair of mo's.

I think I am in the right place now.

Sad Pussy

2009-01-29T23:21:00.004-05:00

I think Izzy knows something is up. As I was packing up clothes today, she peeked in through the doorway of the bedroom looking all sad and lost. And, when I approached her...she turned away. I wonder if she'll sleep with me tonight or begin to ease back to her cat bed. Maybe it's for the best.

Good Blowing

2009-01-29T23:17:00.004-05:00

I blew the whole thing!

The whole four car driveway that is. I don't know why I am so proud of myself. But, using the snow blower all by myself without supervision and without any sort of explosion or severed limb seems like an accomplishment. Kudos me!

I could do this forever! yah right... the next place has a snow clearing service....yes!

3D Movement

2009-01-28T18:58:00.005-05:00

When I set out to be a hobo, I had three debt-related objectives in mind: pay off VISA by end of 2008, pay off Line of Credit by March 31, 2009, double student loan payments beginning April 1, 2009. All of this with the ultimate goal of being debt free (minus the car loan of course) by the end of 2010.

I paid off my VISA in December as planned. Check. I racked it up for Christmas and paid it off in January in one transaction. That's the goal...use it but don't abuse it. My VISA is my primary source of payment since I build Aeroplan points with every transaction (linked to the travel goals). But my ultimate goal is to always pay it off in full every month. And I have.

My line of credit has been slashed in half in the past couple of months and should be paid off by the end of February, a month ahead of schedule. This means doubling the student loan payments a month ahead of schedule.

Progress. Seeing these digits fly off the page...and not seeing any minus sign in front of my account balance makes it all worth while.

It's good to be a nomad!

Winter Woes

2009-01-28T17:54:00.011-05:00

Maybe it's the bus strike and the difficulty getting around town. Maybe it's because I'm out in the wilderness of Orleans. Maybe it's the darkness - both inside and outside the house. Maybe it's the snow. Maybe its my fatitude. Or, maybe it is the minus 9000 temperature. Whatever it is...I am not digging this winter!

I am self-diagnosing myself with hermititis. I've tried embracing my self-induced hibernation...in fact I was excited about it. I stocked up on new books...and was looking forward to the fun that my hoboism would inject in my solitude. But nahh...not feeling it.

Alas, there is hope! I am moving to Gatineau this weekend. Gatineau is my Obama! And when I get over there, mark my words: I'm kicking winter in the ass...and it'll be begging for more. Aside from being closer to friends and better running routes, I am close to Gatineau Park..and closer to the Canal again. And mark my words: I will go snow shoeing, sliding and skating...each at least once. The later may be replaced by building a snowman....or playing dress-up with the hairless kitties. I digress.

All that being said - and building on my previous blog about travel - this I avow: Beginning in 2010, I shall vacay somewhere warmer during one of the first three months of the year...forever!!! Anyone who knows me knows that I can drift around and him and haw with the best of 'em...but once I set my mind to something, it's a done deal. So see ya in your scuba gear in a year, b'ok?

Ok...I feel better. No more negativity about winter. It's part of life in Canada, eh? Might as well embrace it....or as I said...kick it in the ass. But passivity and winter just don't go together. So, back to being a man of action.

Travelling Man

2009-01-26T18:04:00.014-05:00

I want to travel. And I mean travel. It is a suppressed desire that has come to the surface in a big effing way!

Rewind. On Saturday, I met up with the people I may house sit for in March. The place sounds great! One small problem - I have to go away for a day or two for work. No biggie except they have two dogs. We'll likely work something out...but all this got me thinking.

House sitting is great! And, I mean great! God...I'm living rent free! But... there is a cost. No spontaneous getaways...no crashing elsewhere. Don't get me wrong. I'm ok with all that for January and February...it is too cold to go anywhere anyhow. But, on an ongoing basis? It is a hard pill to swallow. Especially when you value both spontaneity and the freedom to act on it.

Rewind again. I've had a few conversations about travel lately...and with people who do it often and/or have made it a priority. For example, I was talking to my friend Dave whose next career move will be to work abroad making good coin or get a gig that gives him his summers off to travel. I have to admit: it's inspiring to hear someone make it such a priority. Why? Because having the balls to make it so is half the battle. It is so easy to say you are going to do it and then not do it.

Rewind again. When I went to Europe about 5 years ago, I swore I would travel at least once a year. And, I have - within Canada. But my own journey has taken me far beyond the walls of this country...figuratively yes, literally no! Unless you count St. Pierre off the coast of Newfoundland. Ok, so I have been to France but that's it.

Where is all this coming from? Well, like many other things in life, if I am told I can't do something, then I want to do it! But only if that want is already there. So, if it had not been for house sitting, I would not have found that impetus for change. But, after sorting through the competing thoughts of the past few days, I am back to where I started but with more clarity. I need to get rid of this freaking debt so I can do all this traveling without worry. Let's face it...debt is dead weight! It needs to go. All that being said, I'm still getting to the States, Toronto and Montreal at least once this year. House sitting or not!

One Week to Go

2009-01-23T16:25:00.006-05:00

Holy crap! Only one week left at Palace D'Orleans. Then it's off to Gatineau!

