Another girls' night out, and more adventure than we've had in a while. We usually seem to attract some attention - we can't help that we're two very attractive women, after all - but last night was more than usual. It was rather entertaining. Seemed like everywhere we went someone would start talking to us, or sending us drinks, or wanting to play pool with us. Seriously, they were all over the place! We started at Aardvarks Blues Cafe - it was fairly uneventful there, had a couple of drinks, listened to the live music, then went to Old School Club for a bit. Had a couple of drinks there. That was where the guy sent us drinks. We were standing at a table, drinking our drinks, chatting, people watching, etc, and this guy came over with two drinks and said some guy at the bar had sent them. Interesting. Then I went to use the bathroom and came back and there were two guys chatting with Heather. lol. Nice enough guys, though the one that then started chatting with me was a bit dull - not really all that interesting. I was ready to leave shortly after that.
Our next stop was The Honest Lawyer, to play some pool. It's our favorite pool hangout. So we drank some beer, shot a game of pool, and then left. Chatted with the doorman a bit on our way out - we are known at some of these places now - and then went to Koko Pellies. It's an older crowd there mostly. I like hanging out there. While we were at the bar about to order drinks a couple of guys came and started talking to us. Younger guys. Our age. They were rather interesting to chat with though. No dull conversation there! Talked about music and stuff. Got me wishing again that I had some musician friends to play with, maybe be part of a band again. I miss that stuff! Anyway, that was interesting and entertaining. We closed that bar - they were sweeping up as we were walking out the door. lol. Been a long time since we stayed that late! Was nice to have some good conversation though. But wait, the night didn't end there!!!
So we left Koko Pellies, the guys we were chatting with went somewhere to eat, and we decided to check in with my bar owner buddy and see if he wanted to hang out for a bit. He's always told me if we ever wanted to hang out after hours to just give him a call. Didn't reach him on his cell, but as we were standing in front of his bar trying to call him, someone came to the door, asked who we were and let us in. So we hung out with Pat and a bunch of his guys for a bit. And again, had some stimulating conversation with one of his bartenders. A really nice guy, seemed really honest and down to earth. Older - but didn't look it. We were both shocked when we found out how old he was! lol. He had some good stuff to say though, good view on things and good advice. We got to talking about relationships and differences between men and women and communication and stuff. Very interesting convo! Very insightful and made me think about stuff and realize what I need to work on with how I communicate in my relationships. It's always nice to get good advice from guys about shit like that.
So that was our interesting night. A good girls' night out, I would say - though my body might have argued with that this morning. Oy! I need to remember to drink more water when I go out, so I don't end up feeling like that! It's not pretty.
And that's it for this chapter in The Adventures of Jess and Heather....
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
christmas meanderings
Christmas time is here again. It seems to come faster every year. It's the first Christmas I won't be home with my family - I will in fact be all alone Christmas morning! I am slightly depressed about that, but what can ya do? It's got me thinking about all the different traditions and how we usually spend Christmas day at home. It's got me appreciating the little things. One of my favorite Christmas traditions is the stockings. Not so much for anything that was put in them, but just for the fun of opening them up Christmas morning, sitting in the livingroom with the little ones, and the older ones, and eating candy before breakfast. lol. We'd sleep under the Christmas tree and Destiny and Whitney would be up early, so that what I'd wake up to - them opening their stockings, or watching veggies tales or early morning cartoons. Then we'd have a leisurely breakfast with the whole family - omllettes and vegetarian breakfast sausages and hashbrowns, or something else special and different. After breakfast, when the dishes were all done and the food put away, we'd open gifts. In my family we always draw names, since there's so many of us. So someone would start and give their gift, then the person they had would open the gift, then give the gift they got for the name they had. Christmas was never extravagant for us, but it was a special time to spend with the whole family. We'd sit around and play card games or chat or watch a movie all together. That's what Christmas is to me. Christmas Eve we'd always go out to my grandparents' for supper and visit with them for a while. And there would be lots of Christmas goodies. Fudge, cookies, fruit balls, maybe fruit cake. And we always have a big family dinner with my dad's side of the family too. But this year, I am going to miss all of that.
I won't be completely alone all Christmas. I'll be spending a bit of time with Jon and the kids this afternoon, then going to my place for the evening - might hang out with a couple of friends tonight, as I don't really want to sit at home by myself for Christmas eve. Then tomorrow I'll probably be having Christmas dinner with Jon. But it's the waking up on Christmas morning alone that I'm depressed about. It certainly won't feel like Christmas this year! But I guess it could be worse. I do have gifts to open, and I did have people to buy gifts for as well. It's just the little things I'm missing - but those are the ones that are felt the most...
