The adventures of Jen the journalist...

I know, I disappeared, again

2008-06-30T12:57:00.002-04:00

I'm sorry. I've started my new job, which I think is going pretty well but is certainly a big adjustment, James and I are moving in two weeks to a bigger apartment, and the wedding is roughly a month away. To say things are a little busy would be a serious understatement!

Plugging along

2008-05-15T20:06:00.002-04:00

I've been working away as a sub on the Calgary site, which has been oddly filled with animal stories -- wild hogs, stingrays and gorillas in particular -- and don't have much to report. James and I have been busy wedding planning (with only 80 days left!) and I'm gearing up for my job change, and getting pretty excited and nervous about both things.

I've also had a bit of a spring cold, probably prompted by the fluctuations in temperature lately, which hasn't made me particularly interesting or entertaining, but also not incapacitated.

I'm looking forward to some rest and relaxation over the long weekend, and have my eyes on a pair of black and white giraffe print shoes (they're fuzzy!) which may be coming home with me as part of the relaxation!

Big news!

2008-04-25T21:31:00.002-04:00

So, I'm leaving the CBC. Which is terrifying, invigorating and exciting. Part of me wants to slam on the brakes to avoid the change, while the other half is putting the pedal to the floor to get my new challenges started.

Now, as those of you who know me would expect, I'm not just packing up and leaving without a job. I'm going to The Star for a summer contract as a web editor, starting mid-June, and I think it's going to be amazing. It's an incredible opportunity to work for a very prominent daily paper, and to get to flex my skills in a new setting.

I'm starting to get used to the idea of change. I love it at the CBC, but I'm getting tired of being the second string. I'm the supporting player, it's like I'm in the minors, and while I'm called up frequently to play with the bigs boys, I still know that I'm the second (or third) choice for the position. I may be playing left wing, but it's only because the regular guy is out with an injury. And, there will be games, big ones, that I'll regrettably miss out on.

This feeling, paired with the irregular shifts and constantly changing tasks, makes me think a summer at The Star will help me grow as a journalist and maybe help boost my confidence a bit. Plus, any routine will be a huge boost to my overall well being.

I will miss the Mother Corp though. I've been in Toronto for almost a year, it will be a year by the time I leave, and almost everyone I know in the city is there. I still don't have a whole lot of friends here -- it's hard when you schedule changes by the hour -- so I'll really miss all of my great coworkers.

But, here's hoping that all goes well! And, I have no idea what will happen in September when my contract ends, but it's time for me to change things up. I think it's time to get into a routine and take a -- small -- professional risk that fits around the wedding!

I felt so guilty

2008-04-21T21:37:00.001-04:00

That I updated the links right away! Enjoy. Also, note that I'm starting to get my name on some things, either at top or bottom, which is always a bit of an ego boost. And, my Canadiens swept game seven, so I can breathe easy for a few more days!

I apologize for my absence...

2008-04-21T21:16:00.003-04:00

But I promise, it will soon all be worth it. I've been working towards something, and should have news within the week. Between these efforts, addressing wedding invites, and have nightly hockey games to set me on edge, I have been more than a little swamped.

I did, however, buy wedding shoes. They're shiny and I love them. I can't believe I have to wait another 3 1/2 months to wear them!

And, as I sign off, anxiously watching the end of the Habs game -- which could either make me very happy or make me cry -- I promise to post some new links and some news soon.

Still waiting...

2008-03-27T20:24:00.002-04:00

For something to change. And for winter to end. But, in the meantime, here are some new links:

Squid beaks (Separately, I scientifically conclude that they're icky)

Bendable chips (Note the almost byline on the bottom, in tiny type!)

Deadly diseases (I've been self-diagnosing ever since)

Hyperactivity study

Smoking actually does stunt your growth!

While I have been working full time lately (huzzah!), I spend a lot of time dashing off stories pretty quickly, weaving together interviews, stuff from radio and tv, wire copy and press releases. And, while it certainly isn't easy, it doesn't always produce stuff you're necessarily proud of or attached to. So, it's nice to see a week where I had a few pieces I could pour a little more time into, doing more research and in all but the squid story -- because the press release quotes were priceless -- conducting my own interviews.

A busy, and tough week, but, as I head into Friday, I'm feeling tired but fairly satisfied with my output -- an unfortunately rare occurence of late.

Waiting makes me anxious...

2008-03-13T23:17:00.002-04:00

So, last week, I had a first round interview with a fairly prominent national weekly magazine for a year-long, paid internship. Very exciting indeed.

Now, I'm waiting to see if I make it through to the next round, which will involve another interview. This should happen roughly within the next two weeks.

Then, by April 1st, the decisions will be made, and my plans for the next few months -- or really year -- will either alter dramatically, meaning I'll have some, or remain in limbo.

This, combined with an increasingly crazy work schedule in different department, performing different tasks at different hours every day, is driving me a little wonky.

Or, more accurately, staring at the ceiling as I wake up with a start every night (always with the questions: did I read the schedule right? Should I be up now? At work? What floor am I working on today?) wishing not only that time would pass but that I could secure some break that could grant me a routine and some degree of normalcy. A permanent, full-time position would make me unbelievably happy, as would a prestigious internship for any length of time, but as my anxiety levels reach such heights that normal functioning is becoming difficult, I'd jump at the chance for a normal, predictable schedule for even just a month.

I'm still here

2008-03-04T17:34:00.002-05:00

I promise! It's been awhile since my last post, I apologize. Things have been hectic. There has been overtime work, a new project on Toronto's multiculturalism for which I'm responsible for content and promos, and a bunch of wedding-related progress, including getting a florist, choosing someone to bake the cake and proofreading several incarnations of our wedding invites. And working on an as-yet thoroughly incomplete wedding website. Oh, and picking a registry place (home outfitters) while trying to pick gifts -- which is way more difficult than one would expect -- and choosing wedding bands. Plus, job hunting, cleaning and the rest of life!

So, it's been busy. I have been sleeping better, and trying to worry less, but sadly the first of those resolutions means I have less time for blogging. I will try to be better when things -- hopefully -- calm down next week, as this project wraps us and I resume my regular tasks: filling in for people who are sick or on vacation.

Wish me luck! And I will update more in depth soon :)

On Kosovo

2008-02-18T11:13:00.002-05:00

I worked yesterday morning at 5 a.m. on the Newsworld ticker, meaning I write the short, snappy and hopefully grammatically correct headlines that scroll across the bottom of the screen on CBC's 24-hour news channel. The cool thing about the job is that you're normally the first among all CBC platforms to report anything breaking -- TV, radio and online all need to write scripts or stories, change lineups and either broadcast or publish the results, while on the crawl, I write out my roughly 200 characters including spaces (which, by the way, is very short) and pow, it's on TV.

