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May 13th, 2009
09:22 am
I believe that all foreign cities hate me. Last week I left beautiful sunny Toronto for overcast and rainy Indianapolis. Now I'm hanging in Dana's kitchen in Winnipeg and, although it was beautiful last week, it's crappy and windy and rainy now. After I leave, it'll be beautiful again.
Evil, evil weather.
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April 22nd, 2009
03:00 pm
Ewan didn't get the job. He lost out to one of the higher-ups at Fort Erie who, granted, has been at a fort for longer and already lives in the area, but still... Dang it.
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April 11th, 2009
09:29 am
Ewan will find out about the new job on the 20th. Keep your fingers crossed for him.
I discovered that rentals are slim and expensive in NotL, but that was expected. It's comparable with Toronto in some ways, but quieter and prettier and full of tourists. There are a couple of potential places that we found, so we'll see what's still available next week if he gets the new gig.
If he doesn't, he's still planning to quit Fort York. He can't stand some of the people; they've been there for decades, they're lazy yet feel under appreciated and overlooked when it comes to promotions, and they simply aren't going to change. Nothing there will really change until people start leaving. But I don't want Ewan to leave, mostly because I selfishly like having him in the city, and I worry that he'll shoot himself in the foot. There are so many people looking for work right now--I think he'll have a really rough time, and I'm not convinced a new job would be much better. But I also don't want to see him burn out. He dreads going to work everyday. So maybe it's really just me being selfish.
I still think Fort George is going to work out, though. And I like NotL, so it'll be a nice excuse to get out of the city for weekends.
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March 29th, 2009
07:30 pm
I got my first reprint! Christianity.ca is reprinting an article I wrote about refugee sponsorship. It's kinds nifty. I'm like...a real writer now or something XD. Now if I could just figure out how the Giant Freaking Camera works, I'd be a all set. Camera shake is the bane of my existence. It's evil. The silly camera should automatically keep the shutter speed faster than the lens length or whatever, because when I speed up the shutter I end up with dark pictures because I don't quite know what I'm doing. And, since carrying around the Giant Freaking Camera makes me feel like a journalist, I feel the camera should magically turn me into a journalist without any skill on my part.
In other news, earlier this week Ewan applied for a job at Fort George. It's basically Gavin's old gig--he'd be in charge of the summer guard on a 6-month contract, but there's a possibility it could become a permanent year-round position. Not with the guard, of course, since that would remain seasonal, but he'd be doing other fort stuff during the rest of the year.
It sounds like a really great job and he's probably the best qualified person on the planet, except for not having a driver's license (and that could be fixed). So I have a strong feeling that he'll get it. Which means he'll be moving to Niagara-on-the-Lake for at least six months--probably longer, if things work out. And I want them to work out. So I've found myself doing a lot of thinking over the past couple of days. It's silly, really, because he hasn't even had an interview yet--but I'm sure he'll get the job. If he does, it's best if he finds a rental place for six months and hangs tight to see if the job pans out. If it does, and he'll be staying in Niagara permanently, then I guess I'll be doing some more thinking come December when my contract runs out. I'll stay in Toronto until then, at least. I'm expecting the editors to try and renew my contract again--so maybe I can negotiate something.
Ultimately, I'm not a big fan of the city. Although it can be lovely at times, it's full of people and traffic and buildings made of mirrors, and I'm far too fond of open spaces. I think Niagara is beautiful, so I wouldn't mind living there if I can swing it. It just comes down to the job situation, really. Mom keeps prodding me to go back to school--Niagara-on-the-Lake is close to Hamilton, home of McMaster and it's intriguing master's program in cultural studies. But there's also this crazy economic downturn thing happening, and it seems to be mostly an excuse to fire people. So there are suddenly plenty of journalists more seasoned than I competing for work. I'm kinda hesitant to even think about giving up my job. And I know there would be more opportunities in Toronto than in Niagara, if it came to that. But I think, in an ideal world, maybe the Record would be willing to keep me on and let me work from Niagara--I'd have my license again by that point, so I could commute in once or twice a month for editorial meetings, but otherwise work from home. I might have to take a pay cut, since I don't think I'd qualify as "in house" staff anymore, but I guess we'll see. It's all idle speculation, but this whole thing has gotten me thinking a little more long-term I guess. It's kinda neat, even if nothing comes of it..
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February 21st, 2009
11:30 am
It's been almost two months since I so much as looked at my lj. Isn't that terrible? And I think it's been even longer since I logged onto msn. Working on a computer all day has totally killed any desire to use one during my free time.
But I thought you should all know that my absence will continue because my contract has been extended until Dec. 31! Yay! Only downside is they're requiring me to get my driver's license. Boo!