I won't be completely alone all Christmas. I'll be spending a bit of time with Jon and the kids this afternoon, then going to my place for the evening - might hang out with a couple of friends tonight, as I don't really want to sit at home by myself for Christmas eve. Then tomorrow I'll probably be having Christmas dinner with Jon. But it's the waking up on Christmas morning alone that I'm depressed about. It certainly won't feel like Christmas this year! But I guess it could be worse. I do have gifts to open, and I did have people to buy gifts for as well. It's just the little things I'm missing - but those are the ones that are felt the most...
Friday, December 21, 2007
timeless
earth forges a desire
within her ancient waters
unseen
as the essence of dreams
is born in timeless treasure
within her ancient waters
unseen
as the essence of dreams
is born in timeless treasure
Monday, December 10, 2007
christmas time is here again...
Yes, I realize it's been a while. I am fully aware of the fact. But you're lucky I keep a blog at all, so I don't want to hear you complaining, ya hear?
Let's see, what has taken place since last I spoke with you? Not a whole lot, it seems. I am still working at the Caffe - and still enjoying it. Two or three shifts a week there is good for me, but not too much. The people I work with are pretty cool, and it often actually cheers me up to go into work! How bizarre, eh? Our Christmas party was last weekend. Jon went with me. It was an okay party. Was the Caffe and the Caffe owner's husband's business office as well - so there were two groups of people there, and most of them I didn't even know. The Caffe staff were put in the back room and it felt like we were at the kids' table. Not too cool. The food wasn't that great either. But it was all paid for. Open bar and everything. Wasn't too bad of a time. I actually ended up getting to know Jon better, and had a great time chatting with him. It was a sexy, romantic evening with him. My favorite kind. The next day was not so fun though. I was sick. And drinking the night before did not help the cold/flu that I had going on. I had to go in to work at 10 and I felt like shit all day. Woozy and nauseous. Not cool. I was sick for about a week there - part of the time it was like a cold, part of the time like some kind of flu. Very weird. And very not fun. Yes, yes, I know... I need to start taking vitamins, and eat more fresh fruit, and all that good stuff. I know! I've been telling myself that too.
I am getting excited about Christmas. Going to be doing some baking sometime this week. Actually, Heather is going to come over one day and we're going to bake up a bunch of goodies. I have a number of recipes I want to try - including of course my traditional maple fudge. It wouldn't be christmas without it, so don't worry, it's on the top of my baking list! Going to be a good time for sure! Jon has already put in his hint for shortbread cookies. He's cute. So those are on the list as well. It will certainly be a good time. Put on some christmas music, maybe have some wine, and of course sample what we make!
I need to do stuff like that more often. I really enjoy baking and doing crafty artsy stuff, but I never take the time for it. Lately I've been just craving it. Craving the opportunity to be creative and make something yummy or beautiful or unique. I should start sewing again. I love making quilts - and have all kinds of material saved just for that. I just need to start doing it again. The only problem is I don't really have a space to do it. I need a room somewhere that is just for things like that - for sewing, crafting, etc. With a dresser or shelves or something to organize all my crafty things, a place to keep a sewing machine, and plenty of space to work and create. Ahh, I'm dreaming now...
Well, t'was lovely chatting with you, but I must be on about my day now... Farewell, dear reader! Until next time...
Let's see, what has taken place since last I spoke with you? Not a whole lot, it seems. I am still working at the Caffe - and still enjoying it. Two or three shifts a week there is good for me, but not too much. The people I work with are pretty cool, and it often actually cheers me up to go into work! How bizarre, eh? Our Christmas party was last weekend. Jon went with me. It was an okay party. Was the Caffe and the Caffe owner's husband's business office as well - so there were two groups of people there, and most of them I didn't even know. The Caffe staff were put in the back room and it felt like we were at the kids' table. Not too cool. The food wasn't that great either. But it was all paid for. Open bar and everything. Wasn't too bad of a time. I actually ended up getting to know Jon better, and had a great time chatting with him. It was a sexy, romantic evening with him. My favorite kind. The next day was not so fun though. I was sick. And drinking the night before did not help the cold/flu that I had going on. I had to go in to work at 10 and I felt like shit all day. Woozy and nauseous. Not cool. I was sick for about a week there - part of the time it was like a cold, part of the time like some kind of flu. Very weird. And very not fun. Yes, yes, I know... I need to start taking vitamins, and eat more fresh fruit, and all that good stuff. I know! I've been telling myself that too.
I am getting excited about Christmas. Going to be doing some baking sometime this week. Actually, Heather is going to come over one day and we're going to bake up a bunch of goodies. I have a number of recipes I want to try - including of course my traditional maple fudge. It wouldn't be christmas without it, so don't worry, it's on the top of my baking list! Going to be a good time for sure! Jon has already put in his hint for shortbread cookies. He's cute. So those are on the list as well. It will certainly be a good time. Put on some christmas music, maybe have some wine, and of course sample what we make!