This was particularly exciting yesterday as breakaway Serbian province Kosovo prepared to declare its independence and become the world's newest country. And, because of the speed and ease of getting it up I was able to update with each minute step towards independence: first the fact that it was anticipated, then with the prime minister saying they would, then with parliament meeting, then with the reading of the independence document, then with parliament voting, signing and celebrating their new Republic of Kosovo.

And, of course, it didn't stop there. From that point on, it was a flurry of activity with revellers hitting the streets in Pristina, protesters throwing rocks at embassies and a speedy international response, including Serbia saying they would never recognize the 'illegal' declaration and Russia calling for a UN security council meeting to revoke the declaration. Later, Afghanistan became the first to recognize the new country -- an essential part of actually becoming independent for the Kosovars -- and several others are expected to follow suite today, including bigwigs like the U.S., Britain and France.

The whole thing was rather thrilling, and I watched every new report from Pristina, update on the BBC and newsflash on the wires breathlessly. To me it was an obvious embodiment of one of my favourite sayings about journalism -- that it's writing history on the run.

Now of course, my newsflashes along the bottom of the ticker won't go down in history like the news reports and various stories both online and in newspapers. Students writing papers on Kosovo from this week onward will be looking for those items, but my record may fade into oblivion. I do however, take heart that I got to watch every minute of it, livestreamed online and replayed on various news channels almost instantly and in my own little way feel like some small part of it.

Feb-brr-ary

2008-02-11T17:16:00.000-05:00

Toronto is cold. Not just like "Ok, I'll bundle up and grab a hat cold" but the "If I stand outside for more than 10 minutes, I risk frostbite" cold.

Which has put a damper on my mood. I don't like being cold. And in Toronto, the cold seems to cut right through you. And stay.

Additionally, I'm only succeeding at one of my three resolutions -- sleeping more -- and am once again fending off some sort of illness.

But, with the fire place roaring and my blanket wrapped tightly around me, things are starting to look up. I'm thawing out, mourning the demise of the Halifax Daily News and the pall it casts on the future of newspapers in general, and watching Gilmore Girls.

I've been plugging away at the wedding list of to-dos, going to work and job hunting, and things are going well. I'll be anxiously watching the confidence motion being introduced tomorrow on Afghanistan, the ensuing debates and the unveiling of the budget on Feb. 26. Not that a winter election is a must, or even necessarily the best thing for the country, but my pocketbook and political interest will be well satisfied by the government's fall.

So, here's hoping that Stephane Dion takes the Conservatives to task and that I find the perfect shoes and accessories for my summer wedding (my next key to-do).

Now, to blog on the terrible Zednik hit and the arrests in Tampa of two of my Habs.

I will hopefully have some noteworthy things to report on my next update, until then, keep your fingers crossed on my behalf for a federal election -- it's almost as good as the playoffs!

U.S. space junk and other goodies

2008-01-28T20:38:00.000-05:00

So, as promised, this will be a mishmash of 'junk' because life has been a little weird lately. I've been working a lot of awkward hours, including 5 a.m. starts and 9 p.m. ends, which has left me perpetually exhausted, confused and convinced I'm either late or supposed to be somewhere else. It's enough to make anyone a little crazy, and with a few other things keeping me busy, life lately has been a bit of a whirl -- but luckily it's not all bad. So, to keep you entertained and informed, here are some point form updates:

- I finally caved and bought glasses. And they're pink! Well, not entirely pink, they're brown with pink accents, but still -- PINK! The situation was getting too bad, I've been getting headaches from straining to see with my contacts (I purchased a batch a year and a half ago and I was trying to use them all up, unfortunately, my prescription has changed) and from wearing them way too long because all the tape in the world couldn't keep my old ones straight on my face. And, I think I've finally come to accept that a CBC job isn't forthcoming. I'd love it to be, but my life must go on. And any new job I take will have a three month probation period before proper health insurance, and I'm not waiting until April to see properly. So, I walked into the mall, the optometrist happened to have an opening, my lenses were in stock and I walked out with glasses an hour and a half later. I even got a deal, and James' insurance will help me out a bit with them.

- James bought rock band. I've been cultivating my rock star persona in my time off, to the point that guitarist Jen is way better dressed and much cooler than real Jen.

- We went to look at wedding invitations this weekend. There are a lot of options. And most of them are either a) flowery b) expensive c) unnecessarily complicated or d) all of the above. But, after a few fun hours, we narrowed it down to two very simple options that sort of call to our journalism nerd backgrounds and desire for cheap simplicity. I have until Saturday to decide.

- I've decided possums are cute. Case in point

- I worked the health section today, which is always fun. A highlight is pollution and heart health

- And, as for the promised space junk story, I encountered it while doing the Newsworld news ticker at 5 a.m. yesterday morning and decided it was arguably the coolest thing I read all morning. Though, admittedly, by that point I had not read very much. Either way, a U.S. spy satellite has lost power and will crash to Earth sometime in late February/early March. Government officials have no control over it, no idea where it will land and say it might contain hazardous materials. Crazy. What do you think the odds are that it will hit Canada?

Anyway, with my current crazy person schedule, it feels like bedtime. Let's hope my sleep cycles and meal times sort themselves back into normalcy soon.

I had a job interview!

2008-01-23T15:57:00.000-05:00

Today, I had an interview for a real, full-time job that would give me health benefits, vacation and sick days. So please, dear readers, keep your fingers crossed for me.

I have now successfully broken both arms off my glasses, and a plan with proper optical coverage would be pretty darn awesome.

On the flip side, I have of course been thinking and worrying about what would happen if I got the job. It would mean giving up on the chance to work for the CBC during an election. And, I applied for a fabulous internship, where I would get paid (minimally) for a year at Macleans as an entry-level writer. Of course, it's very competitive, and it would be hard to give up on a real job for the possibility of an internship that I won't hear back about until April 1. But, if secured, it would be amazing.

Anyway, all these concerns are putting the cart before the horse, so to speak, as I only spoke with the interviewers a few hours ago. They were all very nice, and I think the interview went well. But, I should probably stop wrecking my worry less resolution and just cool my heels, and my concerns, until such problems actually approach reality.

Three weeks into the New Year...

2008-01-16T20:25:00.000-05:00

And I've made progress on one of my three resolutions. I am aiming for eight hours of sleep a night, and am often getting them! My least slept night (barring the frequent panicked wake-ups the night of my 5 a.m. shift) was a mere seven hours, a vast improvement from my regular six-ish of before Christmas. And, I'm going to bed in plenty of time to get my eight hours, so I'm actually moderately rested most days!

