Acadian Bus Lines Closure as of November 30th, 2012 [Updated]

The buses have been running since the middle of May after a six month Lock Out/Work Stoppage. As a reminder they threatened to go on strike, and in return the company locked the employees out. Months of negotiations went horribly wrong due to the negligence of both sides until a new Vice President stepped in, and the lock out ended.
A few days ago this notice appeared on the Acadian website upon entering it. Highlighted along the top is a closure date of November 30th. They company is in debt, more so then they would probably like to admit to the public. As of the work stoppage they lost out on Christmas, Easter, March Break, and the End of the School year regulars they would have received. Since they have returned their service the company has had to cut several routes, as well as schedules due to lack of employees. This is going to affect all of the Maritimes this time, including Nova Scotia which was lucky enough to have a different union during the lock out, and received raises unlike New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. Around 120 employees will be losing their jobs as of the closure. Acadian Bus Lines Shutting Operations by November - Prince Edward Island - CBC News is a shorter article which entails most of the information from the notice on the site.
As the lock out occurred several companies tried to step in but the government would not allow it. Acadian was still around technically, and paying the government. With Acadian leaving completely there is more of a chance that a new company will step in. Trius a tour bus company is already planning to attempt that as noted in this article: Trius Bus Company Plans  to Fill Void Left by Acadian - New Brunswick - CBC News.
N.S. Government, Union Open to talks with Acadian Lines - Prince Edward Island - CBC News This last article entails the fact that Acadian might have been able to stay afloat if the government would allow them to change some of the routes that are existing. There are times when there are only two, or three customers on the bus, and personally I have been in that situation before.
This announcement is the beginning of a lot of turmoil. Personally I am upset because that is how I get home for Christmas, and once again this year I will be fighting to get home. Now once again not to mention all the other students who depend upon a bus system. The VIA Rail does not go to every single city in Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, and not to mention there no longer is a train to the Capital of New Brunswick, and there hasn't been for at least 20 years. Hopefully another bus system can step in, and everything will be okay.

--{UPDATE}--
There has been news of VIA Rail helping out a new bus company if we get another one in the Maritimes because VIA Rail has not been doing well financially either lately.

A Very Short-Lived, and Disappointing Trip Home

I went home this weekend for a grand total of two days. I usually am home for longer though.....
I was told I was lucky to get two days off, this is because the store manager changes the schedule all the time, I always get screwed over wherever I work. I just wanted to go home for the weekend. My trip was ruined due to the lack of time.
It poured Saturday, and one of my good friends was working the entire time, and we only briefly saw each other. Also could have went to the zoo! I did spend most of my time with another friend though. It was fun we did a bonfire, but the mosquitoes were horrible even though we were in one of those tents that is suppose to keep the mosquitoes out. :P They came over the next day, and we went out for supper, and talked about Pokémon.
I did go out for karaoke on Friday evening though it sucked without my good friend there, I hung around with someone I don't usually like to hang around. ^^' It was so much fun, and I never usually get that into it but I did. The DJ gave me his phone so I put mine, and my friend's number in it. I also attracted an older gentleman. It was quite awkward, he knows my father, who doesn't back home though. :P
I really wish I could have spent more time back home. :< I begged Dad to drive me back, and thankfully he did, or it would have been a huge waste of time for me because the bus was running late on the way home at the transfer stop. I am really getting tired of there ever increasing horrible service when I take the bus. I got home at 3 on Friday, and would have had to leave at 4 Saturday. I could leave at 10:30 Sunday but I would be late getting to work, and it was rather annoying.

Busy in a Good Way

Two weeks ago I worked six days in a row so I didn't do a thing that week. I had time off this past week.
I went up, and checked the apartment, and I loved it; apparently the roommates are friends with someone I know, and are going to the same college I will be attending in the fall. I applied around at a few places, and my cousin is referring me at a few others. I was told by several places I could apply online, and even from McDonald's where I work, and I have seen the site a lot since it is on the receipts. Call me old fashioned but I believe in going in person, and dropping off everything. Life is falling into place finally. I almost got stranded at the transfer stop on the way home because it was storming, and they canceled all the buses for the rest of the day. My friend's father came to the rescue thankfully though, and I am so grateful. I already have a job interview so I went back Monday, I haven't had an interview in about three years since I got hired. It was a very quick interview, she asked short questions about my current job. Also, if you are in a situation like I was in if the staff tries to kick you out, that is ridiculous. I work in a restaurant setting, and I can't kick customers out after we are closed. Kicking me out in the middle of a storm when I am trying to figure out what is going on isn't right, I would have fought if they actually did, but they tried. I have to take the bus though I rather not... The train doesn't go through to that city but if it did I would be on the train rather than the bus.
The hotel I stayed in I got a good laugh at. I almost went flying walking across their shiny floors more than once. The alarm went off at five in the morning, so I was fidgeting around in the dark, and eventually turned it off. I roasted myself out because I didn't want to play to much with the heating. There was nothing interesting in any of the drawers, usually there is. :( It was a cheap, but lovely hotel.
So I was eating really old goldfish crackers, but I didn't get food poisoning, but honestly they tasted like the cupboard they were in. I know I said I learned my lesson about food, but what if their is no expiry date? Some stuff puts it in weird spots, and some don't even have expiry dates.
I was playing Tales of Symphonia with a friend, and Lord Botta wiped the floor with us. We used to be so good at that game too. We beat it several times, and now we suck at it. I lost my old memory card for the Gamecube so I bought a new one. I also tried playing the first Kingdom Hearts, and I have no clue what to do, and I am not even that far in the game. I miss gaming, that isn't World of Warcraft; speaking of which I almost posted in that blog instead of this one.
I finally got to hang out with a friend who I haven't hung out with in a while. Her schedule is always changing, and sometimes so is my mine; kind of like last week.
I hung out with my cousin, and we did what we do best. Talking, and reminiscing.
I went back up on Monday for my interview of course. I also checked out another apartment. I am going to have so much fun. I really like both apartments but I should really go for the cheaper one which I am. I met some really nice people in the process of looking for apartments. I managed to stop by my favourite store, and pick up a few plush toys, and another Yoshi for my collection. I picked up a copy of Black Ops for my brother since the first copy was destroyed. I ended up staying in the hotel I stayed in last week. I really love that hotel. I was in the room across from where I was last time. I pretty much roasted myself out with the heater because I left them as high as they could go in both rooms. The alarm didn't go off this time but I woke up at 5am, and rolled across the bed. I came back early because it is suppose to storm sometime between tonight, and tomorrow. My friend did my nails for me, and we talked about random things as well. It has been pretty good. I can't believe I will be moving in two weeks.