July 27

So much can happen in a week.

One minute I was hired and the next I was telling my new boss, I won't be coming to the office on Monday.

Yeah, not one of my prouder moments. I don't particularly like fucking people over like that. But I did and I would do it again if I had to. I got a gut feeling and I went with it.

It was Wednesday when I realized that I already hated the job and that I wasn't cut out to do the work. It was Thursday when I got a taste of what the job is really like. Friday, I quit. I think it's reasonable to say that, I not only set light to a bridge, but I firebombed it. I probably will never want to run into any of the people I met in that office ever again. I should just hope Vancouver is big enough.

See, I wasn't fully aware when I took the job of how much free, personal time I was going to have to sacrifice during my first summer in Vancouver. I tried to stay positive when the guy who was training me talked about how stressful and crazy the job can get. I mean, in the week and a half that I was with the company there were at least three instances when the agent was required to work beyond the designated office hours. Suddenly $31 000 doesn't sound like much when you're expected to be available for any possible movie crisis at any possible time.

And trust me, I know that sounds like a spoiled little girl thing to say but, the job just wasn't right for me. For instance, I'd have to use stern, authoritative voices when trying to convince people to take a backgound job when they'd really rather go wake boarding with their friends. I can't do that. I'm way more of a , ok, whatever kinda of girl.

Oh, and the office is in North Vancouver. So I would either have to spend two hours on a bus everyday or buy a car. Neither of which I particularly want to do.

Anyway, that's the story. So now I'm back to the drawing board. I'm going to give the temp/job placement agency a try this week. After the week I had I'd love to take a job photocopying documents for $17/hour. I want as little responsibility as possible so I can save my energy going to art galleries and volunteering at a women's shelter. I want to earn enough so I can take a dance class and actually have time to go. These are the things that are important to me.

On a completely different note my weekend was pretty rad.

Cynthia's friend, Melissa, was visiting from Halifax. I love meeting people who are as sick and twisted as I am. Only people I hang out with would consider making faux vomit noises (all weekend long) hilarious.

Melissa, Cynthia and I spent the weekend shopping. I know, that doesn't sound like something a girl who just quit her job should be doing, but I was really good. My Visa only took about three hits and they were all good investments. Oh! And the shopping was therapeutic. All so justifiable. Either way the shopping extravaganza is done for a while, a very long while.

The best part of the weekend was the Richmond Night Market, where a nice group of East coasters and one Vancouverite spent the night shoving delicious Asian food in their mouths. Can anyone say, takoyaki? How about, BBQ'd squid? Lychee bubble tea with pearls and coconut jelly? Everything was so good, it was ridiculous.

Unfortunately Melissa left for Nova Scotia just a few hours ago and now I'm in my pajama's, ready for bed. I think tomorrow, Cynthia and I are going to the Portebello Market, a fashion and art market here in Vancouver. Except, I'm not going to buy anything. Unless it's awesome and less than five bucks.

That reminds me, I accept donations. (I'm not to proud to ask for handouts.)

Love yous!
xoxox

July 19

Alright. I suppose since it's 1030pm on a Saturday night and I'm interneting all over myself anyway, I might as well write a real update.

So here's the story.

On Monday I decide I'm going to explore a new and different avenue of job searching. Fuck Service Canada's Job Bank, I tell myself, ten resumes and not one call. So I decide to give Craigslist a go.

I'm browsing the jobs and I come across a listing under film/television that says something like, "Booking Agent for Talent Agency Required." I click the link and read the specifics. Organized, previous experience in the film industry, administrative experience, etc. Hey! That's me they're describing! So, I send my cover letter and resume via email and about 20 minutes later I get a call asking me if I would be interested in an interview.

The next day I show up at this little office in North Vancouver and what should have been a quick little job interview turns into an hour long conversation about the military, SCUBA diving, doggles (goggles for dogs) and, of course, the film industry.

As it turns out, the agency is run by a decorated US Army Veteran who supplies the film industry with background and principal performers who are specially trained in firearms, automatic weapons, and emergency response among other things.

Anyway, about two hours later, I'm out walking Tom and the booking agent that had called me for the interview calls me again to see if I had anymore questions that I'd like to ask and I told him that I forgot to ask what the salary for the position would be. He told me he was unsure but would get the owner to give me a call back to let me know. And BAM! When the guy called back he offered me the job. So I asked him when I could start and he asked me when I would be available to start and I told him tomorrow. See you then, he told me and hung up the phone.

So to make a long story not really that short, I went to work on Wednesday and have been going back every day since then. From what I can tell, it's going to be a fun and challenging job. I'm responsible for the schedules and bookings of almost 100 performers. I also have to be ready for anything at anytime. And the best part, I get to work with some very handsome and buff men and women!

To say the least, I'm very excited about this opportunity!!

With all that said, I'm off to be a little more social than I have been all Saturday night, which essentially means I'm going downstairs to hang out with Nic, Cynthia and Matt. I hope my blog finds everyone well and I miss every inch of everyone of you!!!!

xoxoxox

PS-I'm sending out a special blog 'o love to Shali who was kind enough to supply me with an excellent reference. Love you tonnes lady!!!!

July 15

So as it turns out, despite what I had thought, I am totally employable.

I like to watch you all squirm so I'm leaving it at that for now. I'm sure you'll find out the juicy details in good time but right now I'm a little busy doing happy dances around the house.