I feel this is a vast improvement over my resolutions of last year, which are long forgotten (but may have simply been surviving the last two terms of school and getting a job, which I did).

I've also ramped up my hunt for a real, reliable job with vacation and the like. I've "cold emailed" several publications, along with several people I know in the industry, while still prowling the job boards daily -- all while keeping my fingers crossed of course.

I've also been tempted by two internship possibilities. One is far-fetched and already ruled out, it's in Kitchener and it requires a car, which basically puts it out of the running, but I love the idea of it -- reporting for a daily for a few months would look great on my resume. The other obstacle is that it runs through August, which, as many of you may know, happens to require a bit of time off for an important milestone -- my wedding -- and interns don't get the choice vacation days (if any). If it was in Toronto, and didn't require a car, I'd maybe look into extending it into September to fulfill the time while still getting the time off, but the other factors all contribute to strike it out. Plus, I'm still having trouble getting around in Ontario. They'd send me for coffee and I'd end up in Hamilton calling James and asking him to map out a way back for me on his blackberry. Not good.

The second is slightly more realistic, but I'm still uncertain enough that I haven't applied. Toronto Life, a very well respected magazine for you non-Torontonians, has a four-month internship program, which appears to be fairly flexible with start and end dates (i.e. I could start in March, or June or whenever -- if I got accepted). It would be planning, researching, writing, and an introduction into the world of magazine publishing -- something I am not particularly familiar with, but do find quite interesting. The downside to said internship, were I able to get it, is that the whole thing pays a stipend of $2,000. Yes, that's $500 a month, which would cover rent but not much else -- certainly not bills or student loans.

Odds are I'd be able to make more working at the CBC, if I'm willing to risk it and continue with this crazy, unpredictable schedule and the lurch in my stomach each morning when I wake up in the morning expecting a phone call to tear me out of my slumber into the cold, cruel world to cover for a writer sick in Manitoba or PEI or who knows where. Even when I'm not working for them, I'm perpetually preparing myself to be available "just in case", and that's a rather rough way to get by. But, currently at least, it pays the bills and is in the field I want -- online news and features.

The other issue in all these decisions is the election factor. If I depart from political news and an election is called (which I certainly believe to be a possibility, maybe a 50 per cent chance) I'll feel like I'm missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime.

So, I'm currently still hunting down that elusive job with vacation -- that's a decision that would be quite simple! -- but am definitely looking at other options.

And, of course, this week James has been away in San Francisco, so I've been left alone with my thoughts and a very cranky bunny. These factors (more the aloneless than the rabbit though) lead me to my third resolution -- worrying less. That's posing a bit more of a challenge. I'm a worrier. But, isn't admitting it the first step to recovery?

When I do find myself worrying I try to distract myself too (the oven in our apartment is the cleanest it's ever been. Admittedly, it needed a good scrub, but now it really sparkles!) and I figure with only three weeks into the new year, an occasional relapse is inevitable anyway. But hey, at least I'm trying!

Lesson of the day

2008-01-11T20:15:00.000-05:00

It was a very busy week on the news desk, with conflicts around the world, breaking political developments, accidents and the rising popularity of a newborn polar bear at Germany's Nuremberg Zoo who has been named Flocke -- the German word for snowflake (see the bear's website here in German.)

The job hunt continues, and I'm starting to feel a little more confidant and a little less disillusioned.

And, I re-learned an important lesson: Do not wear dangly earrings when conducting phone interviews. Your ear will get increasingly hot, then sore and achy, and remain so for at least another hour.

Now, I think I may dig into my chocolate shoe :)

Back in the t-dot

2008-01-07T17:04:00.000-05:00

My vacation flew by. My time at home seemed hardly long enough (despite amply time to stuff my face with mussels, pudding and other home delicacies) and I could barely believe it when I was once again en route to the airport. Moral of the story? Five days is not enough.

And, before I knew it, we were seven days into the new year, I was well back into work (though having trouble getting back in the swing of things) and I had made no progress on my new year's resolutions, which by the way, are as follows:

- Find a job
- Sleep more
- Worry less

Simple sounding enough, yes, but still highly difficult to achieve. They are also all linked. It's easier to worry less when you have a job. If you worry less, you sleep more. A lack of sleep will not help me find a job.

Good logic, difficult execution.

Anyway, just wanted to check in to assure everyone that I am in fact alive and well in 2008. As part of my "sleep more" effort, I'm trying to eat supper before seven whenever possible. I'll keep you posted on my progress through the new year's resolutions (fingers crossed that I make some!) and best of luck with yours!

Three sleeps away and I'm starting to smell that salt water...

2007-12-18T17:00:00.000-05:00

I'm heading home on Friday and it's getting so close that I can practically taste the salt water (and the Christmas cookies, garlic fingers, Lunenburg pudding, etc...).

Central Canada is nice, with its cold that cuts through you rather than seeps into your bones, the regular sunshine, the smooth, straight roads, but it's been too long since I've been home. And, the fact that it's Christmas makes it all the better!

It's going to be a very short visit -- only till boxing day -- followed by a quick stop in Belleville with James' family and then I'll return to reality. But, for the next two weeks-ish, starting today, life will be a flurry of holiday preparations, packing and travelling, and I can't wait!

The news has been getting me down lately -- with seven-year-olds crushed in snow tunnels, old men killed while delivering Christmas cards, bombings, thefts, and so on -- and I think this holiday is exactly what I need to regain some optimism. That, or start my own "good news" site, about cars driving safely, children going on rollercoasters without having their feet chopped off, trick-or-treaters getting great, safe candy, tourists visiting Mexican resorts and having a great time, and of course, how cute kittens, bunnies, puppies and such are (though, someone already beat me to that one). I know there's good news out there, it's just hard to find.

So, to start off these holidays right, I'm going to share some good, festive news before signing off. NORAD's Santa Tracker is up, and ready for action. European scientists estimate that it takes Santa 34 miliseconds to go to a house, drop off presents and take off again. And, the UN says the "elves" who help Santa respond to his over 6 million letters are working hard to make sure all the good girls and toys can pass on their wishes for toys.

So, with happy thoughts, I'm off to pack.

A week until home!

2007-12-14T21:41:00.001-05:00

Life has been exhausting this week, with full time work at the CBC and an article for PCWorld.ca, combined with a sore throat and attempts to prepare for Christmas and get ready for my much anticipated first trip back to Nova Scotia since I left last June.

