My work permit is here!  It came in the mail today and I have been running like the proverbial cranium-challenged chicken since it got here!

THIS IS HUGE!! YAAAAY!!

So the first thing to do was to tell my husband.  He was thrilled; he knows how much I have been longing for this day, for the chance to leave the house a little bit and actually do something with myself.  Plus we could really use the extra money.  We're fine as it is, but like everybody, we'd like to have a few nicer things, buy some appliances for our next apartment, etc.  So I know that in second place to being happy for me, he's happy about the extra income I can provide us now.

Next thing to do was tell my employment counsellor, a.k.a. my friend C, a.k.a. my husband's first wife and original adopter of our two cats.  She was also thrilled.  She's happy for me as a friend, but also, she loves her job.  I mean she LOVES her job.  So she was thrilled to be able to do the job she loves in order to help a friend she cares about.  Win-win!

She immediately gets on the phone.  She called the place we'd both had our eye on for me, a little bookstore and boutique.  They're not hiring for the bookstore section right now, but she did want a copy of my resume so we'll see if that leads anywhere.  Meantime, C called my second-choice place, another bookstore that is about half a block from where I live.  And he wants to see me tomorrow!

Enter the cranially-challenged chicken.  There was no social insurance number with the permit (the equivalent of an SSN).  So I had to get one.  In reading the application that C had given me last week for just this situation, I realized that I would have to send the original of my work permit.  Really didn't want to do that as I'd just gotten it and it could take up to 3 weeks to get it back, and I felt that without a SIN I'd need some kind of proof for potential employers that I am, in fact, employable.  But underneath that it said that I could apply in person at the nearest government HR office and have my documents returned to me directly after the application was filed.

So I hit up the HR website, find the office for my town.  Go to mapquest to actually find it.  Turns out it's well within walking distance; I pass within a block of there on my daily walk to meet my husband after work.  Made sure I had all my papers and off I went!  Got my application handled by a very nice lady (it was a breeze and government employees in Canada are generally VERY pleasant to deal with!) and I have my new SIN already!  Well, actually my old SIN, because apparently I had one when I lived in New Brunswick as a kid.  I had no idea.  They gave me my old number for now, since I'm still a non-resident like I was back then, but I'll get a different one once I am a resident.  I don't have a SIN card yet - that will come in another week or two. But the number itself is the important thing, and I have a little signed paper with my number on it that I can use until I get the card.

Next, it was off to hit the town shopping!  Actually, ATM first, then shopping.  I don't have a ton of free money and I wasn't expecting to have to make this shopping trip, for an interview outfit, for another week or two.  Fortunately there are some outlet and thrift boutiques all along my block.  The perks of living downtown!  I only went to one store, but I spent just over an hour browsing and trying stuff on (I am a slowpoke in the dressing room plus I tend to wander and re-wander the store making sure I didn't miss anything good). 

I was a little nervous that I wouldn't find anything that would work.  All I have at home really are jeans, most of which don't fit because I am at a transition weight right now, and other casual stuff left over from my college days, plus the odd shirt or two that I've picked up since living here.  I actually started to get mad at C for moving things along so quickly, grumbling to myself about how of course she didn't think about the fact that we have been living off one entry-level salary for two people and I don't exactly have a huge wardrobe or wardrobe budget, or a car to go shopping with!  But that was more nerves and worry than true anger.  And once I got into the groove of actually shopping, I forgot about it.

I was hoping to come home with something really smashing and maybe take a picture of myself in my new outfit for you guys to see, in celebration of such a milestone day.  But alas, all I found were some black slacks.  Really great black slacks, in fact.  They fit me perfectly, semi-low cut so I still feel fashionable but also professional, nice drape.  A teensy bit on the snug side but still very comfortable, and since I'm losing weight I don't mind since I know they'll be seeming loose before too long! (they're a size 9...this time last year I was wearing 14s!)  Plus, PLUS they are already hemmed petite!  I am not a sliver over 5' tall so it's really hard finding pants off the rack that don't drag on the ground!  I was worried I'd be up all night hemming whatever I bought but these are totally ready to go.  Ladies, you know how incredibly rare it is to go shopping and find perfect pants like that!  It's, like, an omen.  I'm sure of it!

So now I'm home and DH is in the shower getting ready because we are going out tonight to celebrate!  This is a once in my lifetime day so no way am I letting it go by and NO WAY am I cooking!!

I'll be leaving you now to go enjoy a lovely grilled salmon with my husband - well, I'll be enjoying the salmon; he'll probably be enjoying the pizza or something since he's not a seafood guy.  And then dessert.

Wheeeeee!