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January 10th, 2009
10:38 am
For some reason, over the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking a lot about moving out. Not particularly seriously, because I know I can't afford to live on my own in Toronto and stay above the poverty line, and because I think I'd get lonely. But I feel like at this point in my life--as a graduate with a full-time job--I should not be living with my parents, and should be forcing myself to pay proper rent and buy groceries and get my driver's license and learn to cook etc.
But if I find a place and move out and discover the joys of cockroaches or bedbugs or mice, I wouldn't be permitted to come home, and the novelty of being an adult would wear off real fast.
Oh, and RUTH, I got your amazing storybook! The numbers were reversed in my address (it should be 61-28 not 28-61) which is probably my fault not yours--the letter was all beat up when I got it, but I got it! It's so pretty! You're getting crazy-good at drawing funky perspectives.
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January 4th, 2009
02:16 pm
I have so much bread, holy crap! I spent New Year's at Mac's cottage in the great northern hinterlands and there were supposed to be 13 of us, but the majority wimped out and buggered off on New Year's day, so we wound up with a handful of reenactors (plus Andrew), great piles of food, and a 19 C cottage all to ourselves. I ended up bringing home most of the bread for some reason--much of it delicious baguette--which I must gradually consume.
I thought the event itself was pretty chill, but that could be because I've been fighting down a cold, so I got tired quickly (especially because it got so dark so fast. That plays havoc with your sense of time). Apparently all the rowdy partying happened after I went to sleep both nights (the nocturnal bastards).
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December 30th, 2008
11:31 am
I'm off to Ewan's this afternoon, and off to Mac's cottage tomorrow morning. Who needs three course dinners and fancy wines when you could have an un-winterized cottage, fire, and sherry? I'm also resisting the urge to bring my new (still nameless) musket. Phil and Mac are bringing powder and ball, so I think there's a plan to fire some of his flintlocks live, but I really don't want to lug mine on the TTC to Yorkdale mall. It's day will come. Oh yes, it will. And my gosh I'm friggin' spoiled! G has threatened to start dating Ewan if these are the kinds of presents he gives. Although I don't think he'd appreciate the hand-painted Japanese tea cups quite as much as I do. Thanks to my mother and my boyfriend, I now have one beautiul set of Japanese cups, and one set of English china. When I get my own place I'm totally throwing a fancy tea party so I can use them.
But for now, you guys can help me with OPERATION NAME CONNIE'S MUSKET! My fort musket was named Bedivere, which I think is the perfect name for a musket (because I love Arthurian legend, and The Passing of Arthur in Tennyson's Idylls of the King makes me cry. Bedivere has this wonderful connotation of a lost dream, or a golden age that has passed away.) But I've already used the name for another musket, so this one should be unique. I may stick with the knight/hero theme through.
So here's the criteria:
1. The name must be male.
2. It can't be Ewan (because that would be confusing, and the endless dirty jokes would annoy me after a while).
3. It should be related to a knight, hero, weapon, or something overwhelmingly awesome.
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December 29th, 2008
12:44 pm
True love is a man who buys you a musket for Christmas.
(Although his father thought it was horribly tacky and compared it to "buying your wife snow tires.")
I think it's beautiful. India pattern from the Discriminating General, complete with bayonet. Now all I need is my coat, belts, and hardware for my spiffy hat.
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December 25th, 2008
12:07 pm
Merry Christmas everyone!
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December 24th, 2008
01:18 pm
Here followeth random history reenactment crap. Feel free to ignore it if it ain't your thing.
I've won my first history argument! Well, it wasn't really me per se, but it resulted in G (who works as a researcher at the national war museum and is one of Canada's major up-and-coming 1812 historians) changing his mind. Now we're making our 7/60th coats the way I wanted them made, and not with the silly breast pockets like the 95th Rifles. Instead, the pockets are going in the tails (like my light infantry coat), and we're lining the body of the coat but not the sleeves. (Although we're not sure yet if the lining will be green or not). The 1802 regulations state that the lining is green, but it may have changed by the time we represent (1814ish), so we'll have to look into it further. Plus we'd have to die the lining ourselves, and that worries me because I don't want it to bleed into my small clothes.
I also have a cartridge box and shako! The former was accidentally left in an open package on Ewan's table, so it became an early Christmas present, and the shako we bought from his drum major. Plus, after eating delicious sushi on Tuesday, we went for a walk down Queen street seeking proper wool, linen, and lining. We found a great place and bought the linen, lining, and some black wool for G, but he and Ewan will have to go back and check the dark green and red against the fabric swatches from the historical clothiers we were planning to buy it from. (Because, to be perfectly honest, I think we can get almost identical wool in quality and colour without paying $40/yard for historically woven fabric from historical Welsh sheep).
Basically, after all the delays etc, if all goes well, I may actually be able to get this sucker together for the NCO training weekend this spring. (Yeah!) And then we'll field as the 7/0th at Fort Erie.