As a result, this will be a short one. Not much has changed since the last post, I'm still chugging away on the job hunt and am trying not to get too dejected. I do think I may give myself a brief break over Christmas, to alleviate the feeling of rejection from every unanswered application (there have been over a hundred by now, I believe)and then hopefully when I come back in January I will be confident, revitalized, and employable. Fingers crossed.

We're bracing for a big snowstorm in Toronto -- which could break records set for December snowfall in 1944 (how's that for a journalism nerd factoid? I should really start doing trivia...) -- so, for those of you who have electricity this weekend, but are trapped inside, I'd love to recommend some light reading generated by yours truly this week:

- North Korea: axis of evil or tourist trap? (CBC)
- Kosovo Q & A (CBC)
- Canadian Internet pioneers (PCWorld)

OK, maybe it's not terribly light. But, compared to the Conrad Black and Pickton trial updates from earlier this week, these topics are seriously lighthearted.

Anyway, I must be off for present wrapping before I bring home a new batch of Christmas shopping tomorrow, providing I don't get stormstayed. I'll be dreaming of homemade cookies and a Nova Scotian Christmas for the next seven sleeps, until the dream becomes a reality!

Happy December

2007-12-06T10:50:00.000-05:00

The pre-Christmas flurry of activity has kept me quite busy. I'm about three-quarters of the way through my Christmas shopping, which I hope to finish this week. I'm also getting very excited to get home to Nova Scotia, even if it's only for a few days, to see my family and just be home. Also, because the time is drawing close so quickly, I'm starting to think about other, less sentimental, reasons for visiting, including:

- Mussels that haven't flown halfway across the country
- Peanut butter pie at The Knot
- Lunenburg pudding (which, for those of you who don't know, is kind of a grey, spicy meat -- which James refuses to try)
- Garlic fingers, which I have not been able to find/get here. Also, if you ask, you draw a lot of blank stares
- Saying "Fill your boots" without being mocked
- Travelling by SUV with heated seats, rather than by the crowded, dirty subway

I'm sure as the time draws closer I'll think of more silly reasons too.

Otherwise, not much has been happening. We cook, we clean, we work, we shop and we play video games. Certainly not a bad existence in any way, just not terribly blog-worthy.

A month until Christmas

2007-11-27T17:45:00.000-05:00

Actually, slightly less than a month, but I'm late putting up this entry. Job searching is exhausting. I think the only thing that keeps me going with it is that I know when I finally succeed, I won't have to do it again for awhile. Like, at least a year depending on the job.

Things are still kind of strange, as I think I always expected to be more settled after being here for six months (which I hit next week, so I guess there's still time). But, I have updated my links of things I write that I like on the side, so check it out. Basically, I spend a lot of time writing news stories using press releases, quotes that TV and radio reporters get and things that move on the wire, so whenever I step out of that zone at work and feel like I've really created something new and interesting -- and talked to real people to do so -- I post it there. It's pretty strict criteria, so the list isn't very long!

Anyway, the job hunt continues. I've started applying for a rather random assortment of careers, as I hit panic mode every so often about my lack of permanency and financial security, so at this point I kind of wonder what happens if I get calls back.

For example, fact checker for a magazine? Maybe if I have the chance to write and some nifty freebies (I've never really wanted to write for magazines, unless it's like Macleans, and even in that case, I'd be more interested in their website!).

Or reporter on all issues Canadian Idol? Barring some slight reservations about the effect this could have my lofty political reporter goals, it actually sounds pretty cool.

Any reporter position? I'm there (well, if it's in Toronto) in a heartbeat. Even if it's not perfect, it's a foot in the door, some experience and steady pay. I'm learning that every month logged is valuable and essential experience when you're competing in this biz.

I haven't resorted to marketing/advertising/pr applications yet, because I know if I go that way, there's no turning back to journalism. I don't know for sure how much longer I have to wait -- especially since this whole on-call, casual thing eats into all aspects of life and makes exploring freelancing opportunities more difficult -- but the time is not now.

To loosely paraphrase Dirty Sexy Money, a show I have just started watching, tomorrow's a new day, with new chances, and we'll see what it brings.

Hopefully it brings chocolate.

Snow!

2007-11-22T12:00:00.001-05:00

We got our first real snowfall today. The roads are slick, it's cold, and the plow drivers don't officially start work until Dec. 1, but I have no where to go so I get to enjoy peering out at the white covered city from the safe warmth in front of my fireplace. The city looks much nicer when it snows, it kind of helps to cover all the grime for a little while. If the snow stops, by this evening the snow will be all dirty again and the not-so-crowded illusion will be shattered. But for now, I'm going to drink my eggnog and enjoy.

I'm coming off two days off in a row. My laundry is done, my dishes are mostly done, and I still have boxes from the East Coast to unpack--because I don't know where to put the stuff. I've also been doing some publishing for PCWorld to help pay the bills, so it's better than just sitting around with nothing at all to keep me occupied.

I had a job interview yesterday for a position in Ottawa. It was a wire service job, with one of the big private media conglomerates, and it sounded just like the kind of thing I have experience in, and would enjoy. My name would have been published in newspapers across the country. Unfortunately, it's in Ottawa. In my current funk over my apparent unemployability, I thought about moving yet again. But, I dont think I can handle it. James is in Toronto. I'm just starting to get a life in Toronto, though paying for it may become an issue in the coming months. My cell phone number has changed three times in the last year. My address has changed three times. I've lived in Halifax, Guysborough and Toronto twice since last November, inhabiting seven different apartments. Once the possibility of moving became at all real, I realized that I just can't do it again, not yet. Maybe in a year or two James will be more mobile and we'll decide to hit up another city, likely Ottawa, but now's not the time.

So the job hunt continues.

I've got an Ontarian card

2007-11-20T18:18:00.000-05:00

Now, in addition to my monthly Toronto Transit Commission pass -- found in the hands of most dedicated Torontonian commuters who don't drive -- I have an Ontario health card. Complete with an Ontario address.

I'm not sure how I feel about that. Maybe it will all sink in for "reals" when my new licence arrives. I still don't feel permanent here, even as I near the six month (six months!) mark, despite the apartment, the cell phone, the whole deal. I haven't really stayed in one place for very long in a very long time, the only difference was that it was always in N.S. Even here, we've only been in this apartment since September, and were facing down the possibility of moving again last month.

In other news, work is still fairly steady and some leads are starting to pop up for 'adult' jobs. I really do love to write and interview people and tell the story of current events, it's just the whole instability part of the field that makes life a little rocky.