To tell you the truth, I can't wait! While I have enjoyed my time in Orleans, I have been out here for two months now. That's a long time for a hobo! Plus, while I love the place I am staying, it will be nice to have a break from the stike-induced communting nightmare. But most of all, it will be nice to be close to downtown again. I've been missing the downtown area...especially now that I am running again.

So, next weekend it's off to Quebec! Off to the hairless kitties! And off to the ginormous TV!!! But most importantly, it's off of that parking lot we call the Queensway!

New Gigs

2009-01-21T16:31:00.005-05:00

This afternoon I was contacted about a possible gig in March. I went down the hall to ask a colleague about the location and she offered up her place for May. I'll work backwards from there. Not bad for an afternoon, eh?

Pressing Matters

2009-01-19T23:13:00.012-05:00

I have an interview tomorrow and I just finished ironing my shirt and suit. All this pressing brought about two vivid flashbacks.

The first happened when I grabbed the suit. It brought me back to my recruitment days. I was always dressed to the nines. And truth be told, I loved it! When I moved to a more casual atmosphere, it was nice to have a break from that. But, there is something to be said about being all snazzed up. I've always internalized the way I am dressed. When I'm casual, I feel chill. But when I'm tuckered out, I feel professional, energized, productive and on my game. Perhaps it stems from my cadet days where the caring and wearing of the uniform represents both the individual and the organization. I felt the same way about interviewing candidates...it was important to represent the organization and to put as much into the process as they were.

Speaking of my cadet days, my second flashback happened when I grabbed a can of spray starch. As soon as the smell hit my nose, I was in the barracks of my summer training facility ironing a crease down the centre of my white gunshirt. When I think back, I was armed with starch and an iron every summer for five years and at least once a week for about 15/18 years (mom did the ironing when I was 10).

All this got me thinking about how I miss taking that kind of pride in what I wear. I don't mean in a fashionista diva sorta way. But in a way that allows me to really represent. It also got me thinking about how I hardly ever iron anymore! I've been spoiled by drop-off services and casual clothes. My, how things change. I was so bad that when I was attending school overseas a few summers ago, they called me "Iron Man!"Ok I'm a geek. Duh...I'm blogging about ironing!

Running Around the House

2009-01-18T20:04:00.008-05:00

Remember when you were a kid and you came inside after sliding or building a snowman? You always had that fresh, crisp, healthy feeling...the one where your cheeks were rosy and there was snot all over your face. It was awesome! Well, running in winter gives that same feeling!

I took up running last spring and fell in love with the sport immediately. But, I was taken out of commish this past fall by an injury. After a few months recovering, I was ready to get back at it. In fact, I had been craving it. So yesterday I got winterized and today I went for a trial run.

It was great! And, the feeling after was even better! I only ran about 5 k and I had a little pain (my injury is not completely healed). But, I don't give two shits because it still felt awesome! It felt so good to get back out there and to kick winter in the arse at the same time! When I got back to the house, I was so full of energy that I shovelled the giant driveway. That's right...I chose the shovel over the blower. No more blowing...it's time for some pushing!

What does all this have to do with house sitting? Well, I said it before and I will say it again...running is one of the best ways to discover your neighbourhood. And today, I discovered more of mine. In just that one short run, I found some little stores and restaurants I wanna check out. And, I found a few side streets to make the jaunt to work a little faster.

When you house sit, it is very easy to ...well.. sit around the house. But why not run around the house. Yes, there are many treasures within each home. But, there are just as many in your neighbourhood as well.

Chasing Waterfalls

2009-01-18T17:53:00.004-05:00

Josie Grossie. Ok, I knew Izzy was a drooling cat but I had no idea what form it would take.

I had seen some wetness in the corner of her mouth before. But, that was nothing. Today she was perched on the arm of my chair and sitting upright. When I looked up, she was looking straight at me and there was a long, thick string of saliva extending from her mouth down to her paws...it just dangled there. I'll let you imagine what it looked like.

I have to admit, it was slightly hypnotic. But I managed to snap out of it and grab some paper towel. As I approached her, she took off running... saliva string still in tact and swinging in the air. I lost her on the chase as she took a sharp right turn to bolt up the stairs... and I swear that thing was still swinging like a cat lasso.

I really hope that smelly cat drool did not end up in my bed.

March Into the Unknown

2009-01-16T21:53:00.000-05:00

I have no idea where I am living in March. And I'm not worried about it. Is that normal?

Cat Nap

2009-01-16T13:33:00.000-05:00

Izzy has worked her way into my bedroom. In fact, she now lures me there.

If I make any sort of movement in or around the top level of the house, Izzy hoofs it to the bedroom and looks back over her right shoulder as if to say "come hither." And when I do actually go to bed, she comes right up to my face and starts batting gently at my arm for a rub. I'll indulge her for a while but when the scratching stops, she wears down and passes out next to my head.

When I wake up, Izzy is already on the go. But when it is time for me to go to work, she meows and looks at me as if to say, "are we going back to bed?" Silly pussy.

Go to Hull!

2009-01-15T16:49:00.000-05:00

I am so stoked about next month’s gig! It's in Gatineau and there are cats...hairless ones!

Back in September, I posted an ad online. Soon after, I got an email and was asked if I was willing to meet for a short interview. Turns out this guy and his partner were taking a month's vacation and needed a sitter to care for their home, plants and two Sphynx (Canadian Hairless) cats...more details on these later.