Love yous!
xoxox

July 12

creepy polaroid we found in the basement

Today we got a free organ off Carigslist. Not like a heart or a lung but like, a Yamaha organ. We're all pretty excited and there's talk of starting a gospel band.

We opened up the back of the organ to look at the tubes inside and found a picture of a little Korean girl circa 1980's. It's weird because since we've moved into this place we've come across a few other weird and random photos. For example, we found an old Polaroid of this guy dressed in this cheap Santa Claus costume holding a puppy rottweiler with a huge German Shepard sitting beside them. Strange.

Other cool things:

• Cynthia and I found a sweet short cut to my favorite grocery store
• We went to the Trout Lake farmers market, which is just a few blocks from our place, and bought cherries, eggs and onions. There's also a guy who sells Thai stir-fry sauce that is quite possibly the most delicious thing I've ever tasted. Cynthia bought the peanut sauce. I was going to buy the yellow curry but I spent all my money on cherries. Sad face.
  
• Tomorrow is the annual Dunfries Street block party. Cynthia, Matt and I are going to make cookies tonight for the event.
  

Ok. So I'm going to eat lunch and then I think we are going to the beach!!! I've been wearing my bathing suit for two weeks straight in anticipation of going to the beach and finally the day is here!

Hugs and kisses.
xoxox

July 11

The novelty of unemployment is wearing thin.

July 9

So I wrote Heather Mallick a psychotic email the other day telling her how much I love her. To my surprise I got an email response from her today. This has made my year (I know that is sad, but I really do love this woman. She is an amazing writer). Anyway, for your enjoyment:

hello, lovely woman

Your email cheered me up enormously. A young woman loves my work? I get so much hate mail, mainly from middle-aged men, that I just assumed your email would be full of hate too. And this way misanthropy lies.

I am honoured that you read my work, because the only thing I really care about is making life better for young people. I am thrilled that my writing resonates with you.

Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me that you like my writing. Feel free to email me again. Trust me, your words matter to me, just as mine do to you.

Cheers,

Heather (yes, we are now on a first-name basis)

P.S. Do you read David Sedaris? Buy Me Talk Pretty One Day. I love his essays. Anyway I leave you with that, an irritating piece of advice. I'll just shut up now.

July 8

a thrilling picture of me and my backyard
(don't worry, i didn't have a stroke. i'm trying to look nonchalant.)

So I wrote up a resume today that I'm quite pleased with. I also applied for a job at a women's shelter that I would love to get but am not holding my breath for. I am thinking good thoughts though. Hopefully my awesome resume will impress them enough for an interview, in which I would proceed to charm the pants off of my interviewers. Either way, I'm back at it tomorrow sending out resumes left, right and centre.

Aside from that not much to report. I'm sleepy and tired of sitting at my computer (although I do enjoy sitting at my new $16 desk that I made out of random Ikea parts), so I don't really have the motivation to think of clever and witty ways of describing my days here in Vancouver. Thus, I'm going to do a quick update in point form. Enjoy:

• Almost got peed on yesterday by a crackhead in Chinatown.
• Cleaned up the front yard this weekend. I'm pretty sure my arm and back muscles have doubled in size since moving into the new house.
  
• Discovered that the Army Navy Surplus store has the biggest and most colorful selection of women's shoes I've ever seen in any store before in my whole life.
  
• I got to talk to my Mom, Shali and Natalie all within 24 hours. Le sigh...
  
• Found a grocery store that has the nicest staff. Ever.
• Started reading a really good book called the Book of Negroes by Lawerence Hill, which I am going to go read now.

Love you guys!
xoxox

July 6

It doesn't matter what side of the country you're on, people are stupid.

July 4

Ok. Time for a real update.

So we are settled into the new place. The bathroom is finished and looks fabulous. We still need a vanity and some paint for the bathroom but that's small potatoes compared to the other stuff Matt and Nic did to it. Somehow we managed to make the 1950's style teal bathtub and toilet look way less ugly, some might say they actually look great now. Go us!

We finally got the living room sort of looking like a living room and we ate our first meal in the dining room the other night. We still need to assemble the entertainment unit we got for free on Craigslist and do some more painting but the house is definitely starting to feel like a home.

This weekend we are planning on tackling the front and backyards. Our (sexy, older) neighbor, John, is a landscaper and he volunteered to come over and give us a hand. We have a lot of nice plants in our backyard, like citronella, mint and fennel, but there are lots of greens back there that are difficult to identify so he will be able to point out what should stay and what should go. (I'll probably just spend most of my time oogling him though. He does yoga and it shows.)

Aside from that, Cynthia and I went and split a membership at Costco. I told her I officially feel like an adult now. I also bought the largest quantity of meat I've ever bought in one shot before in my life. Coming home and wrapping all those nice little chicken titties separately then freezing them also made me feel more mature and responsible somehow. Vancouver is making an adult of me, and a responsible one at that. Who woulda thought?!

Tonight I'm going out for my first girls night. Cynthia, Erin, AJ, and I are going to see the Sex and the City movie (I know, but it's better than staying home and hanging out with Matt and Nic), then going out for a drink. I haven't really had a chance to see what the Vancouver nightlife is like so I'm excited to see what it has to offer.

Anyway, I'm off the start working on my resume. Next week is going to be all job searching all the time. Can't wait!

Love yous!
xoxox

July 1

A lot of people hate and misunderstand her but I love Heather Mallick.