And, I've mailed my first chunk of Christmas cards and we're supposed to get our first real snow tomorrow--not any real amount, but something better than a few scattered snow flakes. I feel like my Christmas spirit, if not my Ontario pride, is definitely on the rise.

Wishing for snow...

2007-11-12T23:03:00.000-05:00

It's dark. It's coldish. And it's only a month and 13 days until Christmas (not that I'm counting). I feel I deserve some snow. I'm not asking for a blizzard or anything, just a smattering of flurries to get me in the Christmas spirit. After all, since when is +10 in November an acceptable upper Canadian temperature?

On a related note, I'm starting to Christmas shop and address Christmas cards. I'm particularly enjoying my fire place while I'm doing this, as it half-convinces me that it is indeed Christmas time, and should be cold enough to merit a roaring fire.

I'm also addressing and stamping save the date cards, which we finally succeeded in designing and printing on our snazzy new printer. I hope other wedding-related details come with a little less delay and hassle. I am, however, looking forward to tasting cake, wine and meals :) Though, admittedly, after all that, I will be a little concerned about fitting into my dress.

In the job sphere, I've been spending a lot of time on the tech desk as they prepare to roll out a snazzy, and enormous, new feature next week. I appreciate the work, and am starting to get the hang of this whole science and tech-y thing, I think. I'm still getting a lot of shifts at the mothercorp, only two days off in the past two weeks, but am still a little anxious about the whole not permanent (and no paid vacation thing). It's a great experience, and fab for my resume, but I'm getting a little twitchy (ok, a lot twitchy) over the lack of predictability and stability. The likelihood of an after Christmas election (currently about a 50-50 chance in my books) will probably determine how avidly I pursue new venues of employment. I've been applying for jobs that I come across, but I'm not yet in full-fledged panic mode.

I guess the glamorous world of journalism (I did see Ken Dryden in the building last week, and rode in an elevator with Jack Layton a few weeks ago!) is turning out to be a lot like those glamorous type worlds I see on TV and read about. Those who make it have the chance to be immensely successful (though they'll never be millionaires) but it's a long, and often un-documented, slog to the top with many people dropping out and falling to the way side. Guess we'll just have to see if my love of telling stories--particularly about politics--in the public good can continue to outweigh my love of stability and dreams of a condo that James and I can call our own.

I'm still here!

2007-11-10T12:40:00.001-05:00

I've been a little homesick of late, and had a cold, which has contributed to my lack of blogging. Recently my days have been composed of getting up just barely in time to get out the door for work, working, coming home and cooking supper, then falling asleep while watching TV. Not exactly the hip, happening life of a 22-year-old in Canada's biggest city, but both types of sickness along with the dropping temperatures (though not yet below zero, so no real snow) have made me kind of complacent.

I've also been starting to get a little unsure about this whole journalism gig. I like stability, and this career doesn't seem to lend itself to normal or reliable hours or anything predictable. It is exciting, but at the same time, a guaranteed paycheque and guaranteed five-day work weeks would be nice. Fabulous even.

Wedding stuff is also becoming all consuming. There are so many ridiculous things that I suddenly care about: the flowers (I've never been much of a flower person), the perfect shade of purple, the favours, the save-the-date cards (which, god-willing, will be arriving in a mailbox near you within the next two weeks.) What's most important to me is just to have all our family and friends around and have a good long weekend together, with a nice ceremony and some decent food. And great shoes.

Anyway, I must sign off of this moderately depressing post. Just wanted to alert those of you still out there that I am, indeed, alive and doing well. Hopefully my Christmas spirit will soon kick in and some good shopping will ensue:)

A roundup of the last month!

2007-10-23T19:40:00.000-04:00

So...to anyone who is still out there...remember that contract I was starting? It kept me very, very busy, including throughout Thanksgiving weekend. However, it was really exciting too, and I got to write a lot of features, edit blogs and moderate forums, all while being a total political science nerd!

A new project has since started for me, preparing in case of a federal election, but I don't know how long that will last. It's evaluated on a weekly basis, depending on the stability of the government, and it might soon end. The regular hours and semi-laid back atmosphere has been nice, and given me time to do things on evenings and weekends, and I'll be sad to see it end. Hopefully something else will come along, but I'm ramping up my job search again just in case.

Outside of work, I've been busy too (I know, surprise surprise). I've finally knocked a few more Toronto "experiences" off my list!

To begin with, I finally went up the CN Tower. It was pretty terrifying, but also really neat. Despite a few photos of me looking decidedly queasy, and very reluctant to go on the glass floor, it was definitely worth it. When you're living here you know that Toronto is massive, but you forget just how huge and dense it is.

I also went to a baseball game--and even saw the Jays win! While I am a rather lacklustre and sorry excuse for a baseball fan, it was a good time and it's much faster and more exciting in person than on TV. I even know what a designated hitter is now! However, there won't be any more baseball here for a while, since that game was one of the few Jays victories.

Another Toronto landmark I hit up recently was the St. Lawrence market, this two floor crazy market downtown just filled with fresh food and other goodies. It smelled amazing--all that fresh bread and pastry--and there was so much to look at! I'll definitely be going back again, and maybe even do some Christmas shopping around the different little shops.

The day after that, I went to the Toronto Zoo. It was a lot bigger than I had expected, but it was pretty awesome, especially the gorillas, orangutans and the meercats! There was a lot to see and do, and the commute was totally brutal--two switches on the subway (so three subway lines) and an hour-long bus ride, so it was an exhausting day. Also, it has started to get cold here all of a sudden, and I found myself wishing that I had an extra sweater in addition to my hat, scarf and fall coat!

And, the last "experience" wasn't really a Toronto thing, but it was definitely amazing! I went to see the Habs play the Sens in Ottawa, a gift from my fiance for my birthday. We got the tickets from his dad's work, and the seats were fab--four rows from the ice, at the centre line, behind the player's benches! The game was really close, and the Habs seemed to have an ok chance. They fell apart a few times--sort of tossing away the puck and not chasing it hard enough--but it was a great, great experience! Price did very well, there was only one goal that I thought he could have maybe gotten if he had a little more experience, but he's still a rookie, and I think he's doing a great job. I had such a blast, even though it was exhausting for us to drive to Ottawa and back in less than 24 hours, I can't imagine a better way to see my first ever NHL game!

In personal drama, our landlords told us two weeks ago that they were selling the house, which we had just moved into in September. We agreed to switch to month-to-month to help them get rid of the house (they had found their dream home) and had to get out of our apartment for a lot of showings, along with facing the fear that we might have to move. When we came home on Friday after work, there was a sold sign on the house! Luckily, the people coming in seem to want tenants, so we'll be able to stay! But, it was a tense period. Now, again, I get to settle in and enjoy my new home!

