[Rhonda R]

Hello,
Got back from Banff a little bit ago. Download my 1600 pics. Had just given up and was heading home and decided to go over Tunnel Mountain to see if any elk were there. There was…. going down towards the highway there was a herd of 40-50. Stopped for about 10 min. Almost got stuck in the snow on the side of the road. Doesn’t look like any pics turned out, though. Shooting at 1/2000th of a second with a 500mm lens had a lot of hand shake movement and the pics are blurry. Very grey and foggy day, too. Dark. We’ll see. Went through Exshaw coming home and saw one large mountain sheep ram. Got some good pics of him, though. So a good day. Did NOT get out of the car. It was -23c to -27c. Was out for half hour yesterday at -19c with sun and did ok, but -23c and fog is a total different story!

Have not heard at all from Emil. He was flying home yesterday. Sent him a text late on the 23rd wishing him a good trip. I’ll be very surprised if I hear from him again. Disappointed. Spyce, Brandon was a guy a sent a smile to a few weeks ago. He quickly asked for my email and got off the site. His emails sound really fake and scripted. He’ll ask me questions then not respond to my answers. Not talking about every day things, only how he’s enjoying getting to know me and what do I want in a relationship. Typical scammer stuff. Widowed. Has one child. Worked with a diamond/gem company. ???? I haven’t answered his last email. Not interested.

There are a couple men on Christian Connection that I’m interested in. One loves horseback riding, kayaking, hiking….. just my type of man and says he’s a Christian, but I haven’t the foggiest clue of what to say to catch his interest. Any suggestions?

Steph, the girl they hired to help me, I think was only looking for fun for herself in making cookies. We got in a argument Friday so she took off for the weekend, which worked fine for me. Not interested in doing anything with her. I’m sure her motives had nothing to do with trying to get acquainted, only fun for her.

So have had some interesting conversations with Ed. Ed is the co-worker I’ve mentioned before that uses the F word a LOT. He’s also the one I mentioned can give a slam along with a wink. We seem to be on the same wave length at work. We see things much the same way and read people the same way. He’s started confiding in me and talking and sharing with me. He’s happily married and there’s no romantic interest at all, but I’ve learned to respect him and have found it interesting he would talk with me and confide with me. He’s been a manager on several projects. Not this one. He’s in a position way below his skill set. He has told me he will take me along with him to his next project if he has the opportunity to do so. He likes my work. Wish I could build the same type of relationship with a single man. Why does it come easier to build a relationship with someone at work and someone that’s not free and I’m not interested in? Randy also has told me he will bring me on to his next project if he can. I worked with Randy in Louisiana and then he came out here to Sarnia for a few weeks. He didn’t last long here. He quit and went back home.

I have an interview at 5 a.m. with Bob and his boss for the project in The Netherlands. That thought scares me. Going to a totally foreign country where I don’t know the language by myself. Don’t know a soul there. Won’t be at Bob’s office so he won’t be around. Again, the country is totally flat. I’d have to go to Switzerland, France, or Italy to see mountains. And I’d be traveling by myself. Scary.

Hope you both had a wonderful Christmas. Heidi, hope you enjoyed breakfast with your mom. LOL. Seems strange to take down Christmas decorations Christmas day, but then if you’ve had them up since Oct. I can understand.

Smiles,
Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

Merry Christmas, Spyce and Heidi,
Don’t know what’s happening, but I sure missed both your messages. Was wondering why I wasn’t hearing from you, but you wrote and I didn’t get notices and when I logged in to look I sure didn’t see them. Technology! How fun! Not as reliable as people think.

Hope you both have a wonderful holiday and I’ll answer your posts later. Right now I’m headed to Banff to look for elk. 🙂

Merry Christmas!

Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

Hello,
More confused. Emil texted last night and asked if I wanted to talk on the phone. He asked if I wanted to talk last night or on the weekend. I texted back that I would like to but that I was headed down for dinner, asked how late he was up and if the weekend would be better. Never heard back. Texted him a smile this morning and never heard boo from him. Don’t have a clue what to think.

Brandon’s sounding like a scammer. Will probably answer a couple more emails to confirm, but not terribly interested.

