Tuesday, November 30, 2004
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10:20 a.m.
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I seem to go through a lot of those when trying to blog some days. It's been a week since the last time I posted, which means I had to have gotten rejected for at least one more job, but as it was my birthday last week that also means I had a lot of cake.
The universe has a quirky way of evening things out.
Catherine and I spent most of the weekend at my mom's house where we prepped her basement (our old apartment) for Christmas. It looks pretty good if I say so myself. Not wanting to stop there, when we got home Catherine and put up our tree and a nice bit of lights in the window. So far as I can tell, we're one of three people in the visible neighbourhood with lights up already.
Some might say that it's too early for Christmas decorations but the malls have us beat by nearly a month. I just didn't see the wisdom in putting up a tree a week or two before Christmas only to pull it down soon after. Besides, seeing it up gives me nice feelings and I'd like to keep those as long as possible.
Other than that, I've been called in to teach at my uncle's school two more times. I was really paranoid about this at first because my previous experience teaching there had been horrible, including an hour and a half drive from Guelph. Taking the TTC for 50 minutes is much less stressful, and coincidentally the same amount of time it takes for me to get to Humber.
I'm doing what I can to have money for the upcoming holidays as well as to make sure I can make my monthly loan payments. They aren't astronomical at $150 a month, but when you already need a ton of money for other things it can put a bit of a pinch on things financially.
Who knows if I'll get a job in December... I'm betting on not as a lot of places won't be hiring/firing until the new year. That sucks for me in terms of getting my career started, but luckily I have a lot of friends that require my services in exchange for pieces of paper called money so I can't really complain.
Well, I can, but that doesn't help anything.
Other than the above, I've been trying to squeeze in as much time as possible for Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, which Catherine bought me for my birthday. It's every bit as good as the first and perhaps a little bit better. It's going to be a good few months for me as a Nintendo fan... the new Mario Party is coming out, as is Resident Evil 4 and the new Mortal Kombat.
But first things first.... Christmas.
Cue tense music.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
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4:50 p.m.
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It's here... it's brilliant... and just in time for my best birthday ever. 
Today is my birthday. I say this not to ask for congrats, pats on the back, or anything else like that, but to share a revelation brought about in part from the release of U2's brilliant new album, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, in part from a quote from C.S. Lewis (see above) and from the simple good will and grace of my friends and loved ones...
Sometimes you can't make it on your own...
For too long I've been working under the delusion that life is all about me. What I don't have in terms of a job or wealth, my frustration with sitting at home, and all the other excess that we each too frequently buy in to. The truth here is that without the love and support of my friends and family I would have nothing. I would be the nothing I feared I was just because I didn't have a job.
That's just ridiculous.
My birthday has been the best that I can ever remember and I haven't even gotten to the sweetest part... my dinner and time with the best girlfriend and most beautiful girl in the world, Catherine.
It began Saturday with a day with my Dad. A movie, National Treasure (not too shabby at all), then dinner and a long walk back home up Yonge and across Bloor. Why was it great? We just talked and talked. For all the world he was my best friend. It was great.
Today I got to spend the afternoon with my mom. One of the few advantages to not having a job is that you're pretty much always free. We had a great lunch and then to my total shock we wound up buying a few things that I needed and one I didn't (another movie... but can you really have too much?) Before I met up with her, I made a copy (shhh) of the U2 album for her to listen to. It's just that good. Everyone should have a copy. Just ask and I'll make you one.
My mom and I just walked and talked. It felt great. This week I got to spend really good quality time with two of the most important people in my life. I couldn't ask for more.
Tonight I spend with my family: Catherine and Truffle. The little one will get her free play time (half an hour outside the cage to run around), Catherine and I will enjoy a nice romantic dinner and most importantly I'll get presents. Actually, that's not important at all, I just like it. ;)
I'm not religious, but the only word I can think of that matches my situation is blessed. I have a wonderful home, a loving girlfriend, great parents, a great kid (Truffle) and with friends like Jeromy, Aaron, Chris, Brody, Jamie, Josh, Paul, Pushee, Patti, my brother Graydon, Catherine's great family, and my parents.
Man, I don't think anyone else has it as good as I do.