Anyway, that's a quick update of life lately. I apologize for my lazy blogging, and hope that some of you out there still care!

Working away

2007-09-18T22:35:00.001-04:00

Work has been keeping me very busy. I started a new contract last week, for a month working on the Ontario election website, moderating comments, posting Your View questions, choosing promos, adding photos and blogs to the site from reporters on the campaign trail, picking pieces from radio and TV and writing features, so far one on faith based schools and one on election promises.

It's been a really strange experience, because I'm working on something so focused. In the past, I've always had at least three or four things on the go during the day, while now I have more things, but they're all related. Election night should be interesting/stressful/crazy/exhilarating! Probably by the time it's over I'll need to sleep for a week. Hopefully I won't have that much time off between gigs though!

I'm still settling into the new apartment and learning to balance life without school, which oddly seems just as busy if not more so! I'm also back on the hockey girl beat, anxiously waiting for the season to begin!

I'm also still settling into this city. There's something incredibly anonymous about living in Toronto, you're one of tens of thousands of people who will sit in that seat on the subway, pass through that gate, hop on that bus and be served by that frantic barrista at starbucks. I miss some Nova Scotian things, like the smell of the salt water, the small squirrels (Ontario squirrels are freakishly large), driving on the twisty, and scary, roads and of course spending time with my friends and family who are still in the province.

Luckily, James, his family, and my friend from home Tyler, are all here and are helping me cope and get by. I keep telling myself that things will be a little easier when I get a permanent job, but I think certain things will always make me a little homesick, like Thanksgiving. I may not have lived full-time at home since I started university four years ago, but I always made it home for pie, turkey and birthday celebrations on Thanksgiving weekend. I'll definitely be working to keep myself busy and distracted that weekend, along with racking up some long distance with at least one call home.

Anyway, it's getting late, and I've been pretty tired recently, so I'm going to sign off for the night.

-J

I'm back...again!

2007-09-11T08:30:00.000-04:00

My internet is finally hooked up, so I'm happy to be back online! It was a very long almost two weeks without it...

I'm settling into my new apartment nicely, and am also settling in to a month-long contract for the Ontario election. I'll be posting reporter submissions online, moderating the discussions and doing lots of research. Lots and lots of research.

Anyway, I need to run off to work, but I just wanted to assure you all that I am back online, with hopefully no more interruptions until the next move! And, with hockey season gearing up (Habs play their first exhibition game on the 17th), my hockey girl blog for the Herald is also back.

I'm back!

2007-08-15T22:06:00.000-04:00

The last two weeks have been a little hectic, to say the least, and between working with the CBC at almost full time hours, my to-do list and two very full weekends, everything has kind of fallen to the wayside. But, today I feel accomplished.

I scratched one big to-do off my list yesterday when I signed my lease for a great one bedroom apartment--complete with laundry and a fireplace and walking distance from the subway. Finalizing it made the last three weeks--of frantic emails, phone calls and disappointment at walking 20 minutes to spend five in apartments that were a) much father away than advertised b) smelled like animals had the run of the place for a few years and c) were expensive dark, dank caverns--seem almost worthwhile. Almost. At least I feel like I'm starting to get my life back after hours on various rental websites, and I'm getting excited to move.

Also on my to-do list I've filed my first story for filly, though it's not posted yet, and am 3/4 of the way through another one. I may have also picked a wedding venue, I'll decide for sure this weekend, the one I'm leaning towards is a very pretty inn and restaurant that looks very Gilmore Girls, and the ceremony would be held in front of a gazebo.

As for my two packed weekends, the first was spent at a friend's cottage on a lake with no computers or cell phone reception. It was relaxing, but I can't say I was sorry to return to civilization and check my email come Monday night:). The second weekend was very Torontonian, as we hit up the annual Taste of the Danforth Greek festival. Basically, it means I spent two days stuffing my face and pushing through crowds.

Just to give you a "taste" (get it? I know I'm tired when I start using puns like that...) here's a sampling of my weekend menu:

- Corn on the cob
- Pork souvlaki on a pita
- Chicken souvlaki on a stick
- Pork souvlaki on a stick
- Handmade (white chocolate!) ice cream with strawberries
- Ribs
- Loukmades--which are deep fried balls of cinnamony dough soaked in honey
- Boneless chicken wings stuffed with rice
- Spring rolls (not very greek, but delicious!)
- Frozen yogurt

I'm still kind of full.

As a result of these eventful few weeks, my current home remains woefully neglected as dishes pile up and I rearrange the stacks of empty Ikea boxes that never made it out on trash day. If nothing else, I guess it'll be cleaned when we move in two weeks.

Now, I must sign off and get some sleep. Tomorrow I'm working out of the north, and have a feeling it may be a bit of a challenge, since I have no idea what's going on. But, it should be fun, and a nice break from missing Utah miners, cabinet shuffling and lead toys!

Almost two months in the city...

2007-07-31T17:47:00.000-04:00

And I still don't feel settled. But, I did spend an hour writing about bread that won't go moldy.

I've spent the last two days working out of P.E.I. It was fun, but I also still feel a little awkward at work. I come in to do so many different things, at so many different times, with no regularity, that I don't feel settled. Also, because I'm new and young, I feel incredibly bad any time I screw up, for example when the copy editors call me over with a question or I don't know how to do something or I have a typo or a mistake in my story. It feels like one of the above happens every day, and I have no idea if I'm ever doing an ok job.

But, I know I'm doing ok at something else--my new project. I'm "freelancing" (I use the term loosely because it doesn't pay)for Filly, an online magazine about wedding stuff. So, I'll be filing a blog for them each week based on some wedding topic and be writing articles about wedding planning. I also get to review some wedding related books and the like, so it should be fun. Plus, I get to work towards my own wedding plans in the process.

I've also applied for an internship with the Toronto Star. I have no idea if it will come to anything, but it's a full-year, full-time position and would be a great experience, along with steady work and steady pay. I find out next week if I make it to the interview round, so I'm checking my email like mad, in case it comes in early, but also not trying to check my email because I know it will drive me nuts. It's an interesting paradox.

Luckily now I'm off the night shift, so I have a bit more time to have a life and get errands done.

My tasks for the next week or two?
1. Find an apartment for September
2. Find a wedding venue for July/August next year
3. Clean up the apartment, which has been sorely neglected the last two weeks
4. File my first story or two for Filly

Along with working at the CBC. Eep. Wish me luck:)

At least two cool things this week

2007-07-25T10:21:00.000-04:00

Are two stories I worked on by myself, totally independently (we often use sources from TV and radio):

School burns down I'm kind of proud of this one, because it wasn't reported any where else (yet) and I really hope it can make a difference

And dual core chips because I knew nothing about this, but think I did enough research to pull it off convincingly.