I have an interview for the job in Holland. Bob hasn’t set it up yet. We’ll see. Not real wild about going to Holland, but I desperately need to get out of here. The girl they hired to help me has done nothing but increase my stress level by 3. She’s high strung and dominate, came storming in like a whirl wind and just took over. Wouldn’t listen when I tried to show her things. I’d try to explain things and she’d interrupt me and start arguing with me. She’d blame everything on me. Attack, attack, attack. I finally talked with Ed about it when things blew up this morning. He encouraged me to go talk with Garry, the boss. But Garry is not a strong leader and has let one of the other girls run all over him and act like the manager and he’s showing that girl a lot of favoritism, so I didn’t have a lot of hope he’d do much. But Steph’s attitude was some better this afternoon. I don’t trust her at all. Working with Steph wears me out and I’m exhausted within 15 min of working with her and stressed to the point my stomach has been upset. She wants to come over to do cookies Sunday. I’m going to tell her no.

Ed is the guy I mentioned earlier that would give a slam with a wink and uses the F word a lot. But with all of that I’ve learned to respect him. He reads people about the same as I do. Nice to have that validation. Anyway, he’s had an interview for another job. Waiting for confirmation, but he said he’d take me along with him if he gets it. That job is in Ottawa. Again, really nice to have that validation and confirmation. I know he wouldn’t take either Steph or Jen.

Dinner time, so need to go. Any ideas of what’s going on with Emil? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

Hello,
Well, hmmmmmmm. Not sure what to think Emil texted a couple times right after our call. Said he enjoyed talking with me. I texted back and told him I enjoyed talking with him as well. He texted back, Thanks. Good night. And that’s the last I’ve heard from him. Don’t know what to think. I’m also hearing from another gentleman off Silver Singles. Brandon just emails me so far. We’ll see. But really interested in Emil. Not sure what to think about his silence. Any thoughts?

Smiles,
Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

🙂 🙂 :). That went well. Talked with Emil for probably close to half hour tonight. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but he’s a sweetheart! He’s got a deep baritone voice (LOVE a deep voice) and he’s got a softness to his voice that I rarely hear. I mentioned to him towards the end of our conversation that he had a softness to his voice. He said he’d take that as a compliment. I told him, Good, that’s how it was meant. We have a lot in common. His language was clean and he’s thoughtful and respectful. Would really like to keep him around for a while so hope I don’t blow it this time! I’m really liking this guy. 🙂

[Rhonda R]

Hi, Heidi,
Thanks. My view of the Netherlands is its below sea level, flat, relies on levies to keep the sea out. Lots of flowers and windmills. Maybe southern Netherlands has mountains. I’ll have to look it up. My hesitations? First I can’t go till I get my permanent residency card. Mine expires in 3 months and I won’t be able to get back into Canada till my new one comes. Then I have to worry about my physical presence in Canada for the next 5 years. Have to make sure I’m here long enough to keep my PR. So if I go for 2 years, I can come home, but then I won’t be able to travel, I’ll have to stay in Canada. Also not sure about the location. Amsterdam is right on the ocean and all the pics I’ve seen are flat land and I’m sure its humid. I just checked. The highest point in the Netherlands is 1000 feet, one’s like 730 ft and the rest of the “mountains” are 550 and under. 1/3 of the country is below sea level. It borders Germany and I understand (from my niece who is married to a German), the country is under militant lock down still. Don’t know if I’d be able to travel while I’m there as Europe is still dealing with COVID and things are starting to shut down again. Also, Bridget has told me there’s the possibility of another job here in Canada next year. And Randy is scheduled to go on the project in Africa and he wants me on his job and I can work remotely on his. It’s very tempting, but not sure about it. I was hoping to work remotely and maybe go for occasional visits.