I've also started joining random regency and reenacting lj groups. Queen Charlotte's Ball is coming up in late January, and I'll be attending as a woman. So I've been researching dresses and hairstyles because this little soldier boy isn't used to being a lady (or a solider's wife as the case may be, since Ewan will be in his redcoat). But I think I've found something that'll work beautifully (despite by insanely long hair), and I'll still be able to wear the pearl earrings and ring he brought me from Williamsburg. I think it'll be delightful. Actually, I wish the 1812 reenactment world did more fancy balls and such, because reenacting as a woman at events is really lame (unless you like cooking and just hanging out, in which case you'll have a great time). But if there were balls and tea parties and dancing, I'd be more inclined to set aside the coat and musket now and then. (Just not, y'know, if fighting is an option XD).
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December 17th, 2008
10:12 am
I've made a nicer, prettier version of our church's website, just in time for Christmas. But apparently no force on heaven or earth will allow me to access the ftp server from ANY computer I've used. So far I've tried on three. Bugger.
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December 13th, 2008
10:34 am
Jan and Cat, are you guys planning to drive to Mac's? And are you able to take some additional people with you? And if so, how many? And where can we meet? ^_^; Mac needs to know if he has to rent a car, and we'd rather not if we can avoid it.
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November 23rd, 2008
05:04 pm
I'm covering another meeting, which will be followed almost immediately by another meeting. But between about 1 and 5 I have some time to kill and will be killing it in KW. Anyone want to grab some coffee or something while I'm in town?
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November 19th, 2008
12:26 pm
There must be a web-based or downloadable program somewhere that I can give a set of parameters and/or search items, and then have any matching articles from Canadian news sites sent to me, either through email or as a collection of RSS feeds. Maybe as a daily digest or something. And I'd like it to not only search big news providers, but the little town papers as well. And it would search every day for me, so I wouldn't have to waste hours mucking about with search engines or trying to find new RSS feeds that I should subscribe to.
Anyone know of such a miraculous service?
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November 8th, 2008
09:08 am
I have new glasses! I think they're quite funky--very similar to my old ones, but with thicker sides, more rounded lenses, and they curve up ever so slightly. Ewan says they make me look cat-like. I should take a picture, but I can't be bothered right now (isn't that terrible?) I also ordered a second pair which are almost identical to my old glasses. I really liked the old ones, and I thought I should have a back up pair in case of future emergencies.
I think the weeks of insanity are drawing toward a close. I've got two and a half stories written, I've contacted the main person about a fourth, and I don't think there's anything big I have to cover until the general assembly meeting later this month (apparently I should count the comb-overs at that one).
Met up with Gareth, Melissa, Mac and some of their friends from high school earlier this week. I was tired though, so I wasn't much of a conversationalist.
Ewan and I went on an epic adventure to Oshawa yesterday, and I've concluded that I never want to live in Oshawa. There's nothing there. We walked all the way from the GO station to the waterfront in search of food only to discover that there's no food--or anything else--down by or enroute to said waterfront. Although we did find a cute collection of old buildings which have been turned into a museum. They were closing, though, and I was hungry. So we caught a bus downtown and found a <i>delicious</i> Italian place. Avanti something-or-other. If you're ever in Oshawa, eat there.
Tonight I'll be heading to the west end (which is apparently where all the youth live) to pimp PYPS at a worship service. There's a second one tomorrow night--also in the west end--but it's a bimonthly thing, so I think I'll catch it next time around. I think this shindig will be fun, I just wish there was more stuff in my end of the city.
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November 3rd, 2008
02:30 pm
Woohoo! I'm currently at an LMA meeting at Crieff, but I just got an email from the Record editor. They like me, so I'm gettin' a raise! Yay money!
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November 2nd, 2008
08:50 pm
Man, I really need to start posting on lj more often. My life has actually become more interesting now that I've gotten a job, but it's definitely a little insane as far as time is concerned. I haven't checked lj for over a week o_O.
Anyway, first things first. A couple of days ago I got a Halloween card from Ruth! It's especially awesome because it's in the shape of a cat, and has a picture of a cat with crayon on it! It's adorably awesome. I shall have to compose something in response. Yes, yes I shall.
I actually didn't get to dress up for Halloween this year, with the exception of Saturday night at the PYPS leadership retreat. I broke out my British sailor kit and was stylin' with the waistcoat and the gaters. We had a wicked zombie hoard, thanks to Jamie's masterful make-up skills, but I opted not to be done up because I didn't want to get anything on my spiffy clothes. But check out the facebook pics if you get a chance.