I need to do stuff like that more often. I really enjoy baking and doing crafty artsy stuff, but I never take the time for it. Lately I've been just craving it. Craving the opportunity to be creative and make something yummy or beautiful or unique. I should start sewing again. I love making quilts - and have all kinds of material saved just for that. I just need to start doing it again. The only problem is I don't really have a space to do it. I need a room somewhere that is just for things like that - for sewing, crafting, etc. With a dresser or shelves or something to organize all my crafty things, a place to keep a sewing machine, and plenty of space to work and create. Ahh, I'm dreaming now...
Well, t'was lovely chatting with you, but I must be on about my day now... Farewell, dear reader! Until next time...
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
trip down memory lane
Did I miss out by not being a "normal" teenager? I wondered this as I was riding the bus yesterday morning. It was just after 8, I was on my way to meet a lady and her two little girls that I'm going to be babysitting. These teenagers got on the bus - two girls - and they sat up in the back. They were so loud - talking and laughing - at 8 o'clock in the morning!!! It bothered me that they were so loud, but hearing what they were talking about got me thinking again about how I was never like that as a teenager. I think of this every time I see a typical teenage girl - because I was just never like that! I hear them talking about boys or clothes or other trivial stuff - and the older ones talk about parties and getting drunk and using their fake IDs. It makes me stop and go whoa! is this what teenagers are like? Not to say that I was never goofy or trivial - but I certainly missed a lot of that typical teenage stuff. I always preferred hanging out with the "older" crowd, and I think I was more mature than most kids my age. Which is probably why I'm now dating a much older man - and finding it to be just the relationship I was looking for. I guess being homeschooled and living on a farm had something to do with all that. I just didn't grow up the way most kids do now - or even back then for that matter. Just kind of interesting to ponder...
I have a lot of good memories from being a kid. I should start recording them, write a memoir or something. I had a random memory tonight and had to write my parents an email to share it with them. It was one weekend, around 15 - 20 years ago, when Denver, Dixie and I were really little - Hiram was either just a baby or not yet born - and my parents went off to Hope, BC for a marriage retreat weekend thing, leaving us with my grandparents for the weekend. The one thing that really sticks out in my mind about that weekend was the little treats they left for us to have each day that they were gone. I remember juice boxes - which we didn't get very often, so they were definitely a treat - and those invisible pictures that you color over with a pencil to make the picture appear. I think there were some water color pictures too - that you paint with water to make the picture appear. And each day, maybe even at each meal - I don't remember for sure - we would get another one of these treats. They weren't anything huge or spectacular, but they sure meant a lot to us kids! I still remember them almost 20 years later!
My mom used to make paper horses with us. We would make them out of cardboard boxes - you know, the thin ones like cereal boxes and stuff. She would draw them and then we'd use one as a pattern and trace others - then color them with pencil crayons. In particular, I remember a yellow appaloosa - yellow, with a white patch on the rump and yellow spots on the white. I remember spending afternoons, sitting on the livingroom floor making paper horses...
Then there were the forts - including hay forts in the hay bales. There was the old barn we would go play in - finding all kinds of old fun things, like the cow bell, and the old rifle. There were the baby goats and horses we saw being birthed. Or how about the Saturday afternoons spent playing with cousins and other friends from church - the Densmores and the Andrews. There were the swiss army knives we did chores to earn, and hanging our heads over the bathtub "Sabbath" morning so Papa could pore water over our hair to get it wet. ("Hang your head over and hear the wind blow...") Hated it at the time. There was the playing dress-up with Mom's old clothes - and others that came from the thrift store or somewhere. And I could go on. So many memories. I really had a great childhood, and couldn't ask for better.
And there's my trip down memory lane for tonight...
I have a lot of good memories from being a kid. I should start recording them, write a memoir or something. I had a random memory tonight and had to write my parents an email to share it with them. It was one weekend, around 15 - 20 years ago, when Denver, Dixie and I were really little - Hiram was either just a baby or not yet born - and my parents went off to Hope, BC for a marriage retreat weekend thing, leaving us with my grandparents for the weekend. The one thing that really sticks out in my mind about that weekend was the little treats they left for us to have each day that they were gone. I remember juice boxes - which we didn't get very often, so they were definitely a treat - and those invisible pictures that you color over with a pencil to make the picture appear. I think there were some water color pictures too - that you paint with water to make the picture appear. And each day, maybe even at each meal - I don't remember for sure - we would get another one of these treats. They weren't anything huge or spectacular, but they sure meant a lot to us kids! I still remember them almost 20 years later!
My mom used to make paper horses with us. We would make them out of cardboard boxes - you know, the thin ones like cereal boxes and stuff. She would draw them and then we'd use one as a pattern and trace others - then color them with pencil crayons. In particular, I remember a yellow appaloosa - yellow, with a white patch on the rump and yellow spots on the white. I remember spending afternoons, sitting on the livingroom floor making paper horses...
