I am not good at making up names for posts

Just some quick updates:

1. I have broken out with 4 pimples in a lovely crimson shade. Booooo!!!

2. I have a couple interviews this week. One which I am hopeful for, but am trying to not get toooooo excited about. (I actually think I have a good shot at both BUT one is out of town, not so good)

3. I am going on a road trip this weekend with my lovely boy. There will be two full days of driving by the end of it so that should be interesting! We've never fought so hopefully we don't start (not that we actively avoid fights, we usually agree on things OR if we don't have the same opinion/view point we listen to each other instead of turning it into a fight. I've only really felt mildly annoyed a couple times but for things that haven't happened again so I'm happy about that!)

4. I hope he likes my friend that we're visiting. We're visiting with her, her husband, and their baby. It should be fun. I can't imagine why it wouldn't be. He agreed to go and without me having to convince him or make too many pouty faces (haha). But I still can't help but feel a wee bit nervous. I think that's normal though.

BUSY!

I feel so out of touch with the blog world right now. I am severely behind in my readings and since I added a whole slew of blogs over the last 4 weeks I am more behind than ever before! I hope to rectify that over the next couple of days.

You see, the problem is that I have a life I guess. But not even that really. I generally read blogs before I go to sleep. This usually means about an hour of reading. Which would probably be enough to keep up to date. But then 2-3 nights a week I spend out in the country where my boyfriend lives. And he has dial up. So there is no going on the internet before bed. Which is fine, because I have HIM before bed. But it does mean falling behind. And I'm a bit sad about that. I don't even work right now so when I start working, I guess I'll fall behind even more? That's hard to say for sure simply because I pretty much am working full time right now. Full time looking for a job!

Hopefully my next post is more entertaining.

Job Search Update!

Last week was definitely a rough week for me professionally. I felt pretty defeated and that's not a great feeling. This week, already, things seem to be going better!!

Last week I found out I didn't get a job that I really truly wanted. I felt pretty down about it but while I was down about it I did some things that I think were pretty important.

1. I signed up for a job search workshop available through Employment M@nitoba. It started today. Not sure how much I'll learn but if I even learn 1 thing that I can do better in my search then I think this will be helpful. I don't have a job so it's not like spending a few days there can hurt. Gets me out and about a bit more so there's a bonus too!

2. I sent out some of what I call "cold emails" kind of like cold calls, but in email form. I sent them to places I'd be interested in working for. I sent out only a few of these and guess what, 2 have already contacted me to meet with me. They don't have jobs available right now but it's still good to meet with them because they could in the future or they may know people that are looking and pass on my name. YAY! They say it's not what you know, it's who you know and that is 100% true. Even more so in my industry.

3. I sent an email to an organization I like about doing some volunteer work for them. It would be good for them and good for me. And they wrote back very interested in having me volunteer with them (that wasn't really a surprise I suppose) but also asking if I'd like to apply for a position that they have open right now!!! I have been on all the job boards and have not seen this job posted anywhere but maybe they only posted it today. Who knows! But it's nice that they are asking me if I'd be interested in applying! Doesn't guarantee me an interview but still! It makes me feel good about myself that they even asked me!!!

4. I met some cool people today at day 1 of workshops. They are all so nice and friendly. None of them are on a similar career path to me but honestly, it's like 15 or 20 people in a room and there are about 15 to 20 career paths going on. Very diverse group of people. It'll be interested to see what I can learn from them. And to see what will be refreshed in my memory!

5. I'm going to a To@stmasters group tonight. I'm just going to check them out. See if they are the right group for me (ie: to see if I'm comfortable) and I'll go from there. I'd like to work on my public speaking skills and from what I hear, this is THE way to do it. So here's hoping.

6. I think I had other things that are exciting but I can't think of them right now. Oh well!!

Winter is on it's way out here in the Peg and that's a good good thing. I feel like with Spring will come some great opportunities and I'm feeling really good about it all. (Hopefully I'm not sitting here typing the same thing about summer! haha oi!)

"He's not the type"

Ahh! I hate hearing that. I hate hearing that a man has cheated on his wife (or partner) and then to follow it up, I hate hearing that it was not expected. That no one would have ever seen it coming. I just, it's not that I don't BELIEVE the people saying it. I'm sure they 100% believe what they are saying. That's not why I hate it. I hate it because if they are right, if you NEVER would have predicted he would do something like that then ack! That terrifies me for my future.

I do not sit around worried that someone will cheat on me. I really don't. But when I hear that it's happened to someone it just rips me up inside. I feel awful for them, for everyone affected. I ponder how I'd feel and I just. ugh. Knowing that I would never marry "the type" who would cheat. I know I'd be marrying the "he's not the type" guy so of course, there must always be a chance.

