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Ryan Adams in Seattle. You know I’m going. November 30, 2007

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He just announced another West Coast tour, and you know I have to go. This time it’s in Seattle on Jan 26th. I got 2 tickets in the 8th row, but I’m hoping to somehow get a better seat. Perhaps I sell my 2 tickets, and take that money to buy 1 ticket in a closer row. I’ll definitely get more than what I paid for them, since the concert was practically sold out hours after they started selling tickets this morning … and I have no issues going to a concert by myself. In fact, with RA especially, I prefer it. That way it’s easier and less awkward for him to ask me up into his tour bus, to tell me how much he’s missed me since our July 29th trip to 7-11 together.

Clearly since I’m not making much money right now, and I can’t miss this concert, I’m taking the $$ out of my Travel Fund. The tickets were $98 for the both of them (including Ticketmaster fees), and as for accommodation, if I end up going by myself, I’ll stay at the hostel in a cheap room for around $30. But if I go with someone, we can split the cost of a $80-100 hotel room.

Also, in case you’re wondering, when I was talking about my potential start date with the job in Edmonton, I told him that I would prefer not to start until late January/early February b/c of how the part-time job schedule at the arena has played out (plus, I’d have to train someone to take over my job) … and he seemed fine with it, and pretty flexible, so I would still be able to go to this concert. :)

***EDIT***
I am going to see RYAN Adams, not Bryan Adams. :)


Trying to figure out what’s right for me November 30, 2007

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The past few days, I’ve been mulling over moving to Edmonton … and you guys are all right. Why shouldn’t I move? The job market is showing me no love here, and while Alberta is certainly getting very expensive, it’s still cheaper than living here or in Vancouver. Plus, I’m young and single … and I was going to move away from here eventually, I just didn’t think it was going to be that soon.

Plus, it’s not like I have to live in Edmonton forever. I’d come back sooner or later. A friend told me that staying in this city is “career suicide,” because unless you are established enough to have connections, chances are your growth will be stunted before it can really even develop.

It’s not even really my friends and family that have me concerned. I’ve lived away from them before, and yes I missed them all dearly, but it’s not like I’ll never see them again. I’m concerned about stupid things, like the cold wreaking havoc on my skin. Having to find an apartment. Not having a car. I’m concerned about the fact that I will have to give up hockey because they don’t have a league there.

I’m most concerned about not working at the PT job anymore. Sure, it’s just a PT job, but it’s truly my passion. I live for this job. I’m the only person to have ever had it, and it’s the only job like it in the city, and really on the entire island. I feel like it’s mine, and I should protect it, because I might never get a chance to have that opportunity again. And that’s my career goal … to work in this industry. It’s what makes me happy. Do I leave it behind, and hope that by gaining experience in a completely different industry, I can return to it down the road? It’s hard to get into this industry (ridiculously hard), and I was the lucky one to get this opportunity with a new organization (thanks to some networking and general good timing) … but now that I have my foot in the door, do I take it out and hope someone will be nice enough to open it again for me? Or is this my one and only chance?

I know that if the job is offered to me and it fits all my requirements, I should take this opportunity and run with it. I just have to get over all the things that are holding me back, and convince myself that it’s the right thing to do. Because it is. I think. Maybe.


Would I really leave the West Coast? November 28, 2007

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Well, I just had a second phone interview with the job in Edmonton. I was really apprehensive about it, and was thinking about calling to withdraw … but the guy who interviewed me (who would be my boss) was really cool. He’s originally from this city, and is coming down with his family next weekend … so he wants to arrange a face-to-face third interview. We also talked about when I could start, and he seemed really flexible with a start date. He said that he would be willing to wait for when was best for me, because he’s looking for the right candidate in a long-term role, and doesn’t want to rush anything. Especially since I would have to relocate. He also noted my salary range was definitely doable, and said he would do everything he could to bump me up to the higher end of what I want.

The job itself seems like a GREAT opportunity. He said he was looking to groom someone as if they were going to take over his position – a “work partnership,” is what he called it. That’s exactly what I’m looking for.

I want to stay here on the west coast very much, but if I’m not getting any response from the positions I’ve been applying for, I can’t wait forever. I’ve been on the job hunt for almost 2 months now … time is ticking!


My dream retirement home is an RV. That’s right, I said it. November 27, 2007

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When I retire, I don’t dream about living in a million dollar home on a huge plot of land. I don’t dream of living an extravagant lifestyle. I don’t dream of owning 5 cars, a boat, or wearing expensive designer clothing.

When I retire, I want to see the world. I want to travel, experience different cultures, and I want to do it without having to worry about money. Another big part of retirement for me is to live a simple life, while doing the least possible damage to the environment surrounding me.

This is NOT a sponsored post.

