It's Official!

Got my first pay cheque today, so I suppose I am now "Officially" Employed! woohooo!

The first week here at the new office has been a huge learning experience for me. So many new concepts to wrap my head around, new ways of doing things, saying things, looking at situations. The first time I left a vm for a client, I rattled off my old number at the Jays, then had to sheepishly call back and leave the right one! Oh well, everyone got a giggle outta that at least!

The new office is also very quite - just 15 people here and everyone speaks in sotto, pianissimo voices. A far cry from the everyday hustle of a sales floor shared with about 50 guys - all booming over the phone and having a conversation about everything from last night's shag to this morning's sports news. Think locker room - 'cept everyone's wearing a tie!

Also, new office is full of old-er people. Am by far the second youngest with the youngest having a mere 11 months less of living time. Still, my "boss"is tres young-at-heart types and doesn't seem to mind my err "eccentricities". It's probably that she's never worked with the likes of me before, and is just overwhelmed! Also, she's going to have to learn "Pixy Speak" really quick or else we're going to experience some big time communication issues. Perhaps she can take a quick lesson from my previous manager! Still, she's a dear and its way nicer working with her than with someone who thought I was "in the wrong place" and always reminded me of that in some subtle and not-so-subtle ways.

In all, a very good start to what I hope will be a great sojourn with a very fine organization. AND, I even got a key so now I can get into the washrooms.......!!

Weekend at the Cottage

Was invited up to spend the weekend at Lofi’s cottage – a quintessential “Canadian” thing to do over the summer! I’d heard a lot about the good times at the cottage from The Ex (he and Lofi were at college together) but sadly had never been able to make it in past summers thanks to baseball ruling my summer schedule. This time however, I was determined not to let a wonderful opportunity for a fun (and not to mention cheap) weekend away pass me by!

Lofi and her boyfriend picked me up Friday afternoon and two hours later we were at the dinkiest little cottage ever right on the shores of Jack’s Lake, one of the hundreds that make northern Ontario’s landscape so unique. Guzzler, who also went to collage with Lofi and The Ex, joined us together with a friend of his A. I’d met both of them on several prior occasions, so it was really not at all strange that I was hanging out in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of The Ex's friends!

Friday night was rather cold, so we mostly hung out in the kitchen listening to music and chatting. As Lofi's bf and Guzzler got progressively drunker, they insisted on micro analyzing every single song that played giving the rest of us inane details on the song’s lyrics, artist and even what they wore to the recording!

The Ex showed up on Saturday, and so did some more friends and it was full on party time all afternoon and all night long. Lofi's bf unfortunately had to bow out of most activities as he was seriously paying for his sins of the night before. Still, The Ex was there to take his place as “drunken fool of the night” and after consuming a case of beer, 2 bottles of wine and 4 cans of cider, he was by far the drunkest I have ever seen him. He became his other, not so loved avatar of Mr. Octopus (all hands) and proceeded to bug Lofi all night by declaring his undying love and devotion for her. His cries of “Loooooooooofiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii…… you’re HOTTTTTTT” rang out across the water scaring away the melodious Loons and waking up most of the neighbours!

Somewhere in the middle of it all, I think I experienced a revelation of sorts that night, and thanked my lucky stars that that mess of a human being was no longer my concern.
Still, I couldn’t leave the bugger lying face down in a heap of peanut shells and helped him to bed. The dink then tried to dry hump my leg yelling out – Cummon Bit*h, I know you want it.

Suffice to say, I SHOULD have left him to drown out by the lake, but instead managed to get him in and into bed where I’m happy to report that he woke up the next day with the worst hangover ever, and the knowledge that he’d made a total and utter ass of himself… and it was all caught on tape!

Ah, bliss!

So in spite of The Ex's drunken ranting, or perhaps even because of them, my very first weekend-at-the-cottage experience turned out pretty well and I can’t wait to do it again. Sans the drunken ex though!