Then there were the forts - including hay forts in the hay bales. There was the old barn we would go play in - finding all kinds of old fun things, like the cow bell, and the old rifle. There were the baby goats and horses we saw being birthed. Or how about the Saturday afternoons spent playing with cousins and other friends from church - the Densmores and the Andrews. There were the swiss army knives we did chores to earn, and hanging our heads over the bathtub "Sabbath" morning so Papa could pore water over our hair to get it wet. ("Hang your head over and hear the wind blow...") Hated it at the time. There was the playing dress-up with Mom's old clothes - and others that came from the thrift store or somewhere. And I could go on. So many memories. I really had a great childhood, and couldn't ask for better.
And there's my trip down memory lane for tonight...
survey time...!!!!
Been a while since I did a survey, so figured it was high time.
You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.
No.
Explaining.
Not as easy as you might think.
1. Where is your cell phone?
Close
2. Relationship?
Amazing
3. Your hair?
Short
4. Work?
Improving
5. Your sister/brother?
Miss...
6. Your favorite thing?
Touch
7. Your dream last night?
Weird
8. Your favorite drink?
Wine
9. Your dream car?
Stingray
10. The room you're in?
Kitchen
11. Best time of year?
Summer
12. Your fears?
Pain!
13. What do you want to be in 10 years?
Traveler
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend?
Jon
15. What you're not good at?
Gymnastics
16. Muffin?
Carrot
17. One of your wish list items?
MP3
18. Where you grew up?
BC
19. The last thing you did?
Workout
20. What are you wearing?
Black
21. What aren't you wearing?
Dress
22. Your pet(s)
Bonita
23. Your computer?
iBook
24. Your life?
Progressing
26. Missing?
Family
27. What are you thinking about right now?
Survey
28. Your car?
Gone
29. Your kitchen?
None
30. Your summer?
Short
31. Your favorite color?
Blue
32. When is the last time you laughed?
Yesterday
33. Last time you cried?
While
34. School?
Hmmmm
35. Love?
Challenging
You.
Can.
Only.
Type.
One.
Word.
No.
Explaining.
Not as easy as you might think.
1. Where is your cell phone?
Close
2. Relationship?
Amazing
3. Your hair?
Short
4. Work?
Improving
5. Your sister/brother?
Miss...
6. Your favorite thing?
Touch
7. Your dream last night?
Weird
8. Your favorite drink?
Wine
9. Your dream car?
Stingray
10. The room you're in?
Kitchen
11. Best time of year?
Summer
12. Your fears?
Pain!
13. What do you want to be in 10 years?
Traveler
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend?
Jon
15. What you're not good at?
Gymnastics
16. Muffin?
Carrot
17. One of your wish list items?
MP3
18. Where you grew up?
BC
19. The last thing you did?
Workout
20. What are you wearing?
Black
21. What aren't you wearing?
Dress
22. Your pet(s)
Bonita
23. Your computer?
iBook
24. Your life?
Progressing
26. Missing?
Family
27. What are you thinking about right now?
Survey
28. Your car?
Gone
29. Your kitchen?
None
30. Your summer?
Short
31. Your favorite color?
Blue
32. When is the last time you laughed?
Yesterday
33. Last time you cried?
While
34. School?
Hmmmm
35. Love?
Challenging
Sunday, November 11, 2007
agliophobia - the fear of pain
I hate the bumps in life - although I know they teach us things and cause us to grow and all that good shit. But they hurt a lot of times. They leave me bruised and a bit battered and wondering where that hard knock came from? I hit a bit of a bump tonight, a relationship bump, though I don't know how big of a bump it really is yet. But I already have a bit of a bruise, and my heart is feeling a little bit battered. My mind is arguing, telling me that it's all okay, that I'm imagining things to be bigger and worse than they are, that I need to just relax and give some room to breath. But my heart is hurting and saying, "This isn't right! I've been struck!"
I hate it when things seem to be going so well, I'm excited about something, I think I've finally found what I was looking for, and BOOM! Slammed with something unexpected and left aching and wondering what happened, how did I not see that coming? Again, my mind tells me that it's not that big of a deal, that I need to not dramatize it and make it sound so bad. I don't have the full story. I only know my side. I shouldn't jump to conclusions or let my imagination run away and make it seem bigger than it really is. But it hurts! I feel ignored and brushed off. I feel like I did or said something, but don't have any idea what!! Yesterday things were good, and today they are weird and abnormal. What happened between then and now that I don't know about?
