Author: V

Overly sentimental, heel-loathing introvert, problem solver and lover of the night.

I don’t know how it went

I had my job interview today.

At first, I thought that he really liked me. I thought he was really impressed. At first, all was going great.

The way it ended, though…

I hate it in job interviews when they ask how much money you want. You always wonder if you’re trying to get more money then you should be. Or if you’re low-balling yourself and they can offer you way more but they don’t have to now that you’ve low-balled yourself.

He genuinely said I left such an impression on him that he’s been thinking about it for two months.

So… why did he leave when I told him how much money I’d expect?

It started so well. It started so, so well. Now I don’t know what to think and I’m probably going to overthink it all weekend long. And probably for the rest of my life, because he doesn’t want me for the role. I’m talking myself out of it, peeps. I’m talking myself out of it.

I suck.

He doesn’t want me on his team.

That’s life.

I am not a good person for the squad.

I suck.

It’s better if I just admit to that now, right?

I’m alive.

I made it home last night around 10 pm.

I really didn’t get to posting any of the stuff I’ve had in my drafts – pretty privilege, things to know before buying a car, a few other hot topics I’ve been wanting to talk about for MONTHS. The airport got real busy, real fast. I also flaked and spent time researching some more about the company that I have an interview for tomorrow.

The plane ride home was stupid. I was sat next to a young kid who clearly had some form of ADHD, Which, hey. Kids are kids. I get that and I try to patient whenever I can. But honestly, his mother was not helping the situation AT ALL. I probably resented his mom more then I resented him. He kicked me. He elbowed me. He screamed at me. The flight attendants came to ask him to put his mask on at least a dozen times. I asked him to put his mask on at least a dozen times. His mom’s response was “He’s a child, there’s nothing I can do!” Then she continued to pump him full of sugar. Seriously, she gave him two cans of sprite and a bag full of Swedish fish candies. I’m not a parent. So my judgment is just that, judgment. But, if I were in her position, perhaps the shoveling sugar in his mouth during a cross country flight isn’t the smartest to help a hyperactive child who’s supposed to sit for 5 hours.

It’s unfortunate. It’s unpleasant to get elbowed and kicked. But again, I know that kids are kids. There’s a lot that I can tolerate because of that reasoning. I just think that his mother was pretty fucking negligent in the entire scenario.

Anyways, enough complaining about that.

I made it home around 10 last night. I did some laundry and I collapsed into my bed.

Work today has been okay. Busy, yes. I’m a little distracted because of my job interview tomorrow. This job interview has thrown me for a loop because it wasn’t something I actively applied for. This company approached me. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I do want to get my hopes up. I want to do well. I want to put my best foot forward.

I’m doing homework tonight. I have to catch up on virtual school because I didn’t do any of it whilst I was away. *Slaps my own hand.* Today the teacher asked us to make a brand style guide. I obviously have one already because, duh. I work in Marketing. I’d be pretty shitty at my job if I didn’t. I do have to work on unit conversions, though.

I’ve recently discovered this song and I think it’s worth the listen. The music video is very weird. But if you can just not watch the screen, the song is great.

Now, does someone want to come and do my laundry?

The Mellow Playlist

Sharing one of my playlists that I keep for when I’m waiting for things. Whether it a waiting room, an airport lobby, in traffic, it really doesn’t matter. If you need some chill options to listen to, I highly recommend. Links are to the YouTube videos so that you can hear the song.