First Day

Policy meetings...........personnel meetings..........company orientation..............loads of paperwork.........trying to figure out the new phone system (don't want to be hanging up on clients!).............cannot find the washrooms.... damn you need a key???...... double damn - I'm locked out of the office..........heels killing me.............oh my - that was my first day!

Last day of Nothingness

Today was my very last day as an unemployed sod! As of 8:30 am tomorrow morning, I will have rejoined the ranks of the gainfully employed and be on my way towards once again being a contributing member of society, and sadly having to endure heels again for the most part of a work day!

So what, you ask did I do today? Here are the highlights:

• Woke up only marginally late and make myself a big scrambled eggs and toast brefix. Figured it would be a while before I had that luxury again!
• Sent out "thankyous" to the 38 emails that came in in reply to my news of a new job. Must always be polite you know.
• Cleaned up and vacuumed my room. Its going to be a long while before I do that again, and the dust bunnies were getting rather wild.
• Settled down to watch some of my very fav British hunks in 4 of my all time "Feel Good" movies - Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, About a Boy, Love Actually and Notting Hill. These can also be classified as the part Colin Firth and whole Hugh Grant yummy-makes-me-swoon-with-delight collection.
• Had a delightful dance session with one of the guys from dance class. He came over and I spent 2 hours polishing all the moves that I'd previously just about fuddled my way though. We had such a good time, we're going to make it a regular weekly thing - which is awesome!
• Called a friend and had the pure joy of just .... chatting. Haven't done that in a while and it felt terrific.
• Picked out an outfit for my first day. Then changed my mind about 4 times. In the process, I ironed about 6 pairs of pants and 4 shirts - some of which weren't even mine.
• Started reading "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". Will be re reading and re watching all books and movies out to date in anticipation of upcoming movie and book.

An Ode to the Vampire Slayer

About a month ago Trippy loaned me seasons 1 & 2 of the late 90s cult classic series - Buffy the Vampire Slayer. What stared out as a "pass time" routine each afternoon, quickly turned into an all out obsession! Putting aside the obvious fluff factor, the cheezy lines and the overdrawn out fight sequences; the series surprisingly does offer the viewer a lot to think about and of course throws in the occasional Apocalypse now and then.


Season 1 & 2 were quite mindless. 1 was all about Buffy pining for good Angel and 2 was her pining over bad Angel. It was season 3 that really got going with the development of characters and more challenging story lines other than the usual - New Demon in town - Buffy and Scoobie gang do research - Buffy kills Demon - sequence.*

With Angel outta the scene - off to do his own thing in the series spin off, season 4 introduced the Oh-so-hunky Riley Finn as the Slayer's new love interest and let's just say that he was a heck of a lot more interesting that Angel ever could be. I'm a fan of the tall and dark.... but let's leave the broody out ok?


Thanks to Riley, we were introduced to The Initiative a supposed top secret government agency that sent military men (all very hunky) to track and study various Demons or Hostiles as they called them. Things got tres interesting when Spike was bagged and tagged by the Initiative and released back into the world unable to do harm to any human thanks to a behaviour modifying chip in his brain. This new twist lead him to become a reluctant ally of the Slayer all the while plotting his revenge. Spike's new persona and added air time gave the series a much needed boost in both story line and ratings not to mention some classic one liners he spits out! Season 4 also reintroduces us to Anya - sans Vengeance powers and strangely full of lust for Xander. Still adjusting to her new human form, Anya's character stumbles through everyday life with a charming grace of her very own, and a complete inability to filter her innermost thoughts. Gee, I wonder why I relate to this character so much?!


Of course all cannot be well in Sunnydale or else it wouldn't be the charming Hell Mouth that we all know and love.


