Travel:

[dewline]

I'm going out for a job-search-related appointment this morning, to visit a part of the city I haven't been to in about half a year. By public transit. Which many if not most people now use while unmasked.

At least a half-hour to get there once I'm on the bus, another coming back. I expect to do shopping on the way. Not sure how long the appointment itself will be. I've dealt with this non-profit agency before. It's going to be someone new to me this time, as the two people I've regularly dealt with for years pre-Pandemic have moved on to other things within the organization or retired from it.

I am going to need to seriously cocoon for a few hours when I get back from this.

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

Good luck!

[dewline]

I'll need that luck!

[blogcutter]

As someone who doesn't drive (although my partner does), I'll be thinking about you. Since I'm a senior, I try to do most of my bus travel on Wednesdays and preferably outside of rush hour (to the extent there still is a rush hour). I understand we're due for some freezing rain today so I hope you survive all that! If the job you're applying for materializes, will you be able to do it from home or will it require more in-office time?

[dewline]

For those outside of Ottawa: the federal government of Canada - being the highest-profile employer in Ottawa - is feeling pressure to restore a pre-Pandemic "rush hour" to the downtown core's businesses. This, in spite of the fact of new residential towers going up across the core neighbourhoods of Centretown, the Glebe, Lowertown East and West, Sandy Hill and so on. And some pressure from below upon Ottawa City Hall is in effect to convert some of those pre-Pandemic office towers into more of that residential housing we need to curtail the urban sprawl.

That explanation to out-of-towners aside...

My appointment was in the morning, so the freezing rain wasn't yet an issue. We're expecting it at some point in the early to late evening, or so my current understanding runs. At this point, I've got attendance of an online chat about Wordpress stuff scheduled for after supper. \

About your closing question: it's a crapshoot right now. My job search coach advised me that the push is indeed on to wrap up all rebellion against far more senseless "Back to the Office" campaigns by the various employers. Retailers and landlords are screaming at City Hall and Parliament Hill for this.

With what we're now learning about COVID? WTAH, right?

[ex_flameandsong751]

That sounds stressful. Good luck.

[agoodwinsmith]

Good luck! Best wishes for best outcome regarding the job-search appt.

[agoodwinsmith]

PS = Wear your mask and cough in it, so other people keep their distance.

[dewline]

When my contact came out into the reception area to greet me, maskless, I got away with pushing back just enough to get them to mask up. (PS: I am obscuring the other party's pronouns for the sake of their privacy.)