The retreat itself was a lot of fun, except that my GLASSES BROKE at the single most inconvenient spot possible--right next to the lens. I tried to tape them and wear them for the weekend, but the tape kept coming undone. So I was effectively blind for most of the time. It made me glad that I'd planned to go home late Saturday night so that I could dance with my liturgical dance group on Sunday (it was our anniversary service and we were doing a really pretty dance to a version of Amazing Grace). I wanted to stay for the Sunday discussions, but I was really getting frustrated by the middle of Saturday, so maybe it was for the best. I'm still wearing them this week, but wire and epoxy has stablized them somewhat. I've got an appointment to get my eyes checked on Friday, and I plan to buy TWO pairs of glasses this time.
Oh, and for those who haven't heard, I'm the PYPS president this year (heaven help me). I attended by first Synod meeting (RCC) on Thursday, right after I got back from a three day rural ministry symposium. It was interesting, actually. I spent most of today looking over notes form the retreat and putting together a long email that I hope pulls together some of the important parts of the planning and makes some realistic suggestions. We've got a really young exec this year, but I think that can be good because there's a lot of enthusiasm.
Anyway, from Monday to Wendesday this week I was at a conference centre in Jackson's Point for the aforementioned symposium. I think I'll be writing a feature about it for early next year. There were only three Presbyterians there, all of whom were new to their churches and frustrated with them already. We're such a backwards lot, we are. But the Anglicans were a lot of fun. There was no wine though (which is typical for Anglican evenings) because it was a Salvation Army place and they don't drink. So a whole bunch of us headed to the pub Tuesday night.
There were a lot of great stories being told, and a lot of pain, but hope too. These people were very aware that many rural churches will be closing in the next few years, and that their way of life was rapidly changing or coming to an end. One woman actually began to cry in one of the sessions; she said that rural Ontario was dead, and her community was experiencing a deep sense of mourning. It was heartbreaking. But there was also a strong sense that these changes could happen with grace. Just like funerals. You celebrate the ministry of these little churches, but you accept that they're mortal and they die, and the spirit and the ministry continue elsewhere. It shouldn't be a sense of failure because you couldn't keep the doors open, but a sense that the ministry is completed in that place. A changing world means changing ministry; that's just how it is. It was pretty cool. I just need to find time to write the article XD.
Thursday and Friday were spent calling people to try and set up focus groups. It was way too much like telemarketing for my tastes, but we got a couple of sessions set up including one mostly "youth" session. I pretty much facebook stalked every Toronto-area PYPS person I know. Most of them were busy, but some could make it (thanks guys!).
And Monday at 7:30 am I'm off to a two day Life and Mission Agency meeting which I'm covering for January. I barely did any copy editing for December because I've been so busy. The magazine totally owes me some time off. Maybe I'll call some of that in late next week.
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October 18th, 2008
06:43 pm
I spent today in a board meeting taking notes. For seven hours. On a Saturday. It sucked. I don't think I've ever been this tired of sitting. Even when I'm sitting in a car for hours on end at least I have the feeling that I'm going somewhere. Ugh.
And next week I'll have to start calling people and trying to convince them that they really want to be in a focus group evaluating our lovely publication. It's not telemarketing, but it's dang close. Oh the unflattering work that comes with being the newbie.
But on the plus side, December news is almost done, so I may be able to get January together by mid-to-late November. Woohoo! I will kill those deadlines dead.
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September 28th, 2008
07:16 pm
I'm back from PYPS. Got home and crashed, got up for dinner and some email checking, and then intend to crash again. I was hoping to get some more work done on one of my stories, but I think I'll have enough time to get 'er finished tomorrow morning.
The weekend went well, I think, although I felt like I was constantly forgetting to do things. The speaker was good, and he managed to make church history interesting, which should say a lot in and of itself.
Brenden asked me to be president again. It would make sense since I live in Toronto and work at head office, so I'd be able to make the synod meetings no problem. And apparently they've moved to give PYPS a vote, so that's pretty awesome. But it feels more and more like this isn't my gang anymore. Most of the people who started when I did have stopped coming, and we're losing a lot of the most active and committed members--either because they're quitting the organization entirely, or because they won't be on leadership anymore. There's five or six, I think, who were all on exec this year and won't be coming back after this weekend. I think there are youth to step up, but it'll mean a lot of young and inexperienced folk next year. And attendance was really low this weekend, and I think it's flagging again overall. PYPS really needs a vibrant and creative president to help pull it out of this rut, and I just don't think I've got the enthusiasm. I found myself feeling really lackluster going into this weekend. I had a great committee and all, but the old drive just wasn't there. I was doing it more because I had to than because I wanted to. That said, I think it's a great group and a vital ministry, and with the job at the Record I'll be in a perfect position to make contacts and plug PYPS and similar youth organizations. And I don't think we've ever had a pres who took the position without unease. I don't know. It's one of those "do I really have to?" kind of situations.
I think it would be different if I still felt as attached to the group as I once did. But I'm starting to feel a little like I'm overstaying my welcome.
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