Oh, and buy the new U2 album. I got up first thing and rushed out to get it. It's worth it. $10.99 at Music World. Or I'll make you a copy. ;)
I'm 27 now. Crazy.
Saturday, November 20, 2004
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11:26 a.m.
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Neither could I, really. What follows is absolutely true, though why anyone would believe it is beyond me. Well, okay, maybe it isn't beyond the realm of believability, but it is pretty damn funny.
Here is an email I sent to an old editor friend of mine at the Toronto Sun. It was in relation to a job opening they had for their layout division:
Hey XXXX,
Hope things are going well with you. I'm still doing the job search thing, which I must admit, is steadily growing on my nerves.
At any rate, I'm going to apply for a job at the Sun doing layout (it's been posted online) and I was just wondering if you had any tips or suggestions that I could use should I get called for an interview?
Anything at all would be great!
The reply is surreal to say the least. This comes to me three days later:
Are you ready? It's pretty odd...
Here it is (unedited):
Hi Tim,
No, sorry, no suggestions ... and I've thought about it, I really have. Unfortunately, it's not my area of expertise. Wait... here's something. The current graphic artists do maps, charts and lay out pages. They also do a little copy editing, although sometimes they are discouraged from doing that. Hope that helps.
XXXX
Catherine still finds this funny...
Thursday, November 18, 2004
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3:15 p.m.
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Put on your thinking cap
Meaning: Carefully and thoughtfully consider something
Origin: In previous centuries, it was customary for judges to put a cap on before sentencing criminals. Because judges were respected thinkers, it was referred to as a “thinking cap.”
Want some more useless trivia? Every 3 months you replace your eyelashes. You'll have 600 sets of them in your lifetime.
You probably thought this post was going to be interesting and relevant. Hopefully the above trivia is interesting and you find a relevant way to use it in your life.
Not much else is going on, really. I tried to bite my tongue off last week in karate. I got hit in the jaw with an uppercut (headgear on, of course) as I was trying to speak and now it looks like a piece of hamburger. There are teeth marks all around the outside and a bit of a scab on one side.
Yum, don't you think?
It took a few days for it to get back to normal. Catherine had gone home for the weekend so I was pretty much here feeling useless. Jer, Aaron and I went to see Garden State on Friday night and it was a pretty decent flick. The rest of the weekend Pushee was supposed to show up but didn't. So I cleaned.
Other than that, I started doing supply teaching for my Uncle in Scarborough again. This is a terrible job. Well, not so much terrible as it is a long commute to do things with disabled, dysfunctional and disorderly kids. It's a taxing job. I don't know how he manages it. So far I've only been called in on one day, Monday, but that was more than enough for me.
The rest of the week it's been doing eBay listings for the Wicked Witch of the Consignment Stores. God, I hate that job. That seems to be a theme these days. But it's money in my pocket which slowly but surely is getting larger and larger. I'm by no means self-sufficient yet nor satisfied with my current condition, but I'm working on it. Catherine thinks I still need to lighten up. Maybe I do.
Other than that, been watching Angel, Lost, and doing my best to keep my head down. Next Tuesday is my birthday and I plan to... oh, wait, I never make birthday plans. Somehow I always forget. I got a card in the mail today that reminded me it was coming up.
I'll be 27. God, that's old. Too old.
Thursday, November 11, 2004
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4:09 p.m.
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Ever since Sept 7, the release date of season 4 of Angel, I've been pestering those poor souls to give up the ghost and get it in so I could rent it.
Seriously.
At least one or two calls a week, and I'd stop in at least once a week and ask about the inevitable arrival of this show. After all, they had every other season of both Angel, Buffy and the brilliant Firefly so I don't think I was that off base in expecting the next season.
See, I'd never seen the show (any of them) before this summer when I went on a huge rampage and rented them all. I became hopelessly addicted over the course of the 200 shows or so and was left with a cliffhanger at the end of season 3... Angel being dumped in a metal tank into the ocean.
And then those jerks dragged their butts for TWO MONTHS before they got it in.
If I had the money, I would have just bought the damn thing. Alas, I do not.