Oh, and Harry Potter was brilliant. Still not sure how I feel about the end, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

Anyways, I've got to go get ready for work. I find that I don't have much spare time with this 12-8 shift because I keep sleeping in in the mornings, since I don't have to be up even though there are numerous things I could be doing (apartment hunting, wedding planning, cleaning) then, after rushing out the door for work, I don't get home until 8:30 ish, make supper, eat and then before I know it I'm heading to bed for the night.

So, for the next two days of my shift, I'm going to attempt to get up earlier and get things done in the morning. Then next week, I'm back to kind of schedule I'm more accustomed to, 8-4, which will leave me lots of time to do the aforementioned things as well as blog. I will also be posting pictures soon, once I find the cord to get them off the camera:)

Harry Potter day!

2007-07-21T19:57:00.000-04:00

I am seven hours into the book.

100 more pages and I will know Harry's fate.

This is the highlight of an otherwise routine week (where I did get to work 4 days!)

I have no excuse...

2007-07-04T20:31:00.000-04:00

I enjoy blogging. I try to keep people updated. Yet, I come home at night and make supper, eat a popsicle (blame the popsicle ad at work) and doze off. So, to recap what's happened since my last blogging effort...gasp...almost two weeks ago.

Work has been busy. There have been a lot of things blowing up and a lot of deaths and murders. It's depressing work some days, but I think it's also important.

The hardest story I had lately was the Chris Benoit murder-suicide--the wrestler who killed his wife and seven-year-old son then himself. I was covering it throughout the day, with constant updates, and the details just kept getting gorier. It almost makes you wonder whether we really should know these things. This guy was obviously not quite with it, and he still has two living children from a previous relationship, who had to hear all the details over and over. That day really bothered me.

Luckily, I've been getting three shifts a week, and doing lots of writing, mostly for Canada and World news. I'm finding it really challenging (thus the exhaustion), but also really rewarding. I love the thought that people turn to things that I write and are satisfied and feel informed afterwards. Well, at least some of them do. Many people appear to have nothing more to do during their day than to send criticisms into CBC.ca. Why can't any one submit praise?

James had his birthday on the 27th, and we had a good day, though I got called into work unexpectedly and thus James had to wait quite long for his special home-cooked birthday dinner.

We went to Belleville for the long weekend, and it was nice to get out of the city for a bit, even though the weather sucked! It had been crazy hot here right up until the long weekend, when all of a sudden the temperature dropped down below 20! That's not very summery.

This week, I'm in for three days again. It's been a weird news week, with the holiday on Monday and then the American holiday today. The stories tend to be quirkier at times like these, but there's also been some big stories breaking, like the journalist Alan Johnson being released--I'm so happy for him, it must have been a terrifying four months--and the very sad news of six Canadian soldiers being killed today.

Sometimes it's really hard not to let all the bad things get you down. There are so many terrible stories coming out each day, and they're the ones that are read the most, that sometimes it's hard to remember that there are good things in the world, like shoes and my latest Starbucks favourite--a tall lemonade ice tea made with black tea.

Today was a really different work day for me, I was on the consumer desk, as the regular consumer person was working on a feature on robots. And, as I said, it was kind of a quirky news day, so here are some quick hits to explain:

Tim Hortons' prices rise — but won't double-double

Oh Canada, D'oh Homer

Cirque du Soleil, Ski-Doo among Canada's top iconic brands

Second Life business sues for copyright infringement

No other day has been quite this bizarre, though I did write a story about a bear
but it was a rather nice change.

Well, James' birthday cake is finally done cooking (on my last attempt, my ingredients melted due to heat). I solemnly swear to be a better blogger, at least with short but frequent posts!

I have been a bad blogger...

2007-06-21T16:34:00.000-04:00

But, I have an excuse! I've been without internet, which made my blogging nearly impossible. So, for all of you waiting with baited breath, updates will now be forthcoming of the move, the job, and even a small fire.

The boy, the bunny and I have a temporary home on the Danforth. The apartment isn't great, but it isn't terrible. And, it's really close to the subway station, two Starbucks, a Baskin Robbins, great restaurants and some neat shops. It's a summer sublet, but this should give us a chance to find a place that is great for September.

The boy has started work at pcworld.ca and he's loving it. He's working a lot, but getting to do a lot of neat online tech news type stuff.

The bunny has settled in nicely, with only a few escape attempts.

And I have been doing alright. I finally broke down and bought a new pair of shoes--for work of course. Last week, I worked a couple of shifts, doing news, covering the Alberta site and moderating comments on the viewpoints pages. It was a pretty crazy and intense week with the move, but I was glad to get the work.

For the first little while we didn't get unpacked, and had no kitchen supplies or groceries, so I got to try out some of the nearby restaurants. I found amazing chinese food, a good greek restaurant with a great patio, and two really nice little pubs.

Over the weekend, we went to Ikea and inherited some more furniture from James' parents, who are moving. We are now the proud owners of a futon, a bookshelf, two wire basket clothes storage units that will probably go out the window as soon as we can find a replacement because I keep knocking the baskets off, a fairly well stocked kitchen/pantry and a dining table and three chairs. The fourth is to arrive soon. Now I have to cook. I miss the restaurants--quick service, lots of choices, no mess to clean up.

I found the laundromat over the weekend, and did some laundry. I've always had laundry in my apartment or building before, so it was a little strange, but not bad. The dryers even work.

This week, I only have two shifts. So, to say the least, I've been a little bored.

And there's a group of three pigeons, a big one, a normal one, and a little one, casing out my kitchen day and night trying to scare me. I've decided that the description of pigeons as rats with wings is pretty accurate. There's also a pigeon neighbour with no feathers on his head. I think this weekend I may buy curtains.

The weather has been great, so I've been using my time off to explore the neighbourhood. I've been leery of straying too far, as we all know how great my sense of direction is, but I haven't done too badly as of yet. The Danforth is just becoming trendy, so there's still a weird mix between high-end stores and fruit stands, so it's pretty interesting.

More interesting have been my attempts at cooking. The IGA is thankfully only about two blocks away, so when I'm cooking and find I don't have a key ingredient, it's not far to run. However, we lack a microwave, toaster, and up until Tuesday night baking pans and mixing bowls. And the stove is ancient. So Tuesday, after another exciting day of wandering aimlessly, I came home to cook. I put the pot of water on to boil for pasta and turned my back for a second as I grabbed the veggies for my stir fry. When I turned back around, there were rather large and hot flames coming out from under my pot. After a yelp, which did little to calm the flames, and a frantic search for a fire extinguisher, of which there was none, I moved the pot and blew the flames out, with the help of a glass of water (thank goodness it wasn't a grease fire!). Supper, by the way, was delicious.