I know what my thoughts are on men who cheat. I have a pretty good idea of how I'd feel if I was cheated on (ripped into pieces). I am pretty sure that I wouldn't tolerate it though even though it hurts to walk away. But, who knows really? You can't say for sure until you're in that position. But removing from the picture the whole What I'd do part (rip his testicles off maybe?), leave or stay, and taking out what I think about cheaters and why they cheat and all that. Stripping it down to just how I'd feel. I have a pretty good idea as to how torn up I'd feel. How distraught. How hurt and angry and broken I'd feel. And so it scares me to think that someone I love could potentially cheat on me and then we'd all be looking back on it going "He's just not the type".

It's funny that when I'm frustrated with my job search, that I end up missing Vancouver. Because in Vancouver I had a job. And money. And now I don't really have either.

However, I try to stay as positive as possible. Something will come at some point for me. And until then I'll keep plugging away and sending off my resume and seeing what happens. I'm going to meet with some employment centre that is supposed to help me in my job search. We'll see how much they can do for me. I've already been told numerous times that my resume is AMAZING and that I interview very very well so where the heck am I supposed to improve things? Why am I always number 2 and not number 1. I wish I was number 10 just so that there would be obvious things for me to work on. A big part of my problem is that I don't look my age. I'm about to turn 26 and I could pass for a high school student. And that's with dolling myself up and dressing rather professionally. So what exactly am I supposed to do. Sigh.

Hopefully this place will have answers for me :)

I love Amazon.ca

Can I just say how much I love Amazon.ca?

Before I buy music, DVDs, or books I always, always, always check there because so often it is MUCH cheaper than going to the store myself. Yes yes, shopping local is probably better and all that but I think you need to spread things around too. Every big company started as a local company and it's important to remember that. Do I support local book stores and music stores? Yup!! But I'm also a thrifty shopper (hello, I live in Winnnipeg, we're notorious for that) so I want to know what the prices are at a few places before I go spend my hard earned money.

Just saying

About Me

I suppose I should maybe create a sort of "About Me" page that I can eventually link to in order to give people a quick snap shot of me! I sort of plan to incorporate posts about the past into this here blog but that could take me forever so why not just write up a sort of coles notes version? So, here it is:

Here's a link to my first entry of this year which might be helpful: From Winnipeg to Vancouver and Back Again

As it stands I am currently 25 years old, living in Winnipeg, and unemployed. I graduated with a 4 year Bachelors degree 3 years ago. I've been working since I was 15 pretty much non-stop except for the last 5 months. I usually have 1.5 jobs going on so this is quite a change for me. I'm looking for the Right job not A job. There is a difference. I've been working in my "field" for about 4 years which means sometimes I'm not qualified enough while othertimes I am overqualified. I love that.....

I am considered "Single" since I'm not married but I have been seeing an amazing man for 5 months now. Meeting him was rather unexpected since I had only been back in the city a few days. He is great. More about him to come I suppose.

I love music. I have played organ/piano for about 17 years. I even taught piano for a few years. Music has the power to make me cry or make me excited. A song that on one day made me excited can on the very next, make me cry. A good song in a movie trailer will make me want to see the film. Boy am I sad when the movie doesn't live up to the soundtrack. Oh well.

I love dogs. My dog especially. But all the other dogs in my life as well. There are 9 other dogs I see regularly (as in every week) and another handful I see on a semi-regular basis. I love it. I used to be a cat person but I am definitely a dog person now. I can't imagine not having dogs around. My dog is not perfect, but she is darn close. I'm working on having a better behaved dog in the car.....we'll see how that goes.

I have a great group of friends that I adore. They've been in my life a very long time. And they are only still around because they are in fact good at being friends. Those who weren't, those who were toxic, have been ousted. There is no room in my life for people who are toxic. I could go on at lengths about this but I won't, I'll wrap it up there.

I love comedies. Romantic comedies especially. War type movies are not my cup of tea however, I will watch them but only for someone I love. haha.

I love reading but mostly read the newspaper and blogs. I find great value in both. I haven't been a huge book reader in a long time because I think university sort of burnt me out on that front. But when I read a book, I devour it.

More to come.....

Playing the waiting game kind of....sucks. To be blunt. I'm currently without employ. It's alright I guess, since I'm on the lovely EI and living with my parents who while they kind of drive me crazy at least living with them doesn't put me in the poor house. However, I have never ever been without work for so long in my life. It has been 5 months. 5 months. I'm hoping something comes up soon, I really am. But I do not want to compromise on this job search. I want a job that has meaning, value, and that I can love. And that pays okay. Doesn't have to pay tons but I'm 3 years out of university with my lovely bachelors degree and 4 years of work experience in my field. I'm not going to settle for something that doesn't adequately utilize my talents and pays what a newbie fresh out of uni gets...unless the job is FANTASTIC and shows tons of potential.

I guess that means I will compromise. Just not on what the actual work is I suppose.

I should point out that the first three months of my job search did not result in much of anything because hello, end of the year is an AWFUL time to be looking for a job. No one is hiring, not for professional talent at least. In a way, it's like I've only been looking for two months (even though trust me, I was still scouring the job postings DAILY back in Oct, Nov, Dec. It was just kind of pointless because there wasn't much out there).