But, today was a good day for TV and for Brian because they finally had it in (along with season 7 of Buffy which I broke down and watched off of Space before I'd even seen all of season 6). So I have it now.
Of course, Catherine is making me promise not to watch it this weekend as she'll be going home to visit family.
Curses!
Ah... but wait... my newly purchased piece of technology may have arrived just in time to prevent a disaster...
Monday, November 08, 2004
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2:28 p.m.
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The Incredibles... the best superhero movie ever made. And THAT is from a self-confessed Marvel zombie. Go see it!
Sunday, November 07, 2004
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8:00 p.m.
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I've finally done it after much talking, debating and patient waiting. The new burner is installed and running like a top which means that I was finally able to clear out the gutters of my computer and bring it into the new milennium.
That's kind of ironic given that I was running Milennium Edition before, which is nothing more than a slightly souped-up version of Windows 98.
Paul came over this weekend and generously donated his time (I say Thankya) and now the comp has a shiny new face in the form of Windows XP!
Right now I'm in the middle of ruining all that hard work by installing a bunch of crap programs that, unfortunately, I've come to know and love over the years. It's all coming together... it's all happening...
But even geeks need breaks. Today, Catherine and I headed out for a great afternoon at the zoo. We checked out our old favorites, had a hamburger or two, and even picked up a zoo Christmas ornament. Not bad for a day out, dontcha think?
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
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1:31 p.m.
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This one is for Occupational Health & Saftey magazine, or more specifically, a weekly newsletter that the same organization produces. There would also be the need for me to write one feature-length article of around 2500 words every six weeks, otherwise I need to be in charge of about six pages a week. It's not a ton of work, just stuff that requires constant attention. All in all it doesn't sound like a bad job, it's just not going to be laugh a minute. Well, so far that I can see. Still, maybe this will turn out to be a bit of a fun experience. I've learned never to rule anything out. If they want me, they'll likely get me and the best work that I can do as well.
The day: well, I left really early to make sure that I was there on time. I did too good of a job as I was half an hour early. So I sat in the lobby and read. It was nice, but the sun focused through the windows seems to have burned almost half my face.
The interview was done with two women, the editors of both a weekly newsletter and the magazine which is published eight times a year. It seems my job would be a contract position, lasting december to december, where I would be in charge of the weekly six-page newsletter including layout. I'd also have an editorial assistant for a couple of days a week.
That's just bizarre if you ask me.
The rate of pay, benefits, etc didn't enter the conversation and part of me is wishing that I had asked. But seeing as how I wasn't offered the job on the spot, I figured that might be a bit much. I almost never ask even though it's the question on top of the pile in my brain.
The interview went well. Discussed strengths, kinds of stories, approaches, office environment, etc. Things seemed to be fairly relaxed and easy going. The office is a bit stuffier than others I've been to, giving it an air almost of a banking office or something along those lines. Most magazines are a bit more cluttered and relaxed. It's funny, given that magazines have specific looks and polishes so people assume the places they're made would be the same.
So, I think it went well. The commute is roughly 40-50 minutes depending on traffic (passing a PetSmart along the way), the building is 9 stories in a semi-residential area. On the whole, it doesn't seem too bad. Keep in mind that I really don't want this job (I want the others I interviewed for) but a job is a job.
I'm not sure about this year-long contract though as I'm still considering applying for teacher's college, which would start in September. A year is a bit long to be tied to a place. I much prefer the old method of come and go as you please.
I figure I have a week or two to go before I find out from any of these places, so in the meantime it's back to normal life and the job search. Which I hate.
I hate a lot of things, though.
But not my birthday! That's coming up soon and Catherine has asked me for a list of things... the only problem is keeping it narrowed down. And reasonable. I don't know if she can do a 'world trip' at this point, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
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3:34 p.m.
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The interview went fine. It lasted about 35 to 40 minutes and pretty much talked about the same kinds of things that I did at my last interview. There were two people, one younger woman that was talking to me and seemed interested, then an older guy who I think was the EIC or Publisher who talked very little but mostly just wrote on a pad of paper. It was quite distracting.
All in all, it sounds like a brilliant job to be honest. Lots of creative freedom, the kinds of subjects that I'm interested in and plenty of wiggle room to make it mine. All I need to do is employ some kind of mind control technique to get them to pick me. Money works the best, I've found.
