the importance of money

It's not every day that you turn down a position that makes significantly more money than your current position (or at least it is the first time for me). Especially when you have yet to start your current position, but that is JUST what I did today.

*ring*ring*
I can see from the call display that this is a potential employer calling, however they told me they were hoping to call within a week and it has now been two and a half, so I'm ready for the rejection message and a quick hangup.

After some idle banter that includes telling him I have a new position (as he had called my old place of business and been informed I was no longer an employee) he cautiously asked "So I guess there is no point offering you this position?" I took a moment to be sure, but then replied that I was sorry but unfortunately it was true.

He was understanding, stating that sometimes things are "feast or famine" which is entirely true, since I applied for this particular position all the way back in January.

Now surely you are thinking "girl - your crazy" but the truth is, I had already made this decision when I decided to take on the stewardship & outreach position. Although this job is for a considerable amount of money, the entire position included washing glassware (beakers etc) and acid washing (swirling chemicals such as HCl, acetone etc in the glassware to ensure sterility)...Nope that's it guys. There isn't any more to the job posting, the job is basically cleaning other peoples glassware all day long. Additionally, the job is a minimum 45 minute drive away but much closer to 60-70 minute commute during rush hour.

I'm positive that all those things combined will result in a very miserable granola-girl as cleaning and acid washing in the lab was already one of my least favourite activities.

Since we can afford to live on the lower stewardship salary, my happiness in worth more than money.

Wow..Sometimes being an adult is hard.

Tags:/jobs/happiness/money/

mothers day

Ok so I've been lazy - I admit it, I'm back dating this post. I know my mom deserves better, but hey she gets a post and that's what's important.

I love my mom. She's open, understanding and loving and I am glad there is a special day devoted to all the mothers who sacrifice so that their children can have more. My mom was the one who skimmed off the grocery money when I was a child so that she could save the funds that made it possible for me to attend University and that's only one example of her sacrifices.

I want to say Mothers day was amazing, but the truth is, I did have to work. Fortunately, it was my LAST DAY EVER working in the lab and as such, I was unsupervised and didn't work all that much. After arriving late, I worked for a few hours before rushing off to meet J's mom & family for a wonderfully delicious lunch buffet. We chatted, visited and enjoyed the smorgasboard of food.

After work, I met j back at his mom's before heading over to my parent's where we enjoyed a yummy ham that my dad had cooked and basted on the BBQ.

All in all it was a tiring, but enjoyable day - it feels nice to celebrate mothers and all their accomplishments and sacrifices.

I love you mom.

Tags:/Mothers day/

Make a difference now

So every day you do something little that benefits the environment, you don't do it for recognition nor do you do it because it's the law, you do it because you care. You might turn the tap off instead of letting the water run, take the bus, carpool, make five mini-trips into one organized errand trip or you may simply refrain from littering - it doesn't matter how small, the Earth appreciates your efforts.

You may have heard the radio ads, the Ethical Funds Company is sponsoring the Make a Difference Now Campaign to allow eco-friendly Canadians the chance to share what they are doing to help the environment AND potentially be rewarded for their efforts. All entries to the program will be entered in a draw to win an eco-vacation for four valued at up to $20,000.

So why not click over, show that you care about the environment AND get a chance to win an eco-vacation...How cool would that be?

Tags: /makeadifferencenow/eco vacation

compost harvest

I have had a worm compost for about 5 years. In that time, it has been loved and it has been ignored, but the worms have always been fed and they have always survived. Today I harvested my compost for the first time at the apartment. It really didn't take all that long and I have a large vinyl tablecloth that I use to work on so that I don't make a mess.

The harvest and re-fill took less than an hour to complete and if I keep feeding the worms and harvesting regularly, I can have a bounty of wonderfully rich compost for my plants.

If this all seems like a little bit beyond the scope of your knowledge, let me first direct you to the Worm Woman's site. She has written THE BOOK on worm composting called Worms Eat My Garbage.