  1. Arkells – Quitting You – https://youtu.be/DeXCTpdWggk
  2. The Chainsmokers and Coldplay – Something just like this – https://youtu.be/_tNU6dpjIyM
  3. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros – Home – https://youtu.be/DHEOF_rcND8
  4. Arkells – My heart’s always yours – https://youtu.be/VexuUr4pN-Q (The ultimate love song in my mind)
  5. Tracy Chapman – Fast Car – https://youtu.be/IJ8i49EqgYI
  6. Rusted Root – Send me on my way – https://youtu.be/IGMabBGydC0 (This one is biiiiiiiiig mood)
  7. Mumford and Sons – I will Wait – https://youtu.be/rGKfrgqWcv0
  8. Billy Joel – Piano Man – https://youtu.be/gxEPV4kolz0 (This is one of my favourite songs of all time. If I ever get married, this is the wedding song. It absolutely does not fit for a wedding song, but that’s okay, it fits for my personality)
  9. Justin Timberlake ft Chris Stapleton – Say Something – https://youtu.be/8MPbR6Cbwi4
  10. Blue Rodeo – Hasn’t Hit Me Yet – https://youtu.be/oMt0skVPC0o
  11. Eagle Eye Cherry – Save Tonight – https://youtu.be/Nntd2fgMUYw
  12. Fleetwood Mac – Dreams – https://youtu.be/5oWyMakvQew
  13. Macklemore ft Kesha – Good old days – https://youtu.be/1yYV9-KoSUM
  14. The Lumineers – Stubborn Love – https://youtu.be/UJWk_KNbDHo
  15. Chris Stapleton – Broken Halos – https://youtu.be/sI0TeFf6uD8 (Actually, I highly recommend any and every song by Chris Stapleton. The man is a legend. And he’s amazing live. If you ever get a chance to see him live, I highly, highly, highly recommend)

Highly recommend all of these songs. If you’ve not heard one, do give it a listen.

Headed back to reality.

Currently sitting in an *almost empty* lounge at the airport and waiting for my flight home. It has been changed, again, so I could be here for a while. In that time, I’m going to attempt to publish a couple of drafts that I’ve been hanging onto for a few months.

Toronto has been great. Back to reality, for now. I have a job interview on Friday that I need to prep for. The company is a start-up that is looking for a Marketing Director. The prospect is exciting, mostly because if I get into the company on the ground floor, I could built the brand from the ground up. Imagine having the control to completely determine the direction and scale of a company. I think that’d be pretty fucking fantastic.

I’m finding myself hopeful, again. I both love and hate that. I love it because I love having something to look forward to. I hate that because it means there’s a greater chance of getting my heart broken if it doesn’t work out. Ah well, that’s basically the human condition. I know that I have the power to build a successful brand, and I’m confident in my capabilities.

Onwards and upwards. If this Friday is that opportunity, great for me. If this Friday isn’t that opportunity, I know there’ll be others.

Unrelated – I sure hope my house keys are in my suitcase. I thought they were in my backpack for some reason, but they’re not. I don’t think that my landlord wants to show up tonight to let me back into the house…

Last Day

I had the best time last night. One of the things that’s really nice about being here is that the world isn’t bat-shit crazy. Unvaccinated people in Alberta are literally holding the province hostage with their protests and their COVID parties and their screaming fits in public forums to try and make life as uncomfortable as possible. While I know life isn’t perfect anywhere, it’s been nice to not have to deal with that shit for a week.

People just… put on masks here. Like it’s the easy task that it should be in Alberta, too.

Today I’m going to grab some lunch from a place called ‘The Burger’s Priest’. I had it for lunch last Thursday and it was, without doubt in my mind, the best hamburger I’ve ever eaten. I was going to go and see if I could get an old acquaintance to show me around Scotiabank Arena, but I think I’m going to skip that.

I actually might go to Ripley’s Aquarium if I can get a ticket/time slot. Apparently it’s “can’t miss”.

One day left. Let’s do this.

Updates from Toronto

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.

When I initially planned this trip, I purposefully planned it around Thanksgiving so that it would be one less day to take off work. Today, being thanksgiving, is a day that my work is closed. I have tomorrow and Wednesday off of work. I am flying home on Wednesday afternoon.

