My life is a little upside-down at the moment - all in good ways - but I'm trying to keep up-to-date on my media. I don't really follow any shows these days, and those I do, I haven't been keeping up with. I was also chastized by one of my best friends - as only a best friend can chastize you - for not really knowing Beyonce's new album by now. So, I'm listening to it in my office as we speak - my third time - and obviously loving it, but I'm still planning on an in-depth listen and viewing as I get more settled in Waterloo.
I have a particularly hard time being in between things. Right now I'm living temporarily at a best friend's place in Waterloo until I get possession of my new apartment on Saturday. At that point I'll be living without all my stuff and furniture for about three weeks, allowing for lots of time with my iPad watching Beyonce videos, and doing very little of anything else aside from working + working out. So, it's decidedly an "interim" time, and it's tough on me, but I'm trying to enjoy the process instead of spending energy waiting for the next thing. If you embrace them, the in between times can be really wonderful, too.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
W5H: Waterloo
Guess what? I live in Waterloo now. I have alluded to that a few times already, but I want to give you the skinny, so here goes...
I went to university in Waterloo and lived in the city for 5 years from September 2005 to June 2010. Then I moved to Port Hope to start a job after graduation, and lived there for two years. Then I stayed in that job but worked out an amazing deal where I was able to work from home 3 days/week and commute to Port Hope for the other 2. So I lived in Toronto from July 2012-January 2014.
Then, late last year, an incredible job at my alma mater came up, and so I applied for it. I had no intention of leaving my last job, but the right opportunity came up, and after 3.5 years of service to the school I was working at before, I felt pretty comfortable moving on to something new. Lucky for me, I got the job! So, I spent the 2.5 weeks after the Christmas holidays wrapping up my work at my previous job; writing a transition report for my successor, and coordinating the biggest event that I worked on annually - an alumni shinny (hockey) tournament. It was probably the craziest and busiest time of my working life to date, but I finished off really strong and the event was a great success! I finished work at 8:30 pm on Saturday, January 18th and then started my new job 36 hours later... I know, I'm crazy.
So now I'm just wrapping up my first week at my new job in Waterloo! Right now I'm crashing with my bestie and her fiance - so generous of them! - but starting February 1st I'll have my own place here! I'm in Toronto on the weekends visiting K. and wrapping things up at our apartment there, which we have until the end of February. K. will live there for that month, and then on February 22 we'll do the full move of furniture, etc. from that apartment to the new apartment in Waterloo. I love setting up a new apartment; I'm so excited!!!
Work is off to a great start. The first week has flown by, which says a lot because sometimes a new job means a few weeks of boredom before you really get into your work. Not the case here! They had me set up so I could hit the ground running, which has been amazing. It'll be a few weeks of quiet research at my desk, but starting in early February I'll be hitting the road and getting the real work done. I can't wait!
More on life in Waterloo soon, but now you know that I'm here in Waterloo (who/where), that I'm here for a new job (what/why), that I'm here now but will have my place as of Feb 1 and be fully moved in by Feb 22 (when), and how...
Until next time!
Posts to come... Why I like living in Waterloo right now & how I love the "7 Up" documentary series
I went to university in Waterloo and lived in the city for 5 years from September 2005 to June 2010. Then I moved to Port Hope to start a job after graduation, and lived there for two years. Then I stayed in that job but worked out an amazing deal where I was able to work from home 3 days/week and commute to Port Hope for the other 2. So I lived in Toronto from July 2012-January 2014.
Then, late last year, an incredible job at my alma mater came up, and so I applied for it. I had no intention of leaving my last job, but the right opportunity came up, and after 3.5 years of service to the school I was working at before, I felt pretty comfortable moving on to something new. Lucky for me, I got the job! So, I spent the 2.5 weeks after the Christmas holidays wrapping up my work at my previous job; writing a transition report for my successor, and coordinating the biggest event that I worked on annually - an alumni shinny (hockey) tournament. It was probably the craziest and busiest time of my working life to date, but I finished off really strong and the event was a great success! I finished work at 8:30 pm on Saturday, January 18th and then started my new job 36 hours later... I know, I'm crazy.