I have been totally impressed with this process from the get-go. There was an interview, reference checks, meeting with the owners, introduction to the home and pets, and completion of an agreement. Since being offered the gig, I've gotten to know the guys...they are so nice. They've had me over for dinner, sent along a Christmas Card...the works!

I can't wait for this gig! In addition to being excited about the exotic cats, I’m looking forward to living on the Quebec side. I guess I better start working on the ole Français! Au revoir!

Hobophobia

2009-01-14T18:32:00.001-05:00

This lifestyle freaks people out!

I can't tell you how many people find my way of living incomprehensible and totally stressful. The entire concept blows their mind. For many of the nay-sayers, it has more to do with wanting a sense of stability, not wanting to deal with the constant adjustment, or just simply wanting to have a home. Fair enough! But for some, it has more to do with following some predetermined path. That, I can't get onboard with!

I'll admit, hoboism goes against everything we learned. The path is: grow up, get a job, settle down. Right? Well, maybe not! Don't get me wrong...at some point I will want to settle down too. But I won't settle for any less than settling where I want to settle. And I won't make an investment - and it is an investment - in something just because it is a check box on someone else's to-do list of living.

One thing I know for sure is that whatever you do in this life, you have to do what feels right for you. And for me - right now this feels right. I am hacking away at my debt, evaluating where I want to live, identifying the types of things I want in a home, getting to know the region and new people, and having a great time!

This is a means. It is not an end. Don't judge or you too may be a hobophobe!

Post-Nomadic Stress Disorder

2009-01-14T17:26:00.000-05:00

Each time I move, the adjustment gets easier and shorter. But that period of adjustment is a consistent part of nomadic living.

The only way I can describe the experience is as a combination of culture shock and reverse-culture shock...but on a smaller and more frequent scale. For me, the pattern is as follows:

1. The Move- Goodbye to the old place, move to the new place.
2. The High- Excitement about the new place and about the adventure ahead!
3. The Low- Overall fatigue and/or disorientation.
4. Readjustment - Things start to go back to "normal."

As a nomad, my "normal" gets redefined every time. I remember doing some research a few years back on change management. The theory was that organizations had to move away from searching for ways to obtain alignment with a context toward adaptation to a moving context. Huh? Well, just like organizations, individuals are always evolving and we often need to switch gears to adapt to the next turn of events. But, if we embrace this as a necessary and normal part of life, then adaptation becomes automatic and natural. In essence, adapting becomes the new "normal."

The coolest part about all of this is that when you become aware of what you are experiencing, and see it as a normal and necessary part of the journey, you see it as a sign of the stronger and more knowing self that will follow. Then it rolls right off ya!

Gummy Pussy

2009-01-13T18:31:00.000-05:00

Izzy the cat has no teeth.

She reminds me of my nan. Same colour hair, same skin complexion, same red marks on her ears, same small frame, same dental issues. Nan couldn't find dentures to fit her mouth. Nor could Izzy.

Izzy is old. I can't remember how old. But old.

Her frailty is at the forefront of her care. The most interesting aspect of her health status is her lack of teeth. Ok...she may have one or two teeth. But the lack of oral bone structure causes her tongue to wander. When her tongue is not resting behind the place where her teeth should be, it freaks out - the tongue itself - not Izzy. Her tongue does "the worm" until it returns to its normal position. This usually takes about 5-10 seconds which is fine, but the whole process causes excessive drooling. No matter how many times I witness this, I can't help but think that Dizzy Izzy might be having a Cat Stroke.

In addition to - and likely because of - her lack of teeth, Izzy's gums are deteriorating and the smell is nasty. I tried not to get too close. But, I just can't push her away...she needs attention just like the rest of us. When I'm that old, I hope someone won't stop scratching my ears because my breath smells.

Up-to-speed

2009-01-13T18:25:00.001-05:00

Just a note to say that this blog is now up-to-date. Previous entries were all about playing catch-up. So, expect shorter entries. Starting now. Goodbye.

Home Mo

2009-01-13T18:02:00.000-05:00

I no longer live with Mike and Louise, but I am still their Home Mo.

Following the holidays, Mike and Louise returned from Newfoundland on a Saturday and were surprised to see me packing on Sunday. "You're not leaving," Louise said somewhat alarmed. "But...you are our Home Mo!"

It was true. They had gotten used to me. I had gotten used to them. But thankfully, we were all in Orleans and I was a beckon call away. I could still go visit Mom and Dad on the weekend!

Lorna and Terry left for vacay this past Saturday. They had been gone for a matter of hours and I hoofed it off to have dinner with Mike and Louise on Saturday night. And..uh...I went back again Sunday night. And last night, Mike called me to say that he had one of those Nielson Ratings questionnaires sent to his house and that there was one there for me. He had listed me as a resident. I think he just missed me.

So, of course, I will be there this coming weekend. I am heading over there to tackle their home office. As mentioned in a previous blog, I turned their basement into a gym over the holidays. They asked me if I could do the same with their office...get it organized....not turn it into a gym. I'd be lying if the thought had not crossed my mind already. To be honest, I can't wait! I love gett'in organized. And, what can I say...any excuse to see little Megan. Besides...she has her own little tool set....she'll likely be recruited.