I’m rethinking my Ottawa trip for my birthday right now. While this trip has turned around and gotten better since Saturday (largely thanks to better weather and staying away from grossly crowded shopping malls), I’m still thinking it might be smarter for me to stick closer to Alberta. There was a very uncomfortable conversation with an Uber driver who said ‘Albertans are assholes’ and then asked me where I was visiting from, it was another reminder that the rest of the country really doesn’t like our province right now. He was a perfectly pleasant man, and I completely understand his outrage with Alberta, I just feel like I’ll probably continue to run into this, so long as Alberta continues to ignore that COVID exists.

Anyways, I’m done with the whining.

I had a really nice day today. This city is quite beautiful when you look past the hustle and bustle, and really stop to see the culture. It’s a smorgasbord of the whole world in one city and it’s a beautiful sight. I feel as though that’s very weird phrasing, but I’m hoping that it comes across in the genuine way I mean it.

I’m going out for dinner tonight with someone I worked the world championships with back in 2015 and I’m really looking for to it. I’m really in the mood for a daquiri.

Fun fact about Ontario – they still sell their milk in bags. It’s like walking back in time 20 years.

Anyways, I’m going to go get ready for dinner.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful thanksgiving.

Travelling during a pandemic

Greetings from Toronto.

When I came back from my Vancouver trip, I promised myself that I was going to make an effort to travel the latter half of this year. The original plan was Toronto in October, Ottawa in November and Montreal in December. This plan skipped September because I had someone important I wanted to come and see me in September and I need to leave the window as wide open as possible for them to come. Anyways, the plan was October, November and December.

Now that I’m here, I don’t think I’m going to do November and December.

Travelling right now is hard.

As careful as I’m trying to be, people are not nice when they learn that I’ve travelled from Alberta. I’m looked at, and treated, like I’m a pariah. I’ve been trying to hide that, but it’s difficult because you have to show proof of vaccination here, so everywhere I go, they learn it anyways.

It was pouring rain in Toronto today. I wandered into a mall to see if I could find somewhere that was selling umbrellas and I was not fifty feet in a mall when a man stopped me and asked me why I was so warm. When I asked him what he was talking about, he said ‘You’re sweating’. I said ‘No, I’m not, it’s pouring rain outside’. His response was to tell me that I looked ill and I shouldn’t be out in public. Again, it was pouring rain and I didn’t have an umbrella. I told him ‘Thanks for being an asshole’ and walked away. The whole situation was very off-putting. I ended up just leaving the mall and continuing to wander around in the rain without an umbrella.

I don’t know.

I’ve always reverted back to Vancouver because I have two best friends that live there. I can stay at their houses, I can drive their cars. I can do as I please.

The point of this trip, and of November and December were to go places I haven’t spent time. Because I worked in sports for so long, I have contacts basically across North America, and, I guess, the world. I was going to ‘exploit’ those acquaintances/friendships for someone to take me sightseeing. My friend that I was coming to see here, she was like ‘Yeah, it’ll be amazing, I’ll take you here —– and here —- and here —-‘. So far we went to the hockey hall of fame. Which, was great, don’t get me wrong, but it’s been a bit of a let down. And I’m realizing that its my own let down because she’s not one of my best friends. You know, my friends in Vancouver, I know they’d dedicate time for me when I visit, and I for some reason expected that here, even though we’re not nearly close to that same level of friendship. I don’t have a reason to be disappointed in her, though I want to be. It’s dumb.

But, if this is what I got in Toronto, I’m realizing I can’t expect much more from my friends/acquaintances in Ottawa and Montreal. So, perhaps I should wait to travel to these cities until I can bring someone with me?

I don’t know. Perhaps I should stick to Alberta until COVID is over. Which, at this rate, could be never. I’m definitely rethinking Ottawa and Montreal, though. Maybe I’ll just stay in my own city in November, and just rent a nice hotel room or something.

I shouldn’t be disappointed. But I am.

In other, completely unrelated news, someone reached out to me on LinkedIn and asked if I’d be willing to interview for a job at their company. So, I have a job interview next Friday. I asked him if he wanted my resume and he said no. Who knows, maybe this could be a new job for me?