So now I'm just wrapping up my first week at my new job in Waterloo! Right now I'm crashing with my bestie and her fiance - so generous of them! - but starting February 1st I'll have my own place here! I'm in Toronto on the weekends visiting K. and wrapping things up at our apartment there, which we have until the end of February. K. will live there for that month, and then on February 22 we'll do the full move of furniture, etc. from that apartment to the new apartment in Waterloo. I love setting up a new apartment; I'm so excited!!!
Work is off to a great start. The first week has flown by, which says a lot because sometimes a new job means a few weeks of boredom before you really get into your work. Not the case here! They had me set up so I could hit the ground running, which has been amazing. It'll be a few weeks of quiet research at my desk, but starting in early February I'll be hitting the road and getting the real work done. I can't wait!
More on life in Waterloo soon, but now you know that I'm here in Waterloo (who/where), that I'm here for a new job (what/why), that I'm here now but will have my place as of Feb 1 and be fully moved in by Feb 22 (when), and how...
Until next time!
Posts to come... Why I like living in Waterloo right now & how I love the "7 Up" documentary series
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Prisoners
AHHHHHH!!! OK, so my resolution to re-watch as few movies and TV shows as I can is working. Every time I go on Netflix, I second-guess my instinct to watch something I've seen before and try something new. I'm also trying as often as possible to finish any TV show or movie that I start (another bad habit of mine).
Last night I watched something new - and horrifying!!! "Prisoners" starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, and others! Incredible acting, mostly great story, GREAT ending, some very disturbing moments, and overall an entertaining and captivating movie. I watched it with my bestie's fiance, Doug, and thankfully he forced me through the parts that were really freaking me out.
Posts to come... My love for the 7 Up documentary series, Who/What/Where/Why/When & How I'm Moving to Waterloo, and more!
Last night I watched something new - and horrifying!!! "Prisoners" starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, and others! Incredible acting, mostly great story, GREAT ending, some very disturbing moments, and overall an entertaining and captivating movie. I watched it with my bestie's fiance, Doug, and thankfully he forced me through the parts that were really freaking me out.
Posts to come... My love for the 7 Up documentary series, Who/What/Where/Why/When & How I'm Moving to Waterloo, and more!
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Blogging on the go!
Here's something else I've decided for 2014 - blogging doesn't have to be this long, drawn-out, pensive thing that I can only do at my desk on a weekend with a coffee. So it won't be anymore! I'm currently at a hockey rink, overseeing an alumni hockey tournament that I've run for the school I work at for the past 4 years. How time flies?!
And guess what? This is my last time doing it. Why? Because I'm starting a new job on Monday (more on that sometime soon).
It's bittersweet, of course. It feels good though because 3 years ago when I ran this for the first time (it happens in January every year and I've done it in 2011, 2012, 2013, and now), it was probably the most stressful thing I've ever done. I'm not saying I didn't freak out about it a few times this year either, but it's finally started to feel like a smooth-running machine. I'm not the only one that makes it that way, but on my final day of work, I'm feeling pretty proud about it.
Now, back to the action!
And guess what? This is my last time doing it. Why? Because I'm starting a new job on Monday (more on that sometime soon).
It's bittersweet, of course. It feels good though because 3 years ago when I ran this for the first time (it happens in January every year and I've done it in 2011, 2012, 2013, and now), it was probably the most stressful thing I've ever done. I'm not saying I didn't freak out about it a few times this year either, but it's finally started to feel like a smooth-running machine. I'm not the only one that makes it that way, but on my final day of work, I'm feeling pretty proud about it.
Now, back to the action!
