I survived my four day stint as an advance Canadian Election poll worker - and if you wish to complain about the long line you had to wait in vote please complain elsewhere as I have heard enough of that already. Apparently Canadian voters are coming out in force and the crush of advance voters overwhelmed most locations which only had one polling station *(the actual election day of October 19th has many more so no lineups are expected but don't hold me to that). Anyway, I managed to come away from that experience with just over $500 to fatten up the Spain travel fund. I also lost 2 pounds as was constantly on my feet with almost no breaks due to crowds. A win win on both counts!
Our cabinet arrived (see last post) while I was working and I have been digging out all my treasures to fill it. I used to buy vintage/antique things as I wanted to be an Etsy reseller - but in the end high Canadian shipping costs killed that idea. Recently I have joined a couple buy/sell groups on Facebook and I might just try the idea again as almost all of what I bought a couple of years ago ended up selling for 2 to 3 times the prices. Pretty good considering the items were resold at one flea market and garage sales. It might be a way to continue funding both my love of hunting for old funky items and funding the travel fund.
In my absence hubby cleaned dusted and vacuumed all the blinds and steam cleaned all three carpeted bedrooms. This is what living with a type A personality is like lol. Oh yeah, he also dug out his mother's old Ukrainian cookbook and made four jars of beet relish plus a bunch of other things he didn't tell me about. I keep finding bits of red beet around the kitchen in odd spots so am happy I didn't see the cleanup process. Each of the four nights I worked away from home I would come home to an exhausted puppy who had followed hubby around all day. Both are happy I am home forcing them to relax a bit.
I am looking forward to this weekend as we are going to a friends house for a party on Saturday and can be assured of lots of laughs from this crowd, some of my favorite people. The host used to be a chef and is planning a five course meal - no cooking for me! That's what's up in my world, what's shaking in yours?
I thought the job stint looked great until I read that you were on your feet all day! Where would we be without election workers?!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your party!
Jane x
I had done that job one other time on the last BC election so had an idea what it was going to be like but not realizing how overwhelmed we were with crowds. Most people were decent except the last day. One lady said "10 minutes" like that was completely an unacceptable wait time and then swore. By that time my patience was wearing very thin - I just about slapped her!
DeleteYes, it would be the public that would put me off!
DeleteJane x
Would your husband care to share the beet recipe? I know nothing about Lithuanian cooking but I adore beetroot!!
ReplyDeleteGreat boost to the holiday fund. I've started searching for flights which will motivate me to start saving even more than usual! xxx
I will share the recipe next post - I've never made it but I believe he followed the proper recipe. Either way it tastes good :)
Deletein the states, we can vote early, they start 2 weeks beforehand, No lines. I just go to the library, in and out in 5 minutes. I always bring my kids. I like them to see the importance of voting, and to see that I always vote!
ReplyDeleteThis is the first year advance voting was four days long. 2008 was the first year you didn't need a reason to advance vote and we got 10 times the crowd this year than in 2008. Lots of little kids there got to see the whole process and it was nice to see several first time voters, even in our retirement town.
DeleteI spent about 8 hours this week in a consulate's office for my visa for my trip next week, so I have a lot of sympathy. ;-) Although, the waits were quite a bit longer than ten minutes. It took me 2 hours to drive there (each way) & then there was a three block lineup before they opened. CRAZY.
ReplyDeleteI'd also love the beet recipe, and congrats for the weight loss and the $500!!
Yuck, and you aren't even going for fun - business again? I am not sure I will do that job again, although likely next time they will have more polls as will anticipate it, and likely I will have forgotten the gong show it was by then.
DeleteWorking on your feet all day is tough. It took me a few weeks to get used to it. When you haven't done it in a while, it can really hurt your feet. But you made in 4 days what it takes me 2 weeks to earn, so that's awesome.
ReplyDeleteI don't work on my feet normally at all - but it was good for me and I totally feel for you working fulltime on your feet. Our minimum wages are higher here is $10.45 per hour, we got paid a little more at $13.15 per hour and a flat $50 for 3 hours of training. We ended up working a few more hours than I thought with set up and takedown. We pay much higher taxes here though!
DeleteI admire the ladies (and it mostly seems to be ladies) who work on election day. I think it's an important process and privilege and appreciate anyone who helps make it happen.
ReplyDeleteI think your husband sounds more and more like mine each day. When we retire and spend a few months a year in Spain or Portugal, we'll have to meet up!
At our poll there were 2 men and four ladies, a total of six of us who processed around a thousand people in the four days. Pretty good considering in Canada it is an entirely manual process - not digitized yet. Even counting on election night is all done by hand. I'm game for meeting up there if you are!
DeleteI thought of you when I went to vote and waited 45 minutes. I figured you were going to be busy as well.
ReplyDeleteVery nice of hubby to take on those tasks while you were away. I hate cleaning blinds. Love beets but dislike the mess as well.
Enjoy your party today, you deserve to kick up your heels.
I do normal day to day cleaning but he does a ton of work on the outside of the house which I avoid unless he needs help or he is away. I need to do a big deep clean today though on the bathrooms - yuck :(
DeleteGood for you helping out with the polling. We've had a heavy early turnout here in Powell River as well. Not sure what Monday will bring. - Margy
ReplyDeleteI am going to vote at 10am on Monday as polls open at 7am and hopefully by then things will have quieted down and staff will be faster. I don't mind waiting in line if need be though.
DeletePlease send Husband here! Our home could use a little Type A about now!
ReplyDeleteTheoretically someone who likes to get things done is a good thing - except it drives me bananas that we have to go away in order for him to relax. I am so not a type A personality and have no trouble relaxing :)
DeleteThat is great that hubs is a go getter when it comes to cleaning and canning. Plus you are doing great on your fund!!! It seems I am spending way more than we have in the funds lately. I'm not happy with me. LOL
ReplyDelete