So many questions. I hate that. I hate not knowing. It drives me crazy. I guess I'm a bit of a control freak. I can't stand not knowing and not being in control of a situation. I feel helpless and vulnerable. My heart is wide open and in a position to get hurt even more. But how can you live fully without having your heart wide open? I don't want to close it, hold everyone at arms length, keep the door closed on my emotions just in case I might get hurt. That's no way to live. But at the same time I feel so very vulnerable. When you open up to someone and start to care about them, it leaves you wide open to also be hurt by them. Yet life without caring is no life at all. I have to take that risk - but the fear of pain is oh so strong.
I've always been afraid of pain. Physical and emotional. I don't handle it well, and can't tolerate much. Pain has me running for something to numb me - an Advil, or a movie or something else to try and distract me. Tonight it was adult entertainment. But it only numbed it for a short while. Nothing, no matter how good it is in and of itself, is good to numb pain. The point of pain is to point out something wrong that needs to be dealt with. In the case of physical pain, it indicates something wrong with the body - something injured, or something not quite right health-wise. Something that needs to be healed. So it is with emotional pain. It also indicates something that needs to be healed. To ignore it and try to numb it will not make it go away. It needs to be faced. It's easy to see that and to say it, but how do I live it out? How do I face the pain, when it's pain I fear so much? How do I confront it head-on and find out how to heal it when it hurts so much I can't think straight?
There's another ditch that you don't want to fall into either. You don't want to wallow in the pain and give in to self pity. That's probably just another way of trying to numb it, really. Ignoring it won't help, but focusing on it won't help either. You have to acknowledge it, yes, and even grieve, yes. But you also have to let it heal. No self pity, no picking at the "scabs" and making it bleed more. Leave it alone, wash it, clean it, bandage it if need be, and let it heal naturally.
I hate it when things seem to be going so well, I'm excited about something, I think I've finally found what I was looking for, and BOOM! Slammed with something unexpected and left aching and wondering what happened, how did I not see that coming? Again, my mind tells me that it's not that big of a deal, that I need to not dramatize it and make it sound so bad. I don't have the full story. I only know my side. I shouldn't jump to conclusions or let my imagination run away and make it seem bigger than it really is. But it hurts! I feel ignored and brushed off. I feel like I did or said something, but don't have any idea what!! Yesterday things were good, and today they are weird and abnormal. What happened between then and now that I don't know about?
So many questions. I hate that. I hate not knowing. It drives me crazy. I guess I'm a bit of a control freak. I can't stand not knowing and not being in control of a situation. I feel helpless and vulnerable. My heart is wide open and in a position to get hurt even more. But how can you live fully without having your heart wide open? I don't want to close it, hold everyone at arms length, keep the door closed on my emotions just in case I might get hurt. That's no way to live. But at the same time I feel so very vulnerable. When you open up to someone and start to care about them, it leaves you wide open to also be hurt by them. Yet life without caring is no life at all. I have to take that risk - but the fear of pain is oh so strong.
I've always been afraid of pain. Physical and emotional. I don't handle it well, and can't tolerate much. Pain has me running for something to numb me - an Advil, or a movie or something else to try and distract me. Tonight it was adult entertainment. But it only numbed it for a short while. Nothing, no matter how good it is in and of itself, is good to numb pain. The point of pain is to point out something wrong that needs to be dealt with. In the case of physical pain, it indicates something wrong with the body - something injured, or something not quite right health-wise. Something that needs to be healed. So it is with emotional pain. It also indicates something that needs to be healed. To ignore it and try to numb it will not make it go away. It needs to be faced. It's easy to see that and to say it, but how do I live it out? How do I face the pain, when it's pain I fear so much? How do I confront it head-on and find out how to heal it when it hurts so much I can't think straight?
There's another ditch that you don't want to fall into either. You don't want to wallow in the pain and give in to self pity. That's probably just another way of trying to numb it, really. Ignoring it won't help, but focusing on it won't help either. You have to acknowledge it, yes, and even grieve, yes. But you also have to let it heal. No self pity, no picking at the "scabs" and making it bleed more. Leave it alone, wash it, clean it, bandage it if need be, and let it heal naturally.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
summer has come and passed
I can't believe it's November already. Why does summer always go by so fast? And why do I always feel like I didn't take advantage of it and enjoy it enough while it was here? Every year I say that I'm going to get out more and do more "summery" things, and every fall I feel sad because I didn't. How do I change that? Sure, next summer will come, and I'll probably say the same thing again, but I don't want to go through my entire life always feeling like I missed out on summer. lol.
My new job is.... interesting. I've had two shifts at the Caffe Mondo, and it's not perfect, but I am enjoying most of the job. They don't give breaks though. I'm not too impressed with that. My next shift I am going to straight out ask for one and say that I need my break. I worked 7 1/2 hours on Tuesday with no breaks - on my feet the whole time. Not good. Other than that, though, the job itself is alright. The other people who work there seem to be pretty cool - although the woman who was training me on Tuesday would drive me crazy if I had to work with her a lot. She's one of those who repeats things and explains everything, even the obvious, to the point that it's just too much talking. People like that drive me crazy... Thankfully, I probably won't be working with her too much. She's a nice enough woman, just a bit tedious to train with.