I was watching a design show yesterday called Small Space, Big Design. It featured a Canadian architect by the name of Andy Thompson, who has created something called the miniHOME. It’s an off-grid ecologically designed home that has been made affordable for anyone. It combines resource-saving features like solar power and a composting toilet with luxury items like a full soaker tub in a cedar bathroom. It’s classified as an RV because it’s on wheels, but it has been designed to feel like a real home.

This is the world’s first off-grid, high-style, portable house. At only 325 sq. ft., it’s packed with amazing little nooks and crannies, and all the modern conveniences of a typical house … except that it uses just 1/10th of the energy.

I love how functional everything is in the home. The dining room table is rigged to triple as a side table, a kitchen table, or a dining room table, depending on how many guests you have. The sliding full-sized closet doors also double as the washroom door. The staircase upstairs to the loft doubles as a bookshelf, and the kitchen has 4 ft. of space in-between each side, so it can easily accommodate 2 people … plus, with the loft, that means the ceiling is 13 ft. high!

There’s a lot of appeal in the fact that this home is off-grid. I’ve been watching a lot of shows lately that deal with just this sort of lifestyle. In particular, I’ve been fascinated by Les Stroud and his show, Off The Grid. This is the same guy who does the show Survivorman. I love this guy, and he could not be a bigger badass.

This home is honestly everything that I’m looking for. All I would need is a remote plot of land on this island somewhere in the mountains, nestled by a beautiful lake, and the means to get this home to the location. :)

For more information and more pictures on the miniHOME, check out sustain.ca!


Biggest Blogroll update yet! November 26, 2007

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Alright, it’s been a few weeks since I updated the Blogroll, and I have a bunch of new sites to add. If I’ve missed adding yours, please let me know. I try to keep tabs of how many people e-mail me, but sometimes one just slips by.

If you want to exchange links, blah blah blah, you know what to do. :)


Keeping my fingers crossed November 26, 2007

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I’m feeling really positive about the job situation, and about life in general right now. Call me crazy, since I’m single, unemployed, living in my parents’ basement … and I haven’t showered in two days … but I feel great.

The job situation has taken an interesting turn, and a perfect opportunity might be coming up for me. I can see this becoming the dream job scenario. I had posted about it yesterday, so some of you might have already read it … but I took it down after about an hour. I don’t want to jinx it, so that’s all I’m going to say for now.

In other job news, I’ve been called for a second interview on Wednesday with the company in Edmonton. It’s another phone interview. I was thinking of telling them that I would be in that area for another interview next week, but when I called the organization that was flying me out, they said that the reimbursement for the flight would only be valid for the days that they specified, and I couldn’t change those dates. Fair enough.

Speaking of Edmonton, another reader of my blog contacted me today about an opportunity she happened to come across, and thought it was something that would be of interest to me. I won’t post your name on this blog, but thank you so much for thinking of me. I really appreciate it, and I will definitely be applying for that job. :)

And now, I’m going to go take a shower.


A single gal’s night out on the town November 26, 2007

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Well, I went grocery shopping today and spent $35, which is approximately what I spent the last time I went shopping. A few things made this week a little more expensive than usual – I bought a huge box of Red Rose tea ($5) and a block of cheese ($7, regular was $11.59).

Saturday night out with my friend was a lot of fun. I didn’t feel as old or as out of touch with the “bar scene” as I thought I would. I even recognized most of the music – albeit, they were now all remixed to death. Can’t people come up with original music nowadays? I had 4 drinks and my share of cab fare was $15.25. It was an expensive evening by my standards (about $35), but I know that’s not bad. Plus, I never EVER go out, so I figured it was okay.

The best part of the night? My friend went to the washroom, so I was sitting alone at our table … and a 20 year old guy came over, sat down across from me, and tried to pick me up! I told him I was too old for him, and it turns out he thought I was around 19. So that made this quarter-century gal feel pretty good. :)

I’m going out again this Friday night with some of the people from the part-time job, and then after that, I don’t think I’ll do another bar night until the New Year. It’s just too expensive to do when you’re unemployed.


Going to the interview November 24, 2007

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Well, after thinking about it, I think I’m going to take the opportunity to go for the interview. No, it doesn’t really follow my rules for moving … but this is a great opportunity to be in a position and gain the experience I would not be able to get in many other places. And you’ve got to start somewhere, right?

My parents are very much against me even considering the position. They’re concerned about the isolation from any “big city,” the small town atmosphere, and the harsh winters – something I’ve never really experienced before. Personally, I’m scared of the 3 hr. drive to the city from the airport in the rental car. I don’t have much experience driving in snow, or in temperatures below freezing. Hopefully there’s cell phone coverage along the highway if I end up getting in trouble.

Tonight a friend is taking me “out on the town.” We used to go out a lot a few years ago, when we were both single. Now, we find ourselves both single again, so I’m pretty excited. Although I went to a pub with another friend last night (just bought one drink special for $4), and I felt so old and ancient and frumpy compared to all the young, drunk, obnoxious people surrounding us. Girls are dressing so scandalous these days!