Season 5 sees Riley leave, Buffy mourns (again), a "new" 14 year old sister for the Slayer - who turns out to be a ball of mystical energy millions of years old; Giles buys a magic shop; Buffy's mum dies (natural causes); Xander and Anya heat things up, Willow and Tara getting their lesbian groove on and Spike inexplicably falls for the Slayer! And oh yeah... Buffy dies - again!


With Buffy's mum dead and Giles' impending return to England, the gang find themselves for the first time without a strong adult presence. Season 6 is all about them moving forward in life and fighting the demons of adulthood and reality as much as the icky, gooey trans dimensional ones. Willow really gets her groove on as a full on Wicca and by some truly dark and powerful magic resurrects Buffy back to life little realizing that her friend was actually at peace in a heaven like world. Buffy has huge problems readjusting to life back on Earth and those problems are compounded by very real issues like financial troubles and the worry of raising a teenager alone. Anya and Xander meanwhile are deep into planning their wedding but of course any semblance of true love on this show should always be looked at with suspicion! Before the happy event can take place, Sunnydale suddenly resembles the set of a Broadway musical in an episode that ranks as my all time favourite - Once Again with Feeling.**

The underlying topic of humanity is manifested even in the "villains" that Buffy faces this season. Not Gods or Demons, but a trio of nerdy social rejects who combine forces to make hell for the Slayer and in true comic book geek style want to "take over the world". As the season progresses, the trio turn from being bumbling inept stooges to a very real threat and inadvertently cause the death of Tara. Driven wild by grief, Willow reaches out to forces so dark that her entire personality is transformed into a Wicca so powerful. Hellbent on revenge - even if it means killing a human - she wrecks havoc all around and very little can come in her way. While its always left to Buffy to save the day, this time around it is Xander who manages to tap into the spark of humanity left in Willow and thereby releases her from her dark alter ego. 


With Sunnydale back to "normal", the gang takes stock of what nearly happened and rejoices in their getting through yet another close call. Little do they know that far away in the deepest of Africa, Spike having been driven to the edge by his love for Buffy has regained his soul.
Season 7... here I come!


*FYI, I love the fact that there was tie in between the Scooby Doo movie starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and the show.
** MUST get a copy of that soundtrack.

A Fool in Love

Friday turned out to be a very interesting and not to mention life altering day for me.

There was of course the thrill of the job offer - I couldn't have been happier at that time and was basically on cloud 9 for the rest of the day. Went to the baseball game that evening and had the pleasure of watching the Jays thump the Nationals 7-2.

Jiblett was at the game with me, and I'd forgotten just how nice it was to watch a game with someone else who really ... gets it! None of my other friends are baseball fans and getting someone to go to the ballpark with me is akin to pulling teeth! So when he said he'd come with me, it was a nice surprise.

We got talking during the game, and then after. In fact, we talked all night long.

It was long overdue. It was something we perhaps should have done 2 years ago. If only.

I said a lot of things and then I listened. We both had much to say - not all of which was pleasant to hear.

From a day that started off full of hope, full of excitement and of joy.... it had turned into one of unbelievable sadness and nothing but a sense of loss for me.

Yesterday was not good. I was sunk in a misery so deep that it took every fibre of my being not to give into the despair and do something incredibly stupid to myself that would at the very least make me very ill.

But yesterday passed, and today I woke up better. And although there is still pain, I feel like I'm in control once more.

I started listing off things that are good in my life. And amazingly, I got to over 100 points before I had to stop and think for more. My life may not be a bed of roses right now, but neither is it a hell that I cannot overcome.
I started off today well. I made an effort. I took a few steps.

I will probably fall again. And again. And then again.

But I will get up. I will keep walking. I will be strong.

Success!

After a brief meeting with the CEO of Not for Profit organization this afternoon, I was offered the position of Account Manager and Corporate Liaison Officer with their company.

The job is everything that I was looking for... and then some more!