I have a new website client as well. A guy from Texas who found Spideys Web Design on Facebook. That was pretty cool. I did a facebook for my business because the guy who did the workshop I went to a couple months ago suggested that as one of the marketing tips. So it was pretty exciting to see that I actually got some business from it! Nice to have another paying client. Now if I could just figure out how to market properly and get steady new clients, so that I can do this full time. I really only need 4 new clients a month to be able to pay my bills. Then if I had steady clients who had regular updates for me to do that would make it even better! When I stop and look at it that way, it sounds so much easier. Four new clients a month - that shouldn't be that hard, if I can market well. It's the marketing that overwhelms me. lol.
I've learned a lot during this job hunting season. I feel much more confident in interviews, and have learned to write a better cover letter. Jon has been a big help, with critiquing my cover letter and resume. I had a group interview at The Body Shop on the weekend that was really challenging and good for me, as they had us demonstrate sales skills by role playing a couple of different situations. In one we had to demo a product with a partner from the group, in the other we were giving a scenario to role play - with one person being the customer and one being the sales agent. Was very challenging for me, but I actually did pretty good, and felt good about having to put myself out there and do something that stretched my comfort zone. And they liked me too. They called me for a second interview. I wasn't able to go, as I had another interview already scheduled for the time they wanted me to come in, but it's all good anyway. The Body Shop job doesn't pay very well - though the discount would be nice. Oh well...
My new job is.... interesting. I've had two shifts at the Caffe Mondo, and it's not perfect, but I am enjoying most of the job. They don't give breaks though. I'm not too impressed with that. My next shift I am going to straight out ask for one and say that I need my break. I worked 7 1/2 hours on Tuesday with no breaks - on my feet the whole time. Not good. Other than that, though, the job itself is alright. The other people who work there seem to be pretty cool - although the woman who was training me on Tuesday would drive me crazy if I had to work with her a lot. She's one of those who repeats things and explains everything, even the obvious, to the point that it's just too much talking. People like that drive me crazy... Thankfully, I probably won't be working with her too much. She's a nice enough woman, just a bit tedious to train with.
I have a new website client as well. A guy from Texas who found Spideys Web Design on Facebook. That was pretty cool. I did a facebook for my business because the guy who did the workshop I went to a couple months ago suggested that as one of the marketing tips. So it was pretty exciting to see that I actually got some business from it! Nice to have another paying client. Now if I could just figure out how to market properly and get steady new clients, so that I can do this full time. I really only need 4 new clients a month to be able to pay my bills. Then if I had steady clients who had regular updates for me to do that would make it even better! When I stop and look at it that way, it sounds so much easier. Four new clients a month - that shouldn't be that hard, if I can market well. It's the marketing that overwhelms me. lol.
I've learned a lot during this job hunting season. I feel much more confident in interviews, and have learned to write a better cover letter. Jon has been a big help, with critiquing my cover letter and resume. I had a group interview at The Body Shop on the weekend that was really challenging and good for me, as they had us demonstrate sales skills by role playing a couple of different situations. In one we had to demo a product with a partner from the group, in the other we were giving a scenario to role play - with one person being the customer and one being the sales agent. Was very challenging for me, but I actually did pretty good, and felt good about having to put myself out there and do something that stretched my comfort zone. And they liked me too. They called me for a second interview. I wasn't able to go, as I had another interview already scheduled for the time they wanted me to come in, but it's all good anyway. The Body Shop job doesn't pay very well - though the discount would be nice. Oh well...
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
the high life
Today is the best day I've had in a while. It started out with an interview at Cafe Mondo, a small cafe at the Windsor Crossing Outlet Mall. I've been in there twice already this week. Dropped a resume off on Monday, then stopped in for a drink before another interview yesterday and they remembered me and scheduled an interview. They obviously liked me and so I was fully expecting to go in to the interview and leave with a job. Sure enough, they want to hire me. How's that for confidence? It was really the best interview I've ever had too. The owner is the one who interviewed me, and she is so passionate about the business and what they do, that it was inspiring talking to her, and made me really excited about working there. It's a neat little cafe. Similar to the Coffee Exchange, but more classy and it seems like they care more about what they do. Better hours too. The latest they're open is 9pm - so no late shifts. That will be nice. The position is part time, which is cool with me. I'd rather have two part time jobs, have some variety and flexibility. Would be awesome to work there and then in a clothing store or something as well. Get some good discounts and interesting work experience.
