Cam I Am

This year has been yet another roller coaster year for me..

Where to start?  Well, after trying for 2-3 years, I finally transferred from the Vancouver Operations Centre to Abbotsford in late January.  The commute has been so much better!  The people out there are great and it certainly was the change that I needed.  I’ve applied for a couple of service technician positions out there, one of which is still pending.  I’m ready for a change.  I’ve been an installer for over 8 years.

It terms of travel, I’ve been very lucky.  I had the opportunity to go to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon in April.  Going to Las Vegas was amazing just for the experience of the altered reality that it provides.  Arizona and the Grand Canyon had a different significance to me.  In the winter, my grandfather would go down to the Tucson area to wait out the cold to leave southern Ontario.  As a child, I remember him talking about Arizona and what it has to offer.  He should us pictures of the Grand Canyon and even then, I knew that I wanted to go see it for myself some day.  Well, mid-April was my chance, and I couldn’t pass it up.  Even though it is very much a tourist attraction, I managed to find some peace there.  I literally sat on the edge, looking over it and thought about my grandfather.  Meghan just let me have my time there, not saying a word.  It was what I needed.

Two months after that trip, it was time to take out highly anticipated cross-country trek from Maple Ridge to Winnipeg.  My youngest brother was getting married and I simply could not miss it.  on a nearly 2 week trip, we drove across, seeing many things along the way.  It was great to reconnect with my family again and spend some time with them.  This was also an opportunity to get to know my new sister-in-law a little more.  Andrew and Martha seem to be perfect for each other.

In the summer, Meghan, the girls and I went camping only once, but we made it worthwhile.  We went to Vancouver Island and stayed in Victoria for the first night (and a hotel there!).  The next morning we drove up the coast to the Courtney are and stayed at Miracle Beach.  It was nice and sandy, but we didn’t get a lot of opportunity to enjoy it due to rain.  We did manage to find a short window of time when the tide was out to go digging in the sand for sand dollars and clams.  (They bite, I discovered!).  We also managed to find Canada’s largest geocache.  Then again, it’s not that hard to miss as you go by.

Lastly, in terms of travel, Meghan and I didn’t have the kids over Thanksgiving, so we decided to take a quick two-day trip down the west coast to Oregon.  We managed to get all the way down to Florence, where there are a lot of sand dunes.  We would have gone on a dune buggy, but we got there too late.  So, we drove to a state recreation area with sand dunes, and played in the sand there (both myself and in my truck).

It has been a remarkable year for geocaching for me.  My personal goal for the year was to find 200, which was double the amount that I had found the previous year..  Well..  I blew that out of the water.  Unless I go out with the kids later today to find one (not very likely), I found 386 in four provinces and four states.  Not too shabby.  I think I’ll try and make my goal for next year to be somewhere between 400-450.

Towards the end of the year, my back injury has been getting worse again.  For the month of December, I’ve been restricted to light office duties until it improves.  I find out on January 4th what the next course of action will be.  It could be a bumpy year next year.

For 2012, I’ve set some goals for myself.  I plan on losing a fair bit of weight, and getting into yoga to help strengthen my core muscles.  In a general sense, I’m planning on getting rid of the crap in my life — both physically and mentally.  I’ve been letting too much drag me down and that has to change.

So..  That’s pretty much it.  I’m also hoping to start blogging some more.  The one thing I’ve noticed about myself is that when the shit hits the fan, that’s when I get quiet on here and Facebook.  I’ll try to keep the complaining to a minimum too..  :)

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope your 2012 treats you well!

On October 29th, I had my final appeal with WCB.  With a slim chance of having a decision in my favour at this point, I had accepted that the matter was essentially over.

Until today…

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Today, I had my final appeal hearing with the Worker’s Compensation Appeal Tribunal (WCAT). This all stems from me re-injuring my back in July 2007.

To make a very long story short, I hurt myself at work, but failed to report it to anyone for 6 weeks.. Once I did, there was obvious doubt from my employer and WorksafeBC about the validity of my claim. After they denied my claim, it submitted it to the Review Division. Naturally, they upheld the decision, and at this time, Shaw (my employer!) agreed with their decision. After this, I submitted the claim to WCAT, which is part of WorksafeBC, but not.