I worked yesterday on the newsdesk. I was doing mostly national news, and also keeping an eye for any dramatic happenings in Newfoundland, as our reporter there was off for the afternoon.

Here are a few samples of the types of things I've been doing:

Australia navy story

Iwo Jima becomes Iwo To

Military funeral

Alberta minimum wage

sample your view

Today, I was off again. After shaking my fist at those pesky pigeons, I went downtown to meet a friend from home, Tyler. I'm marginally employed and Tyler is currently unemployed, so we could commisserate over low bank accounts and a love of Starbucks.

Later today, as Tyler headed off for a job interview, I decided that I couldn't handle the lack of money (so many shoes, so little funds) and the incredible amount of time on hand, so I dropped off some resumes at some nearby coffee shops. Anything to help make ends meet.

Tomorrow, I'm back at cbc.ca for another day on the newsdesk. Next week, again, I have only two shifts, but maybe a coffee shop will call back or perhaps, just perhaps, the cbc may be able to give me more shifts or even a *gasp* steady job. Let's all keep our fingers crossed. I've got my eye on a coffee table, a pair of pink argyle flats (way cuter than they sound) and it's a special someone's big 23nd birthday next week.

I took a big risk in coming to Toronto--the weather's better (sunny and over 22 almost everyday!), and working at the cbc could be incredible for my career, but with all this time off (the opposite problem of my days in Guysborough, by the way) I'm finding myself missing the salt water and many people. When I start missing the fog and the roads we'll know I'm in real trouble!

However, I'm keeping up with home news through the Herald and family and friends. I've heard the latest scoop on Guysborough council--I can't believe there might be a non-confidence vote against Warden Hines!--and even heard about Canso on Newfoundland radio. So, if nothing else, I at least still feel moderately in the loop. Thanks to everyone for helping to keep me updated, and please continue to do so!

Apartment'd

2007-06-10T21:46:00.001-04:00

Sort of. We have a sublet for the next two and a half months. More details following after I get some sleep.

A week in Toronto...

2007-06-09T21:51:00.000-04:00

And I'm kind of missing home. Work's been going alright, but I'm still trying to find my stride and place. Apartment hunting has been slow going, and myself, the bunny, and James just found out tonight that we can no longer crash at our friend's place as of Wednesday. So, facing homelessness since 7 tonight, I've been frantically emailing and phoning all possible housing options.

Hopefully will have good news tomorrow. Or will be moments away from a Hilton-esque "It's not fair" breakdown at the fact that I've been given four days to find a place and move.

First day down...

2007-06-05T19:52:00.000-04:00

I am now a card-carrying Torontonian. Meaning I am now the proud owner of a shiny purple bus pass.

On Monday, I used said bus pass to get to the CBC. I was really really nervous, so I left myself quite a bit of time to get to work. Enough time that I arrived 45 minutes before I needed to. Who would have thought the bus and the subway would both arrive just as I stood at the bus stop and entered the station? I'm normally lucky enough to see the bus drive away as I frantically run around the corner, but not Monday. On Monday morning, the public transit gods were smiling on me, even in the rain.

So, after 45 minutes of trying to occupy myself without straying too far from the building, I finally started off work. It was a pretty full day of training on the content management system and how to maintain the Your View page--reading comments and choosing which ones go up and making up and posting new questions.

There are a lot of comments. Some of them are witty, insightful, inspiring, and intelligent. Others are illegible, liable, and stunned. Many tread the fine line between these two, and it is certainly a trick to choose which are publishable. Hopefully I do alright when the ball's in my court on Friday.

So, after a great shift at the CBC of reading about people's hatred of the military and a few choice words about taxis and seatbelts (the questions were about a year recognizing military families as proposed by Gen. Hillier and whether cops should chase cars downtown after a serious and fatal accident over the weekend) I was ready to head home.

Despite a lack of an ID or passwords (apparently there was some mix up over my information from November when I interned, which has expired, and the fact that I'm back now), I was feeling pretty on top of it all. So, when I arrived at my subway station, I walked on to the bus and was ready to be home. Then the bus turned the wrong direction. I got on the northbound instead of the south. So, after a minor detour, I crossed the street and headed in the right direction.

Fully exhausted, I arrived home. I didn't work on Tuesday, due to the missing passwords and id, but was scheduled for Wednesday when those technical difficulties would be resolved. I fully intended to go to sleep early. Then Nomi, the person I'm staying with, suggested a free concert downtown, which started at eight. We got there a little after nine, and enjoyed two songs by The Stills and a full hour and a half of Hawksley Workman, and got to meet up with friends of hers from Belleville, and one of my friends from home.

So much for my early night. But Hawksley was worth it.

Today, I went apartment hunting in the Danforth area. No luck yet, but a few promising items.

Tomorrow, I'm in for my first real shift on the newsdesk, getting trained to write stories and post them. Should be another busy day.

In good news, my fiance James got a job in Scarborough, starting Monday.

Now off to finish up a batch of cinnamon buns from a can and to get my things together for an early start tomorrow.

This week's Toronto tally so far:
Times fully lost: 0
Times thought maybe lost: 3 (Looking at apartments in places I've never been!)
Toronto sites scratched off must do list: 2 (Danforth and Harbourfront Centre)

And I'm here...

2007-06-03T19:39:00.000-04:00

I landed in Ontario on Wednesday, but quickly fled the big smoke. Tonight, I'm back with a new cell phone number and a very heavy suitcase, ready (I hope) to start work in the morning! In my four hours in Toronto so far I've gone shoe shopping--hello nine west--quickly browsed the mall, and helped the friend I'm staying with buy a hamster. Then we spent the next hour working like idiots to get the cage together. They say the cage is easy to assemble and child friendly. I think they lied. However, the little fellow does seem to be doing alright now, and his cage has neither collapsed nor stabbed him.

Tomorrow, work and the apartment hunt begin. Tonight, after that cage, my biggest challenge is merely to sift through my suitcase until I find what I need for tomorrow morning.

And a blog starts anew

2007-05-28T12:08:00.000-04:00

This is the start of a new blog, and a new life, after Guysborough Girl and the Guysborough Journal. I'll be keeping you posted on life at cbc.ca and fabulous shoe shopping once I arrive in Toronto on Wednesday. Wish me luck!