Oh well. Hopefully I'll be offered the job. They said it could be as long as two weeks before they start the second round of interviews. They said this round was continuing this week and into next. There was a girl who came in as I was leaving for her interview.
Who knows how it will all work out. Hopefully the job I'm meant to have will be the one I get. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.
In 1845, Congress selected the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as Election Day. Here’s why:
• Because most Americans were farmers, November was the most convenient month—the harvest was over and the weather was still mild enough to allow travel over dirt roads.
• Tuesday was chosen over Monday so the rural voters would have time to travel to the polls. (They couldn’t leave on Sunday because of church.)
• Why the first Tuesday after the first Monday? Two reasons: November 1 is All Saints Day, a holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics, and most merchants did their books from the preceding month on the 1st.
Fascinating stuff, isn't it? No? Well, the heck with all of you. I hope Kerry wins.
On an unrelated manner, I have an interview Chart magazine for their entertainment editor position at 2pm today. Unlike the previous interview that I was all kinds of nervous about, I feel almost nothing about this one. Perhaps it's because they're only offering $18,000 a year (which isn't enough to live on in Toronto). Kind of them, isn't it? Oh well, maybe it will be better than that and open a lot of other doors.
I just don't have a lot of options these days.
Monday, November 01, 2004
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11:23 a.m.
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• Flugie: A rule that helps only the rule maker
• Bloviate: To speechify pompously
• Roorback: An invented rumor intended to smear an opponent
• Snollygoster: A politician who puts politics ahead of principle
• Boondoggle: A wasteful or crooked government-funded project
• Mugwump: A political maverick
• Bafflegab: Intentionally confusing jargon
Saturday, October 30, 2004
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11:35 a.m.
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Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith teaser poster.
Well, it's finally here. The third and final eagerly awaited teaser poster for the big Star Wars prequel trilogy. Gut reaction that it's cool, but I don't know how much it stands up to really close scrutiny.
After the first two films failed to capture me the way the originals did (mostly because of the horrid dialogue and delivery.... the first films had bad dialogue as well, but the actors seemed to know how to say it at least) I'm surprised that I'm still eager to see this one. Of course, the promise that just about everyone dies and that the film is dark and brooding can only be looked at as a good thing.
I'm also curious to see how the whole series will stand together once this thing comes out. I also still need to buy the original trilogy on DVD.
Ah, the lack of money... but I'm working on that, aren't I?
Friday, October 29, 2004
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3:10 p.m.
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Two to go.
I had the interview. I think it went pretty well, otherwise I don't think it would have lasted nearly an hour and a half. That's a long time to be on your game, let me tell you.
Now I'm just tired. Trying to relax and let the stress leave. Not for long, though, as I have two interviews next week. One at Chart, and the other at Canadian Health & Safety News.
At least things are looking up!
Thursday, October 28, 2004
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10:36 p.m.
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Me in Jasper many moons ago... looking for direction then and wondering if I've finally found it now...
This is it (well, nearly). Tomorrow is the day. Do or die.
The job interview.
Everyone assures me that I'll do great. Friends, peers, instructors, they all seem certain that this job is essentially a lock and if it isn't it's because of some weird twist of fate or other bizarre event that I'll have no control over.
I'm confident about it, too. That's the problem, I guess. I'm waiting for the twist ending packaged onto the end of shows like Lost, 24 or any other TV show or movie that I've seen lately. Maybe there isn't a twist. Maybe it's just time for me to finally get to a good place. Maybe that's also why I'm a little scared.
I've had jobs before, tasks, responsiblities and duties that I've always lived up to and loved every moment of, but this is the real start of a real career assuming that I get the job. That carries a certain amount of weight and expectation that I'm placing on myself. I've had plenty of interviews before and plenty of experience, but never one that counted so much. Never about something I really wanted. And certainly never about something that would actually pay me what I'm worth.
Catherine says I worry too much and that I need to calm down. I know she's right, and tomorrow I'll be as cool as cucumber, I swear. It's just thoughts like these that keep me up a few extra minutes at night. Aaron probably knows a thing or two about not being able to sleep.