I get to work in the Not for Profit sector and actually CONTRIBUTE towards a bunch of causes that I'm passionate about. Starting Wednesday, I will once again join the thousands of commuters who make their way across the city to work, and then back again 8 hours later. Only this time, I'll be doing so gladly. Everyday that I show up at this new job, I will be making a difference - helping someone. And that's worth more than all the glory and prestige of working with a big showy organization like I did before. Its worth more than the incentive trips across North America and the other little "extras" that were thrown in.

This time I'm wanted for who I am not for who I can become. And its a great feeling.

I can't wait to get started.

*Fingers Crossed*

Had an interview with a recruitment firm 2 weeks ago for a postion with a Not for Profit company in downtown T Dot. Good job, great pay, good opportunity.

Had follow up interview with them Thursday of last week.

Called in for another interview yesterday.

Recruiters called for references this morning.

I DARE NOT DREAM..... but I am hoping and wishing and praying - a lot!

Day at the Zoo

Spent most of Friday with my wee cousin's grade 2 class at the Toronto Zoo on Friday. Although dismayed at first when I found out that I'd been put in charge of a group of 4 VERY energetic boys, things worked out fine and I had a great time getting to know them, and getting to know the animals better too!



Highlights included the Gorillas, the Polar bear feeding, the Rainforest enclosure and the Pygmy Hippo!

Tagged!

Been tagged by Liisa to reveal some of my fav eating spots in the T Dot. A rather herculean challenge as anyone who knows me knows I'm a total foodie..... and then again, its Toronto! There's every restaurant imaginable from Scandenavian to Sudanese!


There's really too much to choose from, so have made rather random choices here:


Pho Hung Restaurant - 200 Bloor St. West, Downtown Toronto
Tiny little place in the heart of the UofT Annexe. Best Pho around for a cheap cheap price, and amazing quantities.

Frederick's - Bellamy/ Ellesmere, Scarborough
Just minutes from my house and the best Indian-Chinese food outside of the Motherland! Mixed pakoras are amazing!

Jack Astor's - 144 Front St. West, Downtown Toronto
I love the bar section and the patio is spacious and actually has its own bar which makes it the perfect hangout post basball games in the summer. They serve an amazing calamari apetizer, and the California Chicken Salad is a healthy and filling alternate to the usual bar/ pub fare.

Spring Rolls - Yonge/ Dundas, Downtown Toronto
This chain of Thai food restaurants is one of my favourites - the curry pad thai and green curry are both top notch and at a very reasonable rate.

Taste of China Seafood Palace - Chinatown, Toronto
The very best after hours spot where a wink and a nod will get you a pot of "special" tea. I've never ever been here in the day time ... or sober for that matter, but I do know that its a great place to unwind after a big night out on the town.


I don't know too many bloggers, so I tag Boo and Sigsy.

Small Joys

Small Joy #1: My VERY OWN copy of Pride & Prejudice has just arrived in the mail. YES - the Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehel version!! Can now indulge in repeated oggling of Mr. Darcy in see-through soaking wet shirt a la Bridget Jones, and perhaps even find own Mr. Darcy in process. (hey, a girl can dream......) 


Small Joy # 2: Also arrived - copies of Sense & Sensibility (Hugh-Yummy-Grant and Emma Thompson) and Alfie Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes.


Small Joy #3: Have been chosen as adult volunteer for wee cousin's grade 2 class outing to the zoo this Friday. Feel very love and needed at this moment.


Small Joy # 4: Dance class this evening has been cancelled. This means I will NOT have to leave the comfort of my warm and cozy home on a wet and windy day like today, and can instead indulge in Small Joys #1 and 2. 

The Captain departs

My cousin's 2 month holiday here in Toronto came to an end yesterday when she left to go back home to Bombay. I hope she's had a good time here. We don't always get along - we're very very different people - but I do hope she's enjoyed the stuff we did together and the things and places I showed her.


In true Indian family style, we all met at my aunt's place in Markham on Saturday for a last hurrah that included lots of food and kids running rampant.