Mike and Louise extended an open invitation to come back and stay with them any time. And, I gotta say, I may just do that. While the house sitting is an experience in and of itself, being around good friends, their awesome daughter and their happy dog is just too tempting.

Ahhh....my home away from homelessness.

Palace d'Orleans

2009-01-13T17:44:00.000-05:00

Holy crap, I love this place!

Lorna and Terry headed off on vacation on Saturday morning and I moved to the upper deck. I had seen it during orientation but I was so buried in Home Schooling that I focussed primarily on the lower decks.

This place has it all. Let me give you the tour.

In the bowls of the building, we have the full apartment where I stayed during orientation. It also includes a stock room with a fully loaded fridge and mini-fridge. On the main deck, we have the entrance to the home and two-car garage, dining area and a full kitchen with a side living room so that all the cooking and entertaining can happen in the one area. Oh, and there is a washroom on the way up from the basement to the main floor...just in case you need a break.

Outside, we have a deck, pool (obviously covered) and a driveway with space for four cars.

On the upper deck, we have an office, laundry room, master bedroom, spare room and a washroom. The master bedroom includes a king size bed, mounted plasma tv and an en suite washroom with both a shower stall and big ass tub.

This whole place includes four washrooms, four fridges and three giant TV's. For someone who can fit everything he owns in one car, this is a palace.

I am Queen of the Castle.

Orientation Week

2009-01-13T17:11:00.000-05:00

Lorna and Terry invited me to stay with them for a week before they headed off on vacation. The idea was that Izzy (the cat) would get accustomed to me and I would get acquainted with the house.

The house is quite spacious and includes a full apartment downstairs equipped with a living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. This is where I stayed during Orientation Week.

Each night, after work, I would join Lorna and Terry for dinner. This was followed by a series of short lessons, which included: use of the gas stove (I had never used one before), the emergency shutoffs for the furnace and water, intricate workings of the plasma tv/dvd/stereo systems, garage door opener, central vac and snow blower. Lucky for me, I had used a central vac at Kim's and a snow blower at Mike's. So, I arrived with qualifications. The remainder of the orientation focused on caring for Izzy.

In addition to the lessons learned from orientation, I learned a few more practical tidbits about my own preferences. For example, bedding. My friend Adam had recently spoken of the importance of flannel sheets and an awesome duvet during the winter months. Given my life of turf surfing, I brushed it all off as I didn't see the point. The downstairs bed has flannel sheets and an awesome duvet. I see the point! Holy Mother...I can't remember the last time I never wanted to leave bed without it having something to do with a hangover, depression or company. I also learned that I am a huge fan of the shower stall. I like having a tub as well. But keeping the two separate is the way to go.

The final lesson was how to be creative with food. Not wanting to buy any new groceries, Lorna and Terry used the contents of their fridge to come up with some unique creations. My faves were the tex-mex pasta and the Guinness pie. Mmmmm. And, I also learned of the remaining contents of their many fridges, deepfreezes and cupboards. Good to know! God, I even speak fat.

By the time my new favourite people headed off for vacation, I was up and running. Mustered and ready for a three week stint in Palace d'Orleans.

Enough Said

2009-01-12T20:02:00.000-05:00

Starring London!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PINxfouNQFw

Newfs with a Roof

2009-01-12T18:18:00.000-05:00

Let me take you back for a moment. I leave my apartment downtown...move in with Richard... become a temporarily permanent house sitter...put word on the street...line up gigs for November and February...and temp accommodations for December. When you do the math, what's missing? Add the thing and subtract the do-job...carry your one and...Poppy needs a place to stay in January!!!

When I worked out this equation, I casually posted an ad on the usual sites as well as our online classified service at work. Within minutes, a colleague and fellow Newfoundlander saw my advertisement and forwarded it to another colleague and fellow Newfoundlander who was in need of a house sitter for...you guessed it...January! I am telling you...the universe was conspiring in my favour. I was born to house sit!

Long story short, my colleague Lorna and her husband Terry sent me an email to say that I could take care of their place in Orleans and live for free. After declaring my interest, she quickly confirmed: you're in! I was in Vancouver at the time and I remember jumping out of my seat with excitement! Doesn't take much to please Poppy!

When I got back to Ottawa, Lorna and Terry invited me over to their place for dinner. I had a tour of their lovely home, met their cat Izzy, and then we talked details. It was settled. I would move in with them and stay in their downstairs apartment for a week and then move upstairs and look after their place for the remainder of the month.

Clickity Click Hobo Trick....I moved from Orleans to Orleans. It took less than an hour.

Happy New Year!

Mini-Stops

2009-01-12T17:27:00.000-05:00

By the time Christmas Holidays rolled around, I had the keys to three homes in my hand: Scott's, Mike and Louise's, and Nadine and Greg's. Well, four if you count the key to Richard's place that I hold for emergencies. I digress. I stayed at each of these three locations over a two-week span. Here's the summary:

Mini-Stop 1: Chez Scott

One of my best friends back in Newfoundland is actually from Ottawa. Scott always returns home for the holidays as do I. He stays with his parents and/or sister, while I take up temp residence at his cute little house in Sin Jawns. I call it the Little House of the Ferry. Yah so...I got to hang out with Scott in O-town for a bit and then headed back to the rock. This was the third time I did a mini-stop at his place and I just love it there! And, Scott is so awesome...he makes me feel welcome and always insists on me making the most of it. So, this year I hosted a party on Boxing Day - it was the third party I've hosted at Chez Scott sans Scott! Now, how many friends would do that?!? Scott knows I would do the same for him... you know...if I had a home.

