This is my update... this is my rant... this is me BITCHING...

O as most of you know I started work as one of the chefs at the local ski hill on December 3rd, and was looking forward to an awesome season of cooking and great people. However, this dream was abruptly shattered on Dec 26th (opening day) when I went to assist a coworker in lifting a large pot filled with fresh cut fries and water; both of us underestimated the weight of the pot and I overestimated myself, resulting in multiple back spasms and slight chord trauma. I was given immediate medical attention and ambulanced down the hill to the ER that day to be diagnosed with Multiple Thoracic Spasms and Fascet Syndrome (look it up). Since that day I have been off work on medical leave.

During the month of January I had regualr appointments with my family doctor to chart my progress and saw the physiotherapist twice a week in a painful but worthwhile attempt to get better in order to return to work within a reasonable amount of time. After battling with WCB for two weeks as they tried desperately to pin this on my pre-existing back problems, my claim was finally excepted due to the undeniably diagnostics of two seperate doctors and three seperate physiotherapists. All was looking good... my claim was excepted, I was improving and my doctor cleared me to return to work on Monday, Jan. 30.

Upon hearing this I promptly copied a letter of my doctor's note and gave it to my imployer, aswell as contacted WCB to tell them my planned return date. I was told by the ski hill seceretary that we had a new Food & Beverage Manager and that I should meet with him to discuss my modified duties at this point and plan my return to the hill. I had my meeting with him and the head chef today at 3:30 where I was informed that I no longer have a job at Ski Smithers and "They don't know what to say".

BULLSHIT! They told me that because I was gone for a month they had to replace me as they were understaffed and had to still run a kitchen; however, they now have no open positions or hours for me as the are now overstaffed. The one guy even had the AUDACITY to imply that I should go on EI knowing that I did not have the weeks required to apply. They said, "We may have something in May when we start the dinner menue"... yeah, that helps a SHITLOAD!

So we called the Labour Bored and they said that because I hadn't been there for three months or more, I didn't have a leg to stand on and they could legally do this to me no problem. So now I have to start looking for a new job that is low impact, as I am still not 100%, and will hopefully last until I start school in September. Also, for those of you who I haven't talked to in a while, I am no longer going to be a chef as I am not ready physically for a culinary career. I don't want to invest 6 months in culinary school then have to drop out because my back is hooped forever. So now, I am planning to go to University to become a high school English Teacher and I start Uni transfer courses at NWCC in Sep.

That is all for now, as you can tell I am a bit pissed off so I am going to go relax with tv and a blanket.