Just a little flirty with Elim. Haven’t talked much at all. I’m sure he’s working lots of overtime with lots of pressure. We haven’t talked on the phone yet. Tomorrow we should be able to. We’ll see how that goes. He is moving fast. I had asked him if he had plans for his time at home over Christmas. He said he doesn’t do much during the winter and is looking for someone to spend time with. For some reason, I’m not quite as offish and quick to run with him as I have been with others and I think a lot of that is because I feel respected. Also, with our work being apart, it will keep things a bit slower. Dunno. Again, will be praying about it. No, haven’t discussed what we’ll do when we meet. That may come up tomorrow when we talk.

It doesn’t help that I have no respect for these consulting companies. All they do is put up a bunch of graphs and charts. No amount of graphs and charts will fix the problems on that project and its a huge waste of money. This is by far and away the most top heavy project I’ve ever been on and most of the managers don’t care and don’t have a clue. Toxic environment with lots of bickering, arguing, threatening, blaming, scope of work totally undefined between contractors, lots of missed scope, fighting between the contractors, contractors refusing to produce quality documentation or complete their work. The project (client) quality team is not doing their job at all and there’s no quality control. No amount of graphing and charts is going to fix that. One of the area construction managers lives at this complex and sits at our dinner table (rent includes dinner every night). The other night he was just bashing our turnover team, totally bashing and trashing the project, totally making fun of and criticizing work I had been involved with to my face. It was pretty bad. I would really like to find other work by next March. I’ll definitely be praying about it.

Rainy and cold here again today. Not sure what I’m going to do. Tomorrow will go in to work for a while, talk with Elim and supposed to talk with Trav and Steph, I think, is coming over to bake Christmas cookies. Oh, and I MUST finish ordering Christmas presents. I’m already late.

Are you ready for Christmas?
Smiles,
Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

Good morning, Heidi,
LOL. The one day I can sleep in and I’m up wide awake at 4:45. Of course I went to bed at 8 last night pretty exhausted.

So did hear from Emil last night. He wants to meet in Lacombe after my eye appt. on the 29th. He gave me his number so I told him I’d text him Sunday. Putting him off just a little. But his phone number is an Edmonton phone number so I’m not seeing any flags that he’s a scammer. And I’m noticing something about him I’m really liking. He’s a strong leader. He seems to know what he wants and goes after it. BUT… and this is a big BUT….. with his leading, he’s also thoughtful and asks if its ok with me. He suggested calling but asked if I would be ok with it. He suggested meeting over Christmas and again asked if I would be comfortable with it. He leads, which I really really like, but he’s also considerate of me and my feelings. Exactly what I want. He’s also been patient with my hesitation. Maybe I’m unconsciously testing him? But he’s not running away and he’s not getting upset or pushy.

When I went to answer his messages last night I saw my message about the storm hadn’t sent. So I put in a quick blurb that I had meant to send that message last night and asked about the storm. He came back and said yes, there was a bad storm and he’s out in a very remote spot (project manager on a drilling project) and the seas are very frightening. Then he thanked me for being so kind and thoughtful. I’m starting to like him. The way he appreciates me and always asks if I’m ok with his suggestions makes me feel respected and safe. He’s working a double shift today so will wait till mid day Sunday or so to text. Checked on the google number but that only works in the States.

Now I’m going to be lazy and snuggle up in my blankets and dream about some hugs. 🙂
Have a great weekend!
Smiles,
Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

Hi, Heidi,
Well, we’ll see. LOL. Yes, I was surprised he suggested a trip to Iceland so fast. He suggested a call either Friday or Sunday. I suggested Sunday. He then suggested we meet over Christmas. I gave him a winking emoji back with “Maybe. I’ll be in Lacombe on the 29th.” (Lacombe is half way between Edmonton and Calgary and I have to go for an eye appt on the 29th) But that was Wednesday night and I haven’t heard from him since. I did message him last night as he’s working in St Johns, Newfoundland and one of my co-workers is from there. Ed said Saint Johns was getting another major storm with 140k winds so messaged Emil to see if he was ok. So we’ll see if he’s disappeared or if he’s just busy and will contact me again soon. I hope he does as I’m quite interested.

Thank you. Yes, that compliment did feel really good. And now other departments are asking for the data and the graphs from my PowerBI tracker. It’s not on a place where we can share it readily so will have to talk with my supervisors about where to place it so others can see it. I have to fight the feeling that the two consulting companies are stealing my work as they are taking my data, making their own graphs and charts and putting them up in the WOR room. But oh well.