Mini-Stop 2: Chez Nadine and Greg

Nadine and Greg live near Chinatown. I've mentioned these two several times but I need to say more. Nadine and I met when we were teens and we didn't see each other again until we completed our graduate studies program together. We hit it off right away and if you met this gal you'd know why. She's a hoot and a half and the most kind-hearted, friendly and smiling gal in all the land! We've been great friends for about seven years now. And, last year she moved to Ottawa! I can't even tell you what a difference her and Greg's presence have made in my life. Gawd...I didn't plan to make this a love-in entry! Get out of my blog, shetbags!

Anyhoo.... to make a long story longer... Nadine and Greg handed me the keys to their place before we all headed home for the holidays. I was coming back a week earlier than them and they knew I would be staying in Orleans. So, thanks to these two, I had an apartment on hand to spend some time downtown and also have a low-key New Years Eve with two of my best mates, Scott and Adam. This was particularly great given that Scott had a work commitment nearby.

Mini-Stop 3: Chez Mike and Louise

Back to Orleans...sans Mike, Louise, Megs and Roxie. This is where I stayed when I returned from NL...minus New Years Eve and Day. I resumed my Home Mo duties, which were minimal considering the Fam were back in NL and the dog was in a Kennel. However, in preparation for this one-week gig-a-bit, Mike taught me how to use the snow blower. And believe it or not, in all my years in Newfoundland, I never operated a snow blower. In addition to the blowing lesson (no gay jokes please), I also decided to set up my own gym (again, no gay jokes). I was fat from the holidays and needed some exercise. I had previously discovered a treadmill and weights buried under toddler toys in the basement. Clickity Click, Hobo Trick.... a gym was born. I used it once.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Mini-stop, mini-stop, oh mini mini mini!

Family Man

2009-01-12T12:03:00.000-05:00

Next stop: Orleans!

I seem to keep moving further and further east. Do you think I might be trying to inch my way back home?

Anyhoo...when I realized there was a two-week period between my time in Gloucester and my trip back to Newfoundland for the holidays, I decided to take my friends Mike and Louise up on an offer to stay at their place in Orleans. So, I shacked up with "da by's" along with their beautiful daughter Megan and happy dog Roxie.

While this quick fix involved shared accommodations rather than house sitting, it was still part of the bigger adventure and I learned a ton. Here’s a six pack of new lessons:

Lesson one: I love hanging with kids.

I never quite realized just how much I love kids and how great it is to just be around them until I stayed with little miss Megalicious. Megs is almost two and she makes me smile :) While the early morning wake-ups took some getting used to (with the help of a humidifier to drown out the screaming), just hearing that infectious giggle was enough to win me over. In a matter of days, I was learning all about the Mickey Mouse Club House, Dora and all of Megs’ books and toys. We had such a great time together. And it was so much fun going to see her Daycare Christmas Concert. Her job was to say "HEY" in Jingle Bells. What can I say…I’m in love.

Lesson two: I love pets.

This is not a new lesson. I always knew I was an animal lover. But it is true what they say about being greeted with that wagging tail at the end of a day. And yes, I'm referring to Roxie. I had a dog growing up but I had not lived with one in ten years. It was just great!

Lesson three: I love my car but I loath slow-moving traffic.

What a time to move to Orleans! It was the start of winter and the start of Ottawa’s public transit strike. Traffic was a mess. Bumper to bumper on every avenue from Orleans to my workplace...the 174 was a parking lot. One morning it took three hours to drive what would normally take 10 minutes. I can honestly say, I’m blessed to not have to rely on public transportation and blessed that I don’t have to do that kind of long commute under normal circumstances. I don’t know how people in Toronto do it. An important lesson for the future.

Lesson four: I love good food.

Louise has to be one of the best cooks on the planet. I shit you not. I ate and ate and ate some more. Given that it was December and the holidays were around the corner, I threw portion control - and my belt - out the window and ate like a pre-show contestant of the Biggest Loser. So I couldn't fit into my clothes by the time Christmas rolled around - whatever! I'll deal with the consequences another time. The bottom line: the whole experience rekindled my appreication for good food and sparked an interest in learning to be a better cook.

Lesson five: I like helping out.

Sounds like I’m a little kid, but it’s true! I'm a helper! After seeing first hand the work that it takes to keep a family moving, care for a toddler and get back and forth to work in the midst of madness, I have a whole new level of appreciation for what it takes to run a home. It’s an operation. And what can I say…I enjoyed being a part of it..even if just on the sidelines! I really appreciated everything Mike and Louise were doing for me and I genuinely wanted to help out. And it felt good to know that they liked having me around too. They now affectionately refer to me as their Home Mo. I like it.

Lesson Six: I love reconnecting with old friends.