So here are a few basic Worm Composting Facts:


• The worms used in a compost are called "Red Wriggler Worms" and though they can be found in your yard or garden, they rarely are.


• Red Wrigglers can eat their weight in organic food waste (ie. fruit, vegetables, coffee/tea grinds, eggshells) per day (if my memory serves me correctly)


• The worms use small granuals of sand in their gut to break down the food, creating compost


• When properly maintained worm composts emit no scent and can be used in apartments, townhomes or other small areas


• Worm composts do not require turning or aeration


• Maintenance of a worm compost requires only regular feeding and regular harvesting

Composting is just another way to reduce waste...and I always feel better when I'm doing that.

Tags:/compost/worm compost/vermicompost/

New Jobs - All Round!

I am pleased to announce that some major changes have been happening in my blogging absence. First off, J & I accepted new positions within a day of each other, which is excellent as it means that we both get to start fresh simultaneously. I am looking forward to excitement and happiness all round once we get settled into our new positions, but we will see.

I have actually accepted two jobs, although the second is VERY part-time at only 5 hours every three weeks, but regardless it is a job and I am very happy about it. It is a community position attempting to raise awareness about healthy cooking, eating and nutrition choices within the youth in the community. We hope to achieve this by helping the teens prepare easy, healthy, cost-conscious meals. The only drawback, is that the events take place on Friday evenings between 9pm and 12am - last night was the first shot, and damn am I tired this morning. Thank Goodness for Starbucks!

My other new position will be starting in a few short weeks and involves coordinating a local environmental stewardship and outreach group for the next year. It is very similar to the summer work I used to do and enjoyed immensely. Although the opportunities and pay in this field is a little less than if I continued to pursue my science career, I have come to realize (in the past year and a half) that outreach work, is close to my heart, and I have missed it dearly, so for now, it is worth the sacrifice. (Email me if you want to know more!)

So I am ecstatic to report that I am officially transforming from a science dork back into a COMMUNITY DORK! It feels so good to know that I will once again be making a difference in the community that I live - positively impacting peoples lives and the environment.

Wow, I really am a community dork aren't I?

Tags: /community/environment/job/

Enviro Fact 2: Wetlands as Habitat

Wetlands are multi-functional and extremely important. In this case I am referring to an estuarine (where the river meets the ocean or where fresh water meets salt water) wetland, although the theory should hold strong regardless.

Wetlands as Habitat are important because they can provide a home, hotel, nursery or restaurant to a host of different species.

• Home-some animals such as herons, beavers, crabs and shrimp inhabit the wetland year round.


• Hotel-some animals such as salmon and birds may merely pass through the estuary as a stop on route to their destination.


• Nursery-some animals such as frogs, salmon and nesting birds use the estuary to lay their eggs and rear their young.


• Restaurant-all animals in the estuary use it as a food source.

This information from the Vancouver Aquarium's Riverworks Program Website...GO CHECK IT OUT!

Tags: /Enviro Fact/wetland/habitat/

quick catch up...& more pictures

After what seems like forever, I finally have a few days off with very few commitments. Mussel project seemed to go on forever and all I have wanted to do is sleep - I have been in bed before 10pm numerous times over the past weeks, but it's finally over for now.

In addition to mussel project, softball season has finally started. We have only played one game, but we started off strong and won that game, which is never a bad thing. I have another game this evening, but it sounds like we are going to be short men, which is never a good way to start the game.

Additionally the pursuit of new jobs and careers continues for both J & I, hopefully our respective searches will prove fruitful in the near future, keep your fingers crossed.

Since I have already had one day off, I finally had time to upload those new pictures I was talking about from our trip to Harrison. I really like this picture of J checking out the shoreline for rocks to put in our fishtank, and it seems fitting as I was in the last picture I posted. Not to mention the random msn messenger message I got from someone on the list whom I never talk with (we all have those - let's be honest) telling me how much they liked this shot - If that's not a bit of an ego stroke I don't know what is. :)


water's edge
Originally uploaded by granola girl :).

Tags:/photography/Softball/