So….. was talking with Bob. He said he will have a position open soon for SmartCompletions (the database I work with), but I’d have to relocate to the Netherlands. I will ask him for how long and see if he can wait for my permanent residency card to get here. I’ll pray about it. He said its quite lucrative. I could go for a couple years then retire. Dunno.

Trav is interested in data management and database work so I will call him Sunday and help him get an Access database set up with some of his paleontology data he used in college. If he learns Access and PowerBI I think he could easily get a job. He’s applied at Home Depot, and he’s worked there before stocking, but I think that would not be a career for him. They did get moved into their new house. Dustin gave me a video walk through. Its a beautiful house. Much larger and prettier than I ever had. He’s also finally getting paid properly through accounts payable rather than his boss paying his invoices on the company credit card, so things, I think, are finally starting to settle down for them.

Hope you have a great weekend,
Smiles,
Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

Oh, P.S. Got a huge compliment yesterday. Bruno, the top project manger came by and thanked me for all my work and said he and others really appreciated how I had gathered all the data and put it into one place and he appreciated the PowerBi graphs and reports I had made. Really surprised me but made me feel really good.

[Rhonda R]

Hi, Heidi,
Thanks. Yes, technology can be horribly frustrating. So impersonal an it feels like no one cares or listens. I FINALLY, after about 10 emails, got a real email from someone who actually read my emails. So at least I was able to log back in. Still can’t change my password, but at least I can log in.

So Emil’s in Edmonton. He’s Christian and active, and enjoys outdoor sports. He’s also 59. I thought he’d disappear as I wrote him and told him I don’t drink at all and don’t enjoy being around it and I’m also vegetarian and don’t eat anything that breathed or had a heartbeat. Comments off his pics where in one pic he was wearing a Corona Extra shirt and another one he showed off two huge fish he had caught. Ha. He comes back and says God is very important to him and he doesn’t smoke or drink at all. (Wears a Corona Extra shirt but doesn’t drink???? Not sure how that works, but ok.) Oh, one pic he’s sea kayaking so I had asked where that was. He said in some bay on a trip where he had met his mother from Iceland and talked about how nice it was to see her again. So I mentioned I’d like to visit Iceland some day. LOL. He came back and said we should take a trip to Iceland next summer and he’d love to be my guide. LOL. I told him he was very brave to offer that to a complete stranger and he’d better be careful as I just might take him up on it. Just got a message back from him tonight that he was serious. He said he’s busy with work and has a master’s degree. I’m a little on the cautious side, but curious enough I’d like to get know him more. I had told him he would have gotten my answer a couple days earlier if I hadn’t been having such trouble with my password and let him know if he didn’t hear from me for a few days it was because I couldn’t log in. He said he understood this site can be frustrating and suggested a phone call. He seemed pretty understanding instead of thinking I was lying and a scammer and trying to get his personal email.

I’ve also heard a couple times from a guy in Great Falls. Got a notice from Silver Singles that they’re investigating him and it may be a false profile. I did answer him, but stayed very surface level and won’t give out any personal information or tell him much about me.

This project is getting worse and worse. Praying something will come up where I can go home before next spring. I’ll have 58ish hours this week.

Better run. Need to get Christmas presents ordered or they won’t get there on time.

Have a super evening,
Smiles,
Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

Hi,
I am SOOOOO MAD right now! I signed up with Silver Singles about 6 weeks ago. It wasn’t cheap. Over $400 So a few weeks later, it locked me out and my password wouldn’t work. I FINALLY found a way to contact their support (they’re based out of Germany.) The Forgot Password link they send just kicks you right back to the login/register page with no way to change your password. I told them that. After the 2nd complaint to them it started working. So now, 2 weeks later, it’s done the exact same thing to me. Saturday I was in and answered a message I got. No problems logging in. Sunday tried to get in to answer another message and it won’t let me in. Have no clue why the automatic login didn’t work. I didn’t log out. I’ve emailed support 4 times now and all I’ve gotten us the automatic reply, “Oh, you forgot your password. No worries. Here’s the link. Fill out the form.” And it kicks me right back to the login/registration page with no form to change password. I’d tell them to go fly a kite and give me a refund except I really would like to get to know the guy that’s the couple messages was from. I’m pretty mad and feeling pretty helpless right now. Grrrrrrrrr! Last message I got from him was Saturday and I still can’t answer him tonight. Feeling pretty helpless and mad.