During my first year in Ottawa, I had kept in touch with Mike and Louise but we never really spent a whole lot of time together. I was living downtown and they were out in the burbs. But staying at their place really gave us a chance to reconnect and catch up. I’ve known Mike for twenty years - we literally grew up together. It was great spending time with someone who I've known - and who has known me - since forever. Our chats triggered a lot of memories and really helped me come back to my roots so-to-speak. And, it was great reconnecting with Louise and getting to know her even better. And…as I mentioned…little Megatron. Amazing.

All that in a few short weeks. Priceless. Actually it was priceless – they insisted. God I love these people.

The Gloss Turr Experiment

2009-01-11T21:14:00.000-05:00

Gloucester. It took a month just to figure out how to pronounce the name. From what I can gather, the most common way to say it is Gloss Turr. Hmmm…Gloss Turr. A shiny Newfoundland bird?

How did I land here? Well, when I first declared my house sitting status, Kim, a colleague of mine, informed me that she was going to Europe for a month and I could stay at her place if I was game. Game on!

There were so many cool things about living at this place. Here are my top five key lessons from the Gloss Turr Experiment:

Lesson one: the value of proximity

I had started to learn this lesson while staying at Richard’s place. It is important to be close to your goings-on. Kim’s place was just around the corner from work. It was so nice not to have to deal with any form of traffic. Not to mention that it was close to the essentials including a grocery store, Starbucks and cheap gas. And, it wasn’t too bad getting to and from boot camp in the mornings. Sweet!

Lesson two: household skills

House sitting teaches you how to do stuff. I never used a Central Vac before moving here. Or a compost machine. Ok, I never used the compost thingy, but I could have!

Lesson three: every home has a not-so-buried treasure

Every home is a gold mine of new information! During my stay in Gloss Turr, I discovered and read some of Kim's books and magazines, sampled some new foods and beverages, tried out some different cooking utensils, etc. In addition, I learned all kinds of new routes to and from various locations....and discovered some new locations! This gig really opened my eyes to all of the learning opportunities before me. In addition to the random stuff, I realized that house sitting was giving me the opportunity to learn all sorts of things about what I want and don’t want in a home.

Lesson four: working from home – the good and the bad

During my stay at Kim’s place, I had a project that required a lot of concentration and I was given the opportunity to work from home. I had mixed feelings about this. The quiet space and flexibility were definite benefits. However, access to the refrigerator and cupboards were risky business. And, to my surprise, I actually found I was working more hours. The lines between work and play blurred. I found myself working all through the night without even realizing it. It felt like my university days.

Lesson five: getting to know people better.

I had learned this lesson previously from staying at Richard’s place. From orientation to departure, you really get to know the owner of the home. I've gotten to know both Richard and Kim a lot better. And, as I will talk about in future blogs, I've made some new friends and got better acquainted with some old friends as well.

I love being a house sitter!

Sleeping Around

2009-01-11T20:20:00.000-05:00

By mid-October, I was ready for mobile living. But before the adventures continued, it was time for a little fun.

October – or Roctober as I like to call it – was filled with lots of excitement. I saw Margaret Cho and Coldplay in Ottawa followed by Madonna in Montreal and Vancouver. This was all followed by continued celebrations during the first week of November.

In the span of less than three weeks, I went from my temp bed at Richard’s to a hotel in Montreal, then back to Richard’s, then off to Jenny’s place in Vancouver, then back to Richard’s for one night, then off to my Aunt’s place in Stitsville, then off to Nadine’s place for a few nights, then back to Stitsville on a Saturday before starting the next gig on Sunday. Oh yah...and boot camp started as soon as I got back from Van which meant a 4:15 am wake-up in Stitsville.

I have never been so exhausted in my life!

Lesson learned. While this way of life builds resilience and improves one’s ability to adapt to change, it is still a transition and all of the Turf Surfing can be physically and emotionally exhausting particularly when you throw travelling, partying and rigorous exercise in the mix.

That whole three-week span taught me a lot about myself and my need to rest up. By the time I hit my last stint in Stitsville, I was as “crooked as sin” as we say back home. When I got to my Aunt's I slept for 3 straight hours that morning and still managed to sleep for nearly 14 hours that night!

It’s one thing to be mobile. It's another to be a betch on wheels.

How to Become a Hobo

2009-01-11T20:06:00.001-05:00

How does one prepare for the lifestyle of a house sitter? Well, based on my experience, all you need to do is follow these four easy steps.

Step 1: Purge

Get rid of everything you own except for the bare essentials. I sold the bulk of my furniture to the new tenants of my old apartment and the rest through craigstlist and an online classified service at work. The rest, I gave away. I took all of my kitchen items – dishes, pots and pans – along with everything from excess clothing and televisions and donated it all to charity. Who needs it? By the time the purge was complete, I had my clothes, books and dvd’s and a few barebone necessities. I’m mobile.

Step 2: Invest in Your Mobility

I took some of the money I earned from selling furniture and invested in proper storage/moving items. Lucky for me, one of my best friends works as a professional in this area! Adam is an expert in organized living and with his help I got totally kitted out for my new Alternative Lifestyle Experiment (ALE) as he calls it. Also lucky for me, I had already invested in a new hatchback this past summer which is perfect for moving around. Coincidence or Fate? Oh...and to enable my life at no fixed address, I invested in a post office box. Not too expensive and totally worth it. Basic Hobonomics.

