A beautiful day

Today I ate my lunch by the duck pond, for the second day in a row. The duck pond is at the library in Barrington. The library in Barrington (as well as an office that shares that building) is where I work.

Yes, I got a job. It happened by accident, but was so providential I couldn't pass it up. Here's what happened:

Last Wednesday our Internet stopped working --- I blogged about that from the library. It was, in fact, the whole reason I went to the library that day. (Know this: our internet SHOULDN'T have worked to begin with, because we hadn't called to do the set-up. But if it had NEVER worked, I would have called right away, and never had gone to the library. But it did, and I did. This is important.) The day before, a notice had been placed on the library bulletin board reading something to the effect of "Seeking CAP intern".

I wouldn't even have noticed it, except that this day I chose to stop and scan the whole bulletin board. And except that I had done that job before --- in '99, I was the CAP intern in Athens. So that night I called and left a message for the contact person.

Some things you should know about CAP jobs:
1. They are only for the summer
2. They are only 35 hours a week, and very flexible with when you work those hours
3. The job can be as stressful or non-stressful as the intern wants to make it
4. You meet a ton of people as a CAP intern
5. In most places, high school and college students fight for CAP jobs.

I couldn't figure out why the job hadn't been filled. I found out later that the federal government had denied funding to this CAP site, but then just a few weeks ago the provincial government had come through. But by that time, all eligible candidates in the area already had jobs.

I received a phone message on Thursday. Finally, on Friday, I talked with Joelle. And on Friday, I emailed her my resume. And on Friday, I went to meet with her. And on Friday, she offered me the job, pretty much right away. Technically I don't fit all the criteria (because I'm not going back to school), but they're making an exception.

My goal for this summer was to meet people. Now I have a job where that's what I do all day long; that, and sit in front of a computer making stuff and helping people. These are things I love to do. It is low stress. It is money. And I get to work in the library, which since the first time we visited here I was wishing I might some day be able to do, but knew the likelihood of a position coming open was slim.

And, there's a duck pond right out front, with benches and a fountain and, yes, ducks. And the last two days have been sunny and beautiful.

God is so good, isn't He? I went from wanting a way to connect with people to having one handed to be because of a series of FORTUNATE "coincidental" events. I am blessed.

I have a new friend name Jill. The last time I came to visit here, she took me horseback riding, and I hoped she would be my friend. And now she is, for true. And I am teaching her the drums, and she reminds me of Megan, who picked up the drums so quickly. And she is going to teach me riding in return, as she is learning herself in lessons. Tonight, she is coming for some drumming. And yes, that rhymes.

We have a BBQ now; Paul has wanted one for years, so now that we have a place to put one, I broke down and let him buy one. Paul BBQs all the time now, as happy as can be. The day we bought it, coincidentally, the church threw a welcome party for us, and people gave us money. That money more than paid for the BBQ. Yes, we are blessed.

Paul wants a MacBook Pro, and I may just let him get one. I doubt the church will throw a party to cover THAT, though.

Yesterday, Paul went to visit our neighbours, and they sent home a lobster for me, cooked but still in shell. Today, with the help of Burt (Effie's husband), I ate it. And it was tasty.

I miss Selinda and Lynnette today. And the Young children make me homesick whenever I think of them. But I am happy thus far in my new life here.