Bad day at work. Was in 7 hours yesterday (Sunday). Today was over 11 hours. One of the turnover binders has disappeared. I can’t find it anywhere. Makes me really upset as I feel responsible for loosing it. So I’m pretty upset about that, too.

Anyway, I just needed to vent. Thanks for listening. Doubt I’ll sleep tonight, but I sure hope so. Didn’t sleep hardly at all last night.

Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

Hi, Heidi,
No, unfortunately won’t be able to go see my boys. I’m going home to Calgary. Still really can’t leave Canada. I know the US won’t let someone back in if their passport is within 6 months of expiring and my Canadian PR card is expiring in 4 months. Don’t want to travel till I get my new card. I wanted Trav to come up to see me, but he’s having problems with his passport. Been lost in the mail twice now.

So I’m going home and getting my new Canon lens. 🙂 Hope to go looking for snowy owls with a friend. Have another friend that just moved back to Red Deer from BC. Red Deer is 2 hours north of me, so will try to catch up with her as well. And I’m sure Deb and I will get together a few times and my snow shoes are anxious to get out. They haven’t been out for a couple years. Signed up for a caroling meetup the day after I get home. So it will be good.

I’ll contact Bob next week again. Haven’t heard back from him, but he was asking when my contract here was up and followed it with a :). He’s the sr. project manager on the project in Belgium. That would be a great job, I think. Bob would be good to work with/for. This project is getting scary and so many things going on that I can’t conscientiously go along with. Fortunately most of it not our group responsibility, but the safety and quality on the project is extremely low.

Hope you have a great weekend,
Smiles,
Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

Good evening, Spyce,
Yes, it was ok last Saturday night. Did enjoy playing jenga with Ed. Nice to talk to someone beside myself. Trying to get the team together for a Christmas gathering. Put it out this morning for Sunday evening but got few takers so postponed till next weekend when there was more time to plan.

Yeah, I should contact my last landlord, but I’m exhausted and too tired. Just don’t want to deal with it. I’m not hurting for money. God has been very good to me. I know he and his partner just had a baby and he was only working part time teaching. He must have had some money as he bought a building in town and he and his partner just bought a house, but sounds like things have gone kind of sour on him and he’s indicated he’s hurting for money.

Dustin, my oldest, did close on his house today so they’re moving tomorrow. So I’m really happy for them. Should help relieve of the stress. Will catch up with Trav next week to see if he’s found out more about geology certification.

I sure do hope to find something else for work early next year. This project is getting really scary. The quality department on this project is non-existent. They aren’t doing their job at all and letting lots of things slide to the point that safety is at risk. Too much going on that I can’t agree with or conscientiously be part of. Will contact Bob again next week.

Thanks. No, not feeling Marcel at all. More of a desire to run away and disappear than anything else. Heard a couple times from a 76-year-old who is still horseback riding. And I LOVE horseback riding. But horses or not, not interested in someone that old. Also heard from a 59-year-old from Edmonton who seems really nice, but he drinks and fishes and I just don’t like being around either. You’re right. I should see about a google number. I don’t often give out my number and its a US number and I’m living in Canada.

Get to home in 18 days. Can’t wait. A friend just moved back to Alberta from BC so will try to catch up with her while I’m home. She’s up in Red Deer about 2 hours north of me, but that’s not too far.

Hope you have a good weekend,
Smiles,
Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

Hi, Spyce,
Thanks. Game night only Ed showed up. We played a couple games of Jenga. It was fun. Don’t know how soon I’ll plan another one. Not hearing a whole lot of interest. This is definitely better than where I was at downtown. Lost $1800 moving. The landlord has not returned my last month’s rent even though he’s getting $300 more a month from his new renter, lost no rent from time between renters and he had no cleaning costs. A little unhappy about it.