Still, things are looking up overall. I should have some money coming in, and I just won an award for my work on Convergence that gave me an extra $200. I can't complain about that. It's the second journalism award I've won for my specific work, and the fifth overall for works I've headed up. It's a good track record and I'd like to keep running with it.
Tomorrow I conquer Total Gamer and Hub. I'll sleep easily knowing that this is, in essence, my job already. It's just a matter of a couple more steps.
Sunday, October 24, 2004
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1:55 p.m.
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Be all that you can be.
Today I was given the unusual charge by Catherine to find a suitable external DVD burner. Of course, this is only half the challenge. As with many things, finding and buying something that exactly fits the bill of what you want it to do, the kinds of software it offers, and of course ease of use.
In theory, all of the available products would do the same thing. To this end, I've enlisted both Paul and Josh for some tech-saavy advice (though neither are answering their ICQ messages at the moment) to find out what it is I'm really looking for.
In a way, this hunt couldn't have come at a better time. As I mentioned previously, I have an interview with a computer and tech based magazine this coming Friday. It helps to be able to talk about some investigative journalism on the subject in the days leading up to the interview, and I'm hoping that in our search along College I'll at least come across a copy of the magazine which I hope to be working for.
Two birds, one stone, one step closer to a job.
That's the theory.
So, I'm armed with the Internet, an abundance of free time and a girlfriend who's willing to pay for the mentioned hardware. It's like I've found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Now all I have to do is convince her about a giant TV and we're set.
My mission is clear, the goal is set. And once all of this is done, I can back up my precious files and give this computer the digital colon cleansing it so desperately requires. Then I need a nice new copy of XP to install and I'm laughing like a maniac.
Again, that's the theory.
Friday, October 22, 2004
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3:02 p.m.
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Are few and far between. But, as Jer and Paul can attest to on at least one insane occasion, I do seem to have large quantities of horseshoes up my ass.
What am I referring to?
Well, I went to that god-awful job doing eBay listings yet again today. I'll readily admit it's boring and terrible work, especially for $9 an hour sitting next to a dog that smells like evil itself (though he's not a bad little fella) but when you need money you shut up and do it or go broke and ask your parents for money.
I don't wanna.
So, after an extensive amount of work retooling my resume and preparing for another wave of job application bliss, Catherine and I came across a listing for an editorial assistant for Hub: Digital Living and Total Gamer magazine. Both are free publications, Hub being available across Toronto and Total Gamer being the 24-page publication that Blockbuster chains get each month.
I nearly crapped myself. Finally, a publication that I'd actually be worth a damn working for. How do you not get your hopes up?
Today when I got home, there was a message from the editor asking if we could set up an interview. I called him back in a fluster much like a teenage girl about to meet Leonardo DiCaprio or something, and did my best to collect myself.
I had energy, enthusiasm, and only one blunder. He asked if I'd read the magazine which I had, but I assumed they had to be bought. See, I hadn't thought terribly much about the market for these magazines and as soon as he explained they were free and where they were available from I smacked my forehead because I did, of course, know this but in my eagerness totally forgot.
Hopefully my talking about video game knowledge, renting games, and my enthusiasm for working there (I told him I was quite excited to see my listing, then I showed it to Catherine who didn't seem as impressed... he thought that was funny). I want to avoid sucking up, but I know part of what got Catherine her job was that she was genuinely interested in working there. I said something along the same lines: "It's rare that you find a job that not only matches your skills but fits into your interests as well."
I tried not to get into too much detail, and quickly ran over what my resume said to refresh his memory (at his request). Years at CXF, writing reviews (which he mentioned would be a large component), and where I recently had internships.
Like a kid after his first date, I'm going ever every detail and cringing at what a dork I must have looked like. I can't help it, though, this would be a fantastic job to start my career with. It's understandable that I'd be nervous and excited. I don't think I've blown it (hopefully far from it) but I need to make sure to bring my 'A' game to the table next week.
That means research, research, research.
I'm screwed, aren't I? Interview is next Friday... one week 'till Judgement Day.
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
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7:00 p.m.
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Is this all there is to life?
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