Adventures await

When I really stop to think about it, the times when I’m most happy is when I’m exploring. No plans are necessary, I am just happy to go.

I love day trips, I love weekend trips, I love vacations, I just love leaving. The act of going somewhere, of leaving and knowing that I’ll be headed for somewhere I haven’t seen yet, or have seen and am excited to see again, that’s what makes me most happy in this world.

Being among the skyscrapers in a city where I couldn’t ever explore everything fills me with a sense of wonder and a desire to walk more, see more, and do more. Being among the trees, deep in the mountains, fills me with a sense of admiration for our world and how the most beautiful things on earth aren’t man-made. Being at the beach fills me with a sense of calm, listening to the waves crash the shore, watching the tides roll in and out and feeling like the universe is far greater then I could ever imagine.

I love it all. I love the great plains, the arctic tundra, the dense forests and biggest of cities. I’m lucky enough to have seen a lot of it, but there’s still so much more to see. I love ghost towns, oh ghost towns are so cool. Exploring is what fulfills me. Seeing how the other half lives – whether that’s 14 million people in a city, or the family of big horn sheep that taunt people are Radium Hot springs, it’s fascinating.

Speaking of big horn sheep, Radium Hot Springs is a tiny town in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. Probably 100 years ago, the Hot Springs were discovered in the mountains and the tiny town was built around the hot springs, and eventually the local ski areas. The big horn sheep that are native to the area, instead of moving, basically said ‘Fuck you, humans. We were here first’. Anyways, they basically control the town. There are hundreds, if not thousands of them. There’s more big horn sheep in the town then there are people. They hold up traffic, they swim in the pool, they block the entrance to the grocery store when they’re bored. They just can’t be bothered to care about the humans around trying to live their lives. It’s quite an awesome little town to see because humans have failed so miserably at ‘controlling’ the area and are at the complete behest of these adorable, and scary, sheep.

Big Horn Sheep just living their best lives.

Being somewhere other than home, it makes me feel alive.

Here’s to hoping there’s more adventures in my future, sooner rather than later. Maybe even someone to come with me.

To state the obvious

Lots going on in the world right now. I am entranced with the Pandora papers and will likely spend my entire Thanksgiving weekend reviewing that. But, I wanted to point out an obvious takeaway from yesterday. Instagram, Facebook and Whatsapp were all down for just over eight hours.

While I was getting really annoyed about how everyone and their dog was seemingly complaining about not having access to Instagram, I thought to myself, ‘this seems so much worse to people because of the trend that so many people use Instagram, and solely Instagram, for promotion of their business’.

So, my advice to the world, if you weren’t already doing such, DIVERSIFY.

Don’t put all your stupid eggs into the Instagram basket.

Don’t rely solely on an Instgram feed to promote yourself, or your book, MLM, art, fashion, photography or whatever else it is you share online. Why? Because when Instagram goes down, IT GOES DOWN.

The Communications directors for Facebook/Instagram actually had to take to Twitter to announce the outage and that it was being worked on. Yeah, how bout them apples?

An amazing website is a great resource you can give yourself. But beyond that, it’s always a smart idea to diversify your social media portfolio if you’re a creative sharing your work, or running a main business/side hustle. When something goes down, and it will go down, you’re not losing an entire’s day worth of promotion. And you’re definitely not losing out on potential revenue.

To state the obvious, a business should never exist solely on Instagram. Or on any single platform.

Oh, also, if you rely on Whatsapp to communicate necessary messaging to someone (yesterday there was a teacher on the news who was complaining that she couldn’t communicate with students), you should always have a backup plan. Again, you should never be reliant on one platform for a means of communicating. It’s not really that hard for a teacher to have had email addresses collected and send out a BCC listed note. Did she have the critical thinking skills necessary to collect email addresses? Guess not, considering how much she was bitching last night.