The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

July 14, 2020 6:21 PM


Sheesh … I don’t know exactly how long it’s been since I last logged in here, but I had a system message from March waiting for me. I’m guessing around February - maybe even January. Possibly the longest I’ve ever gone in my 14 ½ years as a member.

So, why am I here now? I just have a lot on my mind and need to unload, I suppose.

First and foremost, it looks like I have found another job after five years at my current workplace. It’s at a retirement home, which is one of the avenues I’ve been looking into for a number of years. It’s apparently full-time, has benefits and is a decent wage, so I suppose I’m happy. I feel a bit of reservation, which I guess is normal after having been at my current job for so long, but I’m hopeful. I’ve wanted to get out of the hotel industry for so very long, so it appears I got my wish.

Not that I’ve been at work in forever, lol. Like many others, I’ve been greatly affected by COVID-19 and have actually been off work since mid-March. This may sound ridiculous, but it doesn’t feel like I’ve been off for nearly that long - maybe a couple of weeks, really. And no - I’m not bored. After spending so long in the hotel business - and working most weekends and holidays, as well as not taking actual vacations up until the past few years - it was quite nice, actually, to relax and take it easy for several months. Something I’ve taken away from this pandemic: At under 40, I’m already ready for retirement, lol.

Anyway, I emailed back and forth with the manager at the retirement home today (after interviewing with them last week) and they want me to start tomorrow morning. I agreed, but truthfully, it would have been nice not to have that sprung on me. In addition to the fact that I need a shitload of documentation (medical testing and a background check) that is going to take until next week to get completed and I’ve been running around like crazy trying to get it done. But, I suppose it is what it is.

One positive thing about the circumstances is that I can hold off on telling my current employers about this new job until I’m sure I want to stay there permanently. If, for whatever reason, I feel it’s not going to work out, I am technically still employed at the hotel.

Of course, I don’t know exactly when I’d be called back. I’ve been in touch with someone there who is in my department and he has been back for a month or so. It was initially just for 30 hours a week, although I don’t know if that’s changed. I’m next in line for seniority, but I think things are dependent on how good business is, and I don’t think there’s going to be a real change until the borders open back up and travel restrictions are significantly loosened. And today, it was announced that the Canada/U.S. border will remain closed for at least another month.

Let’s say I were to get called back: Would it be part-time hours for the foreseeable future? Plus, I generally get full-time hours for the most part - even during the off-season - but I have to think the company will be attempting to recoup all of the losses they have incurred. So, who’s to say what would happen this coming winter?

At the end of the day, I feel trying this new job is the right thing. There is simply too much unknown to wait and see what happens with the hotel. Quite honestly, I’m beginning to think things won’t really return to “normal” until there is a vaccine. And who knows when that will be?

If worst comes to worst, I suppose I can just stay at the hotel. But, we’ll see what happens.

I finally launched the podcast I’ve been wanting to start since forever during my time off. Now that I’m going back to work, however, I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to dedicate to it. It’s a very time-consuming endeavor. Plus, I’m not sure the reward is worth the time and effort at the moment. But, if anything, I’m glad I learned how to do it. It’s a pretty cool thing to know.

Much of my time off has just been spent relaxing, as I mentioned earlier. I’ve watched a lot of movies and T.V. shows (most notably Gossip Girl and Sons of Anarchy), and done more cooking than usual.

One downside to the pandemic has been that we have been unable to have our summer dart league (at least thus far), something I really enjoyed last year. Quite frankly, the way things are going, I’m not sure we’ll be able to have our fall/winter leagues, either, but we’ll see.

Well … I guess that’s about it. Quite a bit of writing considering not much has happened in my world for several months, lol.