I am amazed at how well the day turned out. It started out really positive, I woke up feeling good, went into the interview feeling confident and cheerful - which went a long way in getting the job, I'm sure. After that I felt incredibly inspired and oh so positive. I didn't even mind riding the bus around! I went over to Devonshire Mall after that to drop off some more resumes. Had a transfer, which was right by a park, so took a few minutes to walk through and spend some time relaxing and enjoying the day. It was marvelous! There were flowers, and some of the plots has recently been dug up and the smell of fresh dirt was wonderful. Let me tell you, I'm on a high that I haven't felt for a while. I feel like Jess is really back, after a bit of a slump. Feels great!
Tonight I'm playing CashFlow with Jon and some people he knows. I'm actually getting out and doing something. That feels good too. Never played CashFlow, but it sounds like fun. And it's pretty cool that Jon wants me to hang out with him and his business friends. Sahweet!
I am amazed at how well the day turned out. It started out really positive, I woke up feeling good, went into the interview feeling confident and cheerful - which went a long way in getting the job, I'm sure. After that I felt incredibly inspired and oh so positive. I didn't even mind riding the bus around! I went over to Devonshire Mall after that to drop off some more resumes. Had a transfer, which was right by a park, so took a few minutes to walk through and spend some time relaxing and enjoying the day. It was marvelous! There were flowers, and some of the plots has recently been dug up and the smell of fresh dirt was wonderful. Let me tell you, I'm on a high that I haven't felt for a while. I feel like Jess is really back, after a bit of a slump. Feels great!
Tonight I'm playing CashFlow with Jon and some people he knows. I'm actually getting out and doing something. That feels good too. Never played CashFlow, but it sounds like fun. And it's pretty cool that Jon wants me to hang out with him and his business friends. Sahweet!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
worm holes, leviathans and scarrons
Farscape has become one of my favorite tv shows. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it - if you enjoy an imaginative plot set on and around distant planets, with various alien life forms and living ships. The characters are wonderful and feel like friends after watching it fo so long. The story line goes like this. John Crighton takes a space ship for a test flight, gets sucked into a worm hole and ends up in a distant part of the universe, on a living ship - a leviathan - with several different species, including a luxon, a delvian, hynerian and sebatian. They become his friends and the whole show is about their travels, the different planets they see, the friends and enemies they make. It's incredibly creative. The different plots, cultures, characters, worlds are incredible. Makes me wish I could come up with something like that. I would love to have that imagination and creativity to be able to write that kind of story.
I would love to be a writer - like a real writer. One of my other tv show "friends" is Carrie Bradshaw, who writes a column called "Sex and the City". Having a job like that would be pretty sweet. I enjoy writing, and to actually have it in a column or something, where people actually read it, and to really get paid for it - that would rock. Totally and completely. But how does one get there? How do I get from writing personal blogs that friends and family read, to writing articles or columns that are read by readers everywhere? I suppose a blog like this is a start - but how do I get from here to there?? Can I be a "Carrie Bradshaw" - well, preferrably my own person, my own character and my own "column", but you know what I mean.
In other news, I have a job interview this afternoon at Jacob Connexion in the Outlet Mall here. And another one at The Children's Place on Friday. I applied for about 15 jobs yesterday, and had two call backs from them by the end of the day. Kinda cool. Hopefully something will come from it soon. I do need an income pretty quickly here...
I would love to be a writer - like a real writer. One of my other tv show "friends" is Carrie Bradshaw, who writes a column called "Sex and the City". Having a job like that would be pretty sweet. I enjoy writing, and to actually have it in a column or something, where people actually read it, and to really get paid for it - that would rock. Totally and completely. But how does one get there? How do I get from writing personal blogs that friends and family read, to writing articles or columns that are read by readers everywhere? I suppose a blog like this is a start - but how do I get from here to there?? Can I be a "Carrie Bradshaw" - well, preferrably my own person, my own character and my own "column", but you know what I mean.
In other news, I have a job interview this afternoon at Jacob Connexion in the Outlet Mall here. And another one at The Children's Place on Friday. I applied for about 15 jobs yesterday, and had two call backs from them by the end of the day. Kinda cool. Hopefully something will come from it soon. I do need an income pretty quickly here...
Friday, October 19, 2007
it was the best of times, it was the worst of times
The day couldn't have started any worse. I rolled over in bed during an intense dream and promptly ended up on the floor. I started the coffee brewing and jumped in the shower, thinking a nice hot steam would wake me up and help start the day well. Wrong again. The water was nice and hot, but I slipped and fell on my ass, bruising my leg and shoulder painfully. Then I dropped the shampoo on the floor, which split and splattered shampoo all over the bathroom. After making it out of the bathroom I discovered that the coffee pot had randomly broken, spilling hot coffee all over the counter, down across the floor, soaking into the rug and ruining my papers on the counter top. So much for a hot cup of coffee. I decided to try for breakfast instead - but the milk had gone bad, I was out of bread for toast, and the eggs burnt when I tried to make an omelette.