Things are looking up. I've been learning valuable lessons with regards to networking. Most recently I learned that when you move back to a city, it's important that people see you in person to understand that you are back. A few emails back and forth apparently isn't enough because it's easy to forget about you since hey, you've been gone a couple years. Now that I know that, I am trying to make sure I'm physically out there more. As well, I plan on emailing certain contacts on a regular basis to make sure I stay top of mind. I just have to figure out what that interval is. I'm going to work with a job search company, not one of those job placement agencies but an organization that reviews your resume, helps with interview techniques etc. I'm finding that when I go on interviews I am making a good impression, they like me, but I'm always top 2 or 3 so I'm hoping that they can help me be #1. We'll see how that goes.

Wish me luck!

Elle

I LOVE THIS!! He performed this during the Opening Ceremony for the Vancouver Olympics.

"We Are More" by Shane Koyczan

When defining Canada
you might list some statistics
you might mention our tallest building
or biggest lake
you might shake a tree in the fall
and call a red leaf Canada
you might rattle off some celebrities
might mention Buffy Sainte-Marie
might even mention the fact that we’ve got a few
Barenaked Ladies
or that we made these crazy things
like zippers
electric cars
and washing machines
when defining Canada
it seems the world's anthem has been
“ been there done that”
and maybe that’s where we used to be at
it’s true
we’ve done and we’ve been
we’ve seen
all the great themes get swallowed up by the machine
and turned into theme parks
but when defining Canada
don’t forget to mention that we have set sparks
we are not just fishing stories
about the one that got away
we do more than sit around and say “eh?”
and yes

we are the home of the Rocket and the Great One
who inspired little number nines
and little number ninety-nines
but we’re more than just hockey and fishing lines
off of the rocky coast of the Maritimes
and some say what defines us
is something as simple as please and thank you
and as for you’re welcome
well we say that too
but we are more
than genteel or civilized
we are an idea in the process
of being realized
we are young
we are cultures strung together
then woven into a tapestry
and the design
is what makes us more
than the sum total of our history
we are an experiment going right for a change
with influences that range from a to zed
and yes we say zed instead of zee
we are the colours of Chinatown and the coffee of Little Italy
we dream so big that there are those
who would call our ambition an industry
because we are more than sticky maple syrup and clean snow
we do more than grow wheat and brew beer
we are vineyards of good year after good year
we reforest what we clear
because we believe in generations beyond our own
knowing now that so many of us
have grown past what used to be
we can stand here today

filled with all the hope people have
when they say things like “someday”

someday we’ll be great
someday we’ll be this
or that
someday we’ll be at a point
when someday was yesterday
and all of our aspirations will pay the way
for those who on that day
look towards tomorrow
and still they say someday

we will reach the goals we set
and we will get interest on our inspiration
because we are more than a nation of whale watchers and lumberjacks
more than backpacks and hiking trails
we are hammers and nails building bridges
towards those who are willing to walk across
we are the lost-and-found for all those who might find themselves at a loss
we are not the see-through gloss or glamour
of those who clamour for the failings of others
we are fathers brothers sisters and mothers
uncles and nephews aunts and nieces
we are cousins
we are found missing puzzle pieces
we are families with room at the table for newcomers
we are more than summers and winters
more than on and off seasons
we are the reasons people have for wanting to stay
because we are more than what we say or do
we live to get past what we go through

and learn who we are
we are students
students who study the studiousness of studying
so we know what as well as why
we don’t have all the answers
but we try
and the effort is what makes us more
we don’t all know what it is in life we’re looking for
so keep exploring
go far and wide
or go inside but go deep
go deep
as if James Cameron was filming a sequel to The Abyss
and suddenly there was this location scout
trying to figure some way out
to get inside you
because you’ve been through hell and high water
and you went deep
keep exploring
because we are more
than a laundry list of things to do and places to see
we are more than hills to ski
or countryside ponds to skate
we are the abandoned hesitation of all those who can’t wait
we are first-rate greasy-spoon diners and healthy-living cafes
a country that is all the ways you choose to live
a land that can give you variety
because we are choices
we are millions upon millions of voices shouting
“ keep exploring... we are more”
we are the surprise the world has in store for you
it’s true

Canada is the “what” in “what’s new?”
so don’t say “been there done that”
unless you’ve sat on the sidewalk
while chalk artists draw still lifes
on the concrete of a kid in the street
beatboxing to Neil Young for fun
don’t say you’ve been there done that
unless you’ve been here doing it
let this country be your first-aid kit
for all the times you get sick of the same old same old
let us be the story told to your friends
and when that story ends
leave chapters for the next time you’ll come back
next time pack for all the things
you didn’t pack for the first time
but don’t let your luggage define your travels
each life unravels differently
and experiences are what make up
the colours of our tapestry
we are the true north
strong and free
and what’s more
is that we didn’t just say it
we made it be.



*Commissioned by the Canadian Tourism Commission