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Surprise Me
Note: If you're in a Starbucks, having an extremely productive kick, and it's later in the evening, and quiet at the bar, and you don't know what you want, ask for a recommendation. I just went up to the counter and said I wanted something cold and caffeinated, but not too "coffee-ish" (I love coffee, but I've already had way too much today). I was speaking to the cashier, but I saw the barista perk up and get really interested in what I was saying. He went on to ask me a bunch of questions, and then said, "I got it!" He didn't even tell me what I was getting, but just made me something. I love it! It's like telling a chef to surprise you at a restaurant... you're so likely to get the best meal you've ever had.
And for the record, this cool lime refresher is totally hitting the spot.
And for the record, this cool lime refresher is totally hitting the spot.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
I came up with a legit resolution...
...and it is: to re-watch and re-read as little as possible!
Something you may or may not know about me is that I watch the same stuff over and over again, and that applies to a lesser degree to reading as well. Rather than diving into new TV shows, which I find intimidating and overwhelming, I re-watch ones I've already seen. Obviously this isn't all I do, but I do it a lot. It's comfortable and relaxing to just let my mind focus very little on what's in front of me.
Comfortable and relaxing, maybe, but not extremely engaging, is it? It's easy to just allow myself to do that, but it would really stretch my mind more if I made myself - and it will take a concerted effort - engage in new things. I intend to do more than just watching new TV shows and movies, but this is one way to cultivate new interests and hobbies.
So, I intend to watch movies I've always meant to... like "Annie Hall", "Kramer vs. Kramer", and more! Any time I sit down to watch a movie, I'll make an effort to try something new!
Brilliant. Bring it on!
Something you may or may not know about me is that I watch the same stuff over and over again, and that applies to a lesser degree to reading as well. Rather than diving into new TV shows, which I find intimidating and overwhelming, I re-watch ones I've already seen. Obviously this isn't all I do, but I do it a lot. It's comfortable and relaxing to just let my mind focus very little on what's in front of me.
Comfortable and relaxing, maybe, but not extremely engaging, is it? It's easy to just allow myself to do that, but it would really stretch my mind more if I made myself - and it will take a concerted effort - engage in new things. I intend to do more than just watching new TV shows and movies, but this is one way to cultivate new interests and hobbies.
So, I intend to watch movies I've always meant to... like "Annie Hall", "Kramer vs. Kramer", and more! Any time I sit down to watch a movie, I'll make an effort to try something new!
Brilliant. Bring it on!
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Hobbies
A thought occurred to me tonight as I sat in the Four Seasons Centre watching the working rehearsal of Cosi fan tutte: I need a hobby. I'm a busy person, but at this point it's usually work + gym + hanging out + watching TV. If someone asked, "What are you interested in?" I'm not sure what I'd say. I might say "music", but aside from listening to it, how do I take an interest in it? I like "opera", but that interest doesn't go far beyond seeing the occasional performance or listening to my girlfriend K. sing or talk about it. And when I watch TV and movies, it's often just re-watching shows and movies I've already seen before.
So here's one of my resolutions for 2014: actively cultivate interests and hobbies. If I like reading, I ought to read. If I'm so interested in opera, I'm going to listen to it regularly and read about if and form opinions on it. This may sound forced, but maybe I need to put some effort into cultivating interests to begin with. It's easy to marathon "The O.C." on DVD, but it's more difficult to decide to watch a new documentary every week.
Whatever I want to dive into, I'd like to do it wholeheartedly.
Watch out, world!
So here's one of my resolutions for 2014: actively cultivate interests and hobbies. If I like reading, I ought to read. If I'm so interested in opera, I'm going to listen to it regularly and read about if and form opinions on it. This may sound forced, but maybe I need to put some effort into cultivating interests to begin with. It's easy to marathon "The O.C." on DVD, but it's more difficult to decide to watch a new documentary every week.
Whatever I want to dive into, I'd like to do it wholeheartedly.
Watch out, world!
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