Step 3: Market Yourself

In addition to spreading the word amongst colleagues, family and friends, I actively marketed myself. I posted ads on craigslist and kijiji and have since registered on a home carers website. I also posted ads on an online classified service at work. The house sitting gigs that I have lined up have come from a mix of all sources. The more I looked into it, the more I realized that house sitting is a serious business. You snooze, you lose.

Step 4: Get Experience

People like experience. This is particularly the case for those who do not know you. Gaining experience as a house sitter exposes you to all of the nuances of house sitting from using household devices to caring for grounds and pets to knowing how to deal with household problems. You are looking for a job. So, build that resume!

An Idea is Born

2009-01-11T19:31:00.001-05:00

While staying at Richard’s, I had an a-ha moment. I asked myself, "why am I paying rent?" And that was that.

I knew I had to get more aggressive in paying off my debt. I knew I had nowhere to live. I knew I did not know where I wanted to live. I knew I wanted to see more of the city. I knew I wasn’t ready to buy. And now, most importantly, I knew one thing for sure: I was a house sitter!

I got busy right away. I posted ads online and spread the word at work. By the end of September, I had gigs that would take me from November through to the end of February.

When Richard returned from France, I told him the news. I am going to be a house sitter! But for now, I was still homeless!

Rather than ship me off to Stitsville with my Aunt and Uncle, Richard let me stay at his place for the bulk of October. We continued on our journey down Somerset taking in all the restaurants along the way. Then we'd return to his place to eat any and all carbs in sight. I was no longer running but I was still on the carbs. And the carbs were now on me! But it’s ok. Because I am a house sitter.

The First Gig

2009-01-11T19:15:00.000-05:00

As Richard took off for one month’s vacation in France, I quickly got settled into his home and into my September routine.

I was in my last month of training for my first half-marathon and I just started a boot camp with my friend Nadine. The location of Richard’s place was great because it was close to the race, the boot camp and best of all it was close to Nadine and her man, Greg. I was really starting to appreciate the value of living close to friends and close to the activities in my life.

It was a brutal month physically. The boot camp - or Fat Army as my friend Adam called it - was intense. It started at 5:30 am which meant getting up at 4:45 am. It ended at 7:00 am at which time I would drop Nadine off and then hoof it back to Richard’s place to grab a shower, a quick bite and head off to work. When I’d come home, I’d go for a run, grab another quick bite and be in bed by 10 pm. It was awesome that we both lived so close to the boot camp. And when I finished the Army Run - and my knees in the process - the proximity allowed for those extra few minutes to climb the stairs after assaulting my body further at Boot Camp. And lucky for me, Richard had a big ole tub for me to soak in. Poppy needed his bath time.

The month went by fairly smoothly minus one minor incident. One Saturday morning I awoke at 4:45 am. I thought…wait a minute, I don’t have boot camp today. But it wasn’t my alarm that woke me, it was sirens and the smell of smoke. The place next door was on fire. Adam had told me Chinatown was always burning but I thought that was the other side of Bronson. I jumped out of bed, closed all windows, scanned my surroundings and got the hell out of there. Luckily, the fire had been contained. But I now had a Critical Incident to add to my repertoire. Richard would later cite this event as an example of my ability to respond in a swift manner on a reference call. I was building a resume.

When Richard returned from France, he came back to his lovely abode…still in one piece. First assignment complete. In the words of Deven Green, "well done...kudos me."

Chinatown

2009-01-11T12:25:00.000-05:00

After a week’s vacation in Newfoundland, I returned to Ottawa and the old apartment just long enough to pack up my hatchback and head to Richard’s place.

Richard lives in and around the Chinatown area. Wow! What can I say? Life on the other side of Centretown is deff’rent!! And I absolutely loved it!

The location of Richard’s place is just too cool. On one side, the rest of centretown. On the other side, Chinatown and Little Italy. To the North, Gatineau and to the South, the Glebe. Perfect.

So many places to eat! So many places to run! So many interesting characters!

During my two week stay with Richard, he gave me an orientation to Chinatown and to all of the cool restaurants and coffee shops on both sides of Bronson. And pre-dining, I gave myself a little orientation to some new running routes. My fave was a long run which included Centretown, the Glebe, my old neighbourhood, the canal and parliament buildings, Gatineau via the Alexandria Bridge and then back to Richard's via the Portage Bridge. It was an awesome run and a great way to get better acquainted with the city.

My orientation also included an introduction to a cute little Asian Laundromat on Gladstone. It had a drop-off service and the owner there was just too nice. He would weigh my laundry and then take off a few pounds for the laundry bag. Given that it’s a mesh bag, I did ok!

This area includes so many interesting people! In addition to the cool sites and sounds of Chinatown and nearby Little Italy, it has so many colourful characters out and about along the Bronson area. I may have heard a gunshot once or twice, but that's minor stuff.

But the most interesting chap I got acquainted with during my orientation was Richard. I had met Richard several months before and we had hung out with the crowd several times. But I never really got to know him until I pitched my tent at his place. He’s a super nice, super intelligent and super interesting guy with a great sense of humour. And I knew that I would become great friends with my Manlord!

From this whole experience, I realized that house sitting was a serious business and that a good orientation - Home Schooling if you will - is essential.

Homeless?

2009-01-11T11:52:00.001-05:00

Where will I go?

