August 17

So much happened this week but I have no idea where to begin. It's also incredibly hot in Vancouver and the heat has melted my brain into a viscous pile of brain slime that is currently dripping out of my nose, making thinking and typing very difficult. However, I must persevere.

Ok, I guess I'll start at the part where I get the phone call from Studio B telling me I regretfully didn't get the reception position. I really wasn't surprised though, nor was I overly disappointed. Everyone in that office was ridiculously beautiful and stylish, I never would have fit it nor would I have wanted to try. Unfortunately though this means another week of unemployment.

Later that day I went to my crisis line training for Rape Relief but when I got there I found out that we'd be going to Simon Fraser University to hear Robert Jensen give a talk about violence against women in pornography. It was the most nauseating thing I had ever heard. The stats he had and the specific type of pornography that his research focused on was incredibly sad and shocking. Anyone who doesn't think there is anything wrong with the porn industry should do a little reading about ATM, then tell me that there's nothing demoralizing and degrading about the industry. Don't get me wrong, I love porn as much as the next person but anyone who finds this specific type of porn hot has some serious misconceptions about how women should be treated. In any case, his talk was really enlightening and it made me miss being at school so badly. I guess you could say that hearing a guy talk about porn made me dream of one day doing my Masters. Weird.

Ok. Moving on.

On Thursday I put on my favorite sun dress and a few bracelets and headed down to Main Street to hang out and do some window shopping. I did in fact have of a purpose for going down there but I recently had an epiphany about embracing my unemployment and start using all my free time doing fun things instead of spending it stressed out that I wasn't working.

I found the greatest little record store called Red Cat Records. It's an artist run shop and has a selection of records that really couldn't be more all encompassing. If I had a record player and still bought records I could easily see myself spending a lot of money there. Actually, when I think about it now, I did spend a lot of money there. I bought four tickets to see Mirah, which I am so excited about. I mean, half the reason why Matt and I moved to Vancouver was so we could go to shows we actually wanted to see, and I have wanted to see Mirah for a long time, she is by far one of my most favorite musicians. So, next Saturday evening I will be going to the Biltmore Cabaret with Cynthia, Erin and Erin's friend who will be visiting from Germany to see Mirah! Woot!

I also decided on Thursday that I would send out a few resumes to some restaurants and cafes just to find something that could tide me over for a little while. I sent a resume via email to a cafe called the Raging Bean Cafe and got a call a few minutes later from a woman named Alberta. She asked if I would like to come in a talk about the job with her so I set up an appointment with her for Friday morning.

To make a long story short I went and met with her and her mother, who owns and runs the cafe and I got hired. I really liked them both and the cafe is a really cute little cafe in Yaletown that makes the best latte I've had since being here in Vancouver. The cafe also projects films onto the wall all day, which I think is a really neat idea. I also talked them into paying me what I asked for (which is a lot more than minimum wage), plus tips. I will only be working part time for now but at least it gives me time for volunteering at Rape Relief and looking for the perfect job that is waiting for me somewhere in Vancouver. I've also wondered if I shouldn't use this opportunity to start thinking about seriously applying to do my Masters. It really is excellent, with lots of time to study for the GRE's and I could take up another volunteer position somewhere. Potentially I could be ready to apply next year. Anyway, that's an idea. We'll see what actually happens though.

So to celebrate my new job I went and bought an awesome T. Rex band shirt. I couldn't help it, it's this store downtown that is all cool shirts, all the time. It's also where I got my Texas Chainsaw Massacre shirt. I swear, it's impossible to leave that store empty handed and the cafe I work at is pretty damn close. I have a feeling I know where all my tip money will be going.

And now that brings us to this weekend.

I spent all day yesterday (9am - 5pm) volunteering for Rape Relief. We were doing what they call Tin-Can, which is a fund raising activity where they send out groups of two with some pamphlets and some tin cans and we ask people on the streets to make a donation to the crisis line and women's shelter. It was about thirty five degrees celsius yesterday and we were in the sun the whole time (don't worry I had lots of sunscreen). Beside the sweltering heat it was actually pretty fun. I got to talk to lots of people and take in Vancouver in a very different way. Most people were pretty nice and there were a few who weren't but that just made the day a little more interesting. I would definitely do it again.

When I got home I got ready for supper since we were all meeting up with Erin to go eat somewhere. We ended up at the Main, which is half Greek, half Italian. The food was good but the service was awful. It was so bad we decided to leave before dessert and headed down the street to Sweet Revenge, which ended up being amazing. It was such a neat place, with it's red vintage wall paper and intimate seating. We all indulged in some absurdly delicious desserts and the best coffee within a fifteen kilometer radius. I can't even describe this place appropriately but let's just say that anyone who comes to visit me in Vancouver will be brought to Sweet Revenge. Such a gem!

Alright, I guess that about sums up the week. Stay tuned because this week Shali and Steve come for a visit!!!

Loves and hugs and penguins for everyone!
xoxox