Just found out my oldest will be closing on their house Friday, so they’ll finally be able to move into their own place. Talked with Trav. He’s heard he can possible get a license for biology or geology and that will carry more weight with employment than just a degree, so he’s going to find out more about that. I think moving into their own place (instead of living with her parents and sister) will help Trav as well. They bought a big house so Trav should have a little more room and privacy there.

Yes, my work is keeping me very busy. Will be close to 60 hours this week. The girl who is supposed to be helping me started today. Will take her a couple weeks to figure things out, but she will. I’m getting more and more frustrated with work here. I was told when I hired on I would be working with the commissioning database. I am not. They’re hiring others to do what I’ve done for 10 years and have the skills to do and want to do and not letting me work with the database much at all. Now that Steph is here, all I’ll be doing is tracking walkdowns and binders. Bored to death, not using my skills at all and very frustrated. I did get an interesting message from Bob, a sr. project manager on a project in Belgium. He and I have talked for several years. He was a database manager and moved into project manager. He’s just starting up a project and messaged me to see when my contract here was over. I told him I could be free as soon as Christmas. This is a Worley project so also emailed and texted the global tech lead for the database. I’ve worked with Bridget since 2012 and she really wants me back. That was a couple days ago and I’ve not heard anything from either of them, but sounded like there might be a possibility of getting on that project. We’ll see. I’m hoping. I think that would be a good project. I think I could probably work from home in Calgary for at least part of the time.

So last summer I had talked a bit with a guy off Zoosk. Was not impressed with the first phone call and then got really busy at work so texted him and said I couldn’t be in a relationship as I was stressed at work but was willing to be friends. He got rather pushy but finally said he’d respect my wishes. Texted once and I responded and I never heard from him again. Heidi might remember I was talking with Marcel. Anyway, I had started going on Zoosk long enough to say No, No, No, No to all my “smart picks.” So a few days ago I got a message on Zoosk from Marcel. Said, “I see you’re back out here. Are you looking for a serious relationship?” I kind of felt attacked. From the first phone call, I’ve felt dominated, and pressured and almost coerced into a relationship rather than invited. Am I being too sensitive when I feel attacked from his blunt question? It was short and pointed….. I see you’re out here again. Are you seriously looking for a relationship? or Are you looking for a serious relationship? or something like that. Like I offered to be friends and he turned that down but wanted to jump right into a relationship. That doesn’t work for me. So I haven’t answered him yet and I’ve stayed off Zoosk. Makes me grumpy.

Anyway, I’m tired. Flying home 3 weeks from yesterday. Can’t wait.

Smiles,
Rhonda

[Rhonda R]

Thank you, Heidi,

How was your Thanksgiving? Hope it was good.

I will send that to Trav. Not sure how much of what I send him he looks at. I did mention database management to him and he sounded interested in that and I think may build some databases of his own and I sent him the link to PowerBI for him to play with. Also found out from a friend that the manufacturers in WI are begging for employees, so suggested he look over there. He said he was ready to take anything right now. Haven’t talked with him since.

I got a response 3 weeks after writing from a gentleman I was interested in. I responded and he responded right back, so I resigned with Zoosk as my profile expired and he promptly disappeared. 🙁

Work is really crazy. Only 53 hours this week as power was out Sunday for them to backfill over a high voltage power line. But the days are full of non-stop interruptions. I get help Tuesday. I was told I could give her all the tasks that totally frustrate me. 🙂 Still work work 50 hour weeks, but shouldn’t have to work more than that I hope. Will probably still go in on Sunday as its quiet and I can get things done and some of my tasks require spreading books all over several tables to sort and organize and can’t do that during the week.

A couple people had said they like board games so I reserved the private dining room and bought 3 games and planned a board game night for tomorrow night. So one of the people who said they loved board games said they had other plans, even though I put this out early this week. We’ll see how many come.

Hope you have a good weekend,
Smiles,
Rhonda

P.S. Really wishing I had someone to snuggle up with tonight. 🙂

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