And it only got better from there. I went across town for an appointment and missed the bus, ended up running five blocks in the rain, and arrived soaked to the skin. Is it any surprise I didn't get the job? Arrived back home to find a "surprise" the dog had left in the corner and my answering machine full of nasty messages - employers, neighbors, clients, family. Everyone seemed to have something to bitch at me about today. And it wasn't even noon yet!
Okay, so that wasn't really my day. It was a day in the life of the imaginary person who lives in my mind... Okay, that's not quite right either. But I did have a bit of a discouraging day. Compared the one described above though it was pretty damn good. Definitely felt under the weather though - or maybe I was feeling the weather. It was an overcast, almost stormy day. I woke up feeling like I had no reason to get out of bed - not a good start. I didn't do much of anything all day. Dropped off one resume, but wasn't able to do up a cover letter for it. I am experiencing severe boredom. Not good. I need something to keep me occupied. A job, a hobby. Both would be good. I need to take up dancing or climbing or something. And I do need to get another job soon too. I spent the whole week going over to the mall and applying for jobs. Had a couple of interviews. One went really well - I thought - and I wouldn't be surprised if I get another call for that. We'll see. Monday I have some more to go apply for at the mall again. I would like to get a job in retail, customer service. Would be good for me, and I do enjoy interacting with people. Someplace with cool clothes or something would be fun - then I could get a discount. Or a bookstore. I would love to work at Chapters. How much would that rock?
I'm starting to feel a little bit stuck in Windsor. Not cool. I like this city less every day - but I have ties here now. And I can't afford to leave. I'm really stuck! Even if I got a job in another city, I literally don't have the cash to move. I wouldn't mind to go to London or something, even Toronto, just to get out of this hole, get a decent job, all that good jazz - but I'm stuck. Today I've been feeling very trapped, like I have no choices, cannot do anything to get out of where I'm at, etc. Not a nice feeling. I'm sure things will get better - but it's frustrating to be in this situation, to be discouraged and not able to snap out of it, to be forced to work one dead-end job after another, and none of it anything that I really enjoy doing. Yuck.
And that's my bitching for the day. Now I'm going to head home and pop in a movie and relax, go to bed fairly early, and try to find some way to entertain myself tomorrow...
And it only got better from there. I went across town for an appointment and missed the bus, ended up running five blocks in the rain, and arrived soaked to the skin. Is it any surprise I didn't get the job? Arrived back home to find a "surprise" the dog had left in the corner and my answering machine full of nasty messages - employers, neighbors, clients, family. Everyone seemed to have something to bitch at me about today. And it wasn't even noon yet!
Okay, so that wasn't really my day. It was a day in the life of the imaginary person who lives in my mind... Okay, that's not quite right either. But I did have a bit of a discouraging day. Compared the one described above though it was pretty damn good. Definitely felt under the weather though - or maybe I was feeling the weather. It was an overcast, almost stormy day. I woke up feeling like I had no reason to get out of bed - not a good start. I didn't do much of anything all day. Dropped off one resume, but wasn't able to do up a cover letter for it. I am experiencing severe boredom. Not good. I need something to keep me occupied. A job, a hobby. Both would be good. I need to take up dancing or climbing or something. And I do need to get another job soon too. I spent the whole week going over to the mall and applying for jobs. Had a couple of interviews. One went really well - I thought - and I wouldn't be surprised if I get another call for that. We'll see. Monday I have some more to go apply for at the mall again. I would like to get a job in retail, customer service. Would be good for me, and I do enjoy interacting with people. Someplace with cool clothes or something would be fun - then I could get a discount. Or a bookstore. I would love to work at Chapters. How much would that rock?
I'm starting to feel a little bit stuck in Windsor. Not cool. I like this city less every day - but I have ties here now. And I can't afford to leave. I'm really stuck! Even if I got a job in another city, I literally don't have the cash to move. I wouldn't mind to go to London or something, even Toronto, just to get out of this hole, get a decent job, all that good jazz - but I'm stuck. Today I've been feeling very trapped, like I have no choices, cannot do anything to get out of where I'm at, etc. Not a nice feeling. I'm sure things will get better - but it's frustrating to be in this situation, to be discouraged and not able to snap out of it, to be forced to work one dead-end job after another, and none of it anything that I really enjoy doing. Yuck.
And that's my bitching for the day. Now I'm going to head home and pop in a movie and relax, go to bed fairly early, and try to find some way to entertain myself tomorrow...
Thursday, October 18, 2007
a continuation
Welcome to my new blog, Teh Life and Times of... I moved here from www.blog.myspace.com/koolchiki and you can go there to view my previous blog posts. This blog is a bit of an expose on my life and what I think about things. Feel free to leave comments and start discussions.
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