Yesterday’s hearing went as well as expected. I managed to clarify some points that I think had been missed/overlooked up to this point and I feel as if someone (who can correct things) has listened to me.. I know that the chances of a decision ultimately going in my favour are slim, but I think that they have all the facts that I needed them to know.

So, now I wait. The latest I should recieve an answer is January 19, 2009, but I think I’ll have an answer before then.

Overall, I’m glad that this chapter of my life is over. The last 3 1/2 years have not been easy, but I have my health, my family, and I’m able to do all the things that I want too..

It’s all good…

Well, my first week back to work has gone well, so far..  I’ve worked Monday and Wednesday, as per my return to work instructions..   I seem to be moving around very well and have experienced no pain in my back!  It’s good to be back!  This explains the first part of title of this post..

The second is simple..  I’m being sent to work in Abbotsford for at least a month. 

I’m happy about this for three reasons:

1. Gas is cheaper in Abbotsford!  Easily 10 cents a litre less than anywhere within the GVRD’s boundaries.
2. For me, the commute to the Abbotsford office is almost exactly the same as the trip into the Vancouver office…   but it will take 35 minutes to commute to Abbotsford instead of 75 minutes to Van…
3. No seagulls..   I’ll save the explanation of this for another post.  Anyone at VTOC who is reading this and knows me will be laughing right about now.. 

So..  I’m back to work..  and being sent away! 

I’ve been unusually quiet here recently..

And not because I’ve had nothing to say.  I’ve just been..  quiet..

This past weekend, I took the girls up to the Okanagan to see grandma and papa..  We went to the beach, visited a couple friends, and of course, took the required trip to Tickleberry’s in Okanagan Falls.  It was nice to get away!   Even though I’ve been off for such a long time, it was nice to get away with the kids. 

Around the house, I’ve been painted our living room, organizing a few things, and just trying to keep busy. 

Yesterday, I went to see my doctor for a follow-up appointment from my surgery.  I asked him if I could go back to work..  and after a few questions, he said that I can, starting the 28th..     I’m going back for the first 2 weeks for just three days a week, but then full time.  I’ll be doing full duties from the start!

WOOHOO!

The last couple of weeks have been going well for me..

I’ve been feeling pretty good.  The physio sessions that I’ve been going to seem to be helping me improve on my flexibility.  I am very impressed with how much better I feel than before the surgery. With any luck, I’m hoping that I will return to work by the end of the month. 

My friends Mark and Christie and their two kids continued on with their RV trip, but not before having dinner at out place one evening.  It’s always nice to catch up with old friends, and this was no exception!  Mark and I went out for a little while so that I could show him around Maple Ridge, and we entertained the idea of checking out the campground that is directly across the river from our place (in Langley), but we didn’t like the wait for the Albion Ferry.  It seems that they may take another RV trip across the country again. 

Canada Day was low key..  All the kids got sick with the flu, but I did manage to go to a very small party at my friend Syd’s place.  BBQ salmon and “red and white” cake..  A very good dinner, and a really nice evening.  Since I am not working right now, getting out and having adult conversation is nice, and I’ll take it when I can get it!

That’s about it.   Just a bunch of little things to say; none of them worth a post of their own!  The kids are over their flu, but my wife has it now.  I haven’t caught it..  yet..

The last few days have been eventful!

First, Colleen went on a business trip to Chicago.  She had a great time!  She went to the House of Blues (twice!), a White Sox Game, and countless other attractions!  I got to see a good portion of her trip in the 276  pictures that she took! 

On Monday, my friends Mark and Christie finally arrived in town on their 30 day cross-country RV trip.  They’ll be staying in Vancouver for 6-7 days before going down through the states, so it will be a short visit with them.  We haven’t seen Mark since my wedding, but we talk frequently.  (Gotta love text messaging!).  We went to visit them at the campground that they are staying at in North Vancouver and had dinner and took the kids for a swim.  We’re planning to see them a couple times before they move on!

Yesterday I had my first follow-up appointment, since my surgery, with the neurosurgeon.  He tested my range of motion, checked the scar from the incision, and then said that I seemed to be healing well.  I asked him a few questions about some discomfort that I’ve felt in my back and leg and was relieved to hear that it is very normal to have that.

Today I started physio.  Just starting off with stretches and a some basic core muscle exercises, but I’m hoping to progress quickly..   Ideally, I should be able to return to work within 4-6 weeks! 

That’s about all for now..