When I agreed to bail from Number 13, I had no idea where I was going. So I went for a beer.

I joined my friends Stephane and Richard for a pint and told them of my latest decision. Without a blink, Richard invited me to stay at his place. He would be there for a couple of weeks and then I could look after the place while he was away in France on vacation. He gave me his extra key right there and then! I couldn’t believe it! I was completely overwhelmed by his generosity...and by the sharp turn of events!

After my pint, I stood up to go to the washroom and before I even got there my phone rings. It’s the soon-to-be new tenants of my soon-to-be old apartment. In the same manner that I had bought furniture from my predecessor, they agreed to buy from me. I had thrown the offer out there when they agreed to take the apartment as I knew they had very little. At the same time, I had no storage space and absolutely no desire to negotiate those stairs with any sort of furniture. And, while practical, the furniture was not the kind of stuff I wanted to hold onto. So, given that I just landed a place to stay, done deal!

Not bad. I go out for one beer and come back with accommodations and a profit.

So it was settled. Poppy B was going to say goodbye to Number 13 and head off to Chez Richard’s sans furniture. Let the purging begin!

Number 13

2009-01-11T10:29:00.002-05:00

“Would you consider moving out early?” Absolutely!

With wide-eyed students in tow, my new landlord called me from the front driveway of my downtown apartment building to explore the possibility of bailing early so that these two eager beavers would have a place to live. Coincidentally (or not), I had just come to this conclusion myself and had planned to call her that week. Destiny!

“Sure, bring them on up,” I said. The rest is history.

Why the sudden need for change? Well, it wasn’t THAT sudden. The desire had been brewing for a while. But the time was now and opportunity knocked…literally.

Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t all bad. This downtown apartment was in a beautiful heritage style home. Midway between the Rideau Canal and Elgin Street, it was in the middle of everything and a perfect location for my continually evolving lifestyle which now included running alongside that canal on an almost daily basis.

The apartment had as much charm as the building itself. It was somewhat loft-like with sloped ceilings and a unique layout. And it was quirky….it had heaters on the walls! Well, maybe that’s not so quirky in these parts. But it was quirky to me! Not to mention, it was on the top floor which meant it was affordably heated by the apartments below and I would have no stomping feet above me.

My relationship with this apartment began with a classic case of love at first sight. A little less than a year prior, I had come to Ottawa on an apartment hunting trip. After sifting through craigslist and kijiji, newspapers and rental directories, I decided to say “eff it” and hit the town on foot. That’s when I found this gem. I took one look and was instantly won over by its charm.

After meeting my new baby, I was already convinced and just like every new love that you know is not good for you, I managed to look past its flaws. Never mind the laundry room that looks like a scene from the movie Hostel. Never mind that there was no buzzer to let people in. Never mind the rent and parking costs. Never mind the fact that my only two criteria coming into this were that there must be an elevator and a balcony and this had neither.

Nope, this was fate. And after having sold everything I own back on the rock, the fact that the current tenant was heading back to England and sold me everything in the place for $500 was even more proof that we were meant to be together.

So where did it all go wrong?

If I had to get smacked in the head one more time by those charming sloped ceilings, I might not have the capacity to finish this sentence. Where am I? Nobody wanted to stay over because of the noise from those quirky heaters and the air quality in that place was like being on a plane...forever! While my quads were developing quite nicely, having to haul groceries up 900 flights of stairs was starting to become a pain. And, having to go down 9000 flights to let people in because of the lack of a buzzer was an even bigger sore spot. If you didn't have a cell, you weren't getting in! If that wasn’t bad enough, the faulty alarm on my car kept going off and, given that it was parked out of sight behind the building, this meant I had to go down 90,000 flights of stairs and exit the building to turn the effer off. I gave up. I surrendered. In fact, most of my friends never saw the inside of the place. Our relationship took a steady descent.

Let me be clear - I'm not playing a total victim here. Most of these annoyances should have been foreseen. But the place brought a string of bad luck as well. Did I mention the number of the Apartment was 13? Not surprising. I won’t go into too much detail but let me just say that the list includes: a broken key in the door, a fender bender with the big blue garbage box outside, a sliced finger, a door coming off of its hinges, additional bangs to my head and the heads of others, and finally flying off the front steps and landing tits up on the ground below. Number 13 had to go. I knew I was out at the end of the lease.

Speaking of leases, in early August the lease finally ended on my noisy car. So I went out and got a new one. This time I purchased. Taking on a car loan got me thinking about debt. I was hitting the middle of my early thirties and I was still carrying around debt associated primarily with my academic pursuits. So, by the time my Landlord called, I already knew I needed to take proactive measures to better manage my finances. Requesting an early bail-out was one of those measures. Yay for me - she beat me to it!

So, as the wide-eyed students entered the front door of the apartment, I watched their eyes do a swift horizontal scan as the corners of their flat mouths simultaneously began to turn upward. So did mine. I knew that look. It was destiny.

They wanted in on September 1 but were willing to wait until October 1 to avoid inconveniencing me. I was out by the last weekend in August. As I walked past the large blue garbage box - the one I had backed my car into and the same one that was now inhabited by a very fat pimped out rat - I held my head high as I knew my luck was about to turn. At the same time, I had no of idea of the path that awaited me!