Category Archives: Life as I know it

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2014 yearly review

I’m horrible at keeping up with my blog, life has changed A LOT and kept me 50 shades of stupid busy.
-But- I try to do at least this once a year. Even if some things rarely, if ever change throughout the year.

1. What did you do in 2014 that you’d never done before?

This list should be long but I’m drawing a blank.  It hasn’t been an adventurous year due to a lack of resources but I try to make it a point to try new things.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I haven’t bothered with them in years.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Not this year, pretty sure most of my loved one’s are done having babies.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, which is something I am thankful for.  I did however loose a professor to suicide whom I had a deep respect for.

5. What countries did you visit?

Sadly I haven’t left Canada in a long, long time.

6. What would you like to have in 2015that you lacked in 2014?

Being able to communicate in French on a more functional level.

7. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

June 11th- The day I found out my dad had cancer.

June 13th- The day I got fired from my job.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting A’s in all but one of my classes.

9. What was your biggest failure?

A stupid C in illustration but that’s BS.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Yes. Nothing too serious

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Camera gear 🙂

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Nick’s, that boy is nothing short of amazing.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

My ex BIL along with a few other people who I shall not name.

14. Where did most of your money go?

School & camera gear.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

School actually.  I’m really digging this whole university thing.

16. What song will always remind you of 2014?

Shake it off-Taylor Swift for no reason other than it’s a catchy song.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

I am mostly happier, fatter and richer in a non monetary way.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Practicing my craft (photography), reading more, learning more.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Being distracted, housework.  Wasting time on things/people/places that didn’t really matter.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

I was in Ontario with my family & friends and it was awesome! I had an exceptional Christmas this year!

21. Did you fall in love in 2014?

Every single day. <3 Nick so very much

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Grey’s & The big bang theory

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Yes. I wouldn’t go far as to say hate but more despise I think would be appropriate.

24. What was the best book you read?

Composition: from snap shots to great shots.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Can’t say I have one of those.

26. What did you want and get?

More work done on my sleeve, which is now almost done!

A shiny new camera and time with the people I love the most.

27. What did you want and not get?

This year, oddly enough I have nothing to add here. It’s a good thing!

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Didn’t really watch a lot of movies this year.  Especially one’s that one would consider new but I did see Dear White people with Nick and we both enjoyed it.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 36 and had a small, yet fun gathering with family.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not being in debt and being done school

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?

Yoga pants, hoodies and t-shirts.  I live for comfort.  Especially when I spend so much time taking pictures, editing and sitting in a classroom.

32. What kept you sane?

-My friends, most of my family. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without them this year! I am so very fortunate to have such amazing people in my life!

-Photography.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

That’s not my style, I could care less about that sort of thing.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

This year I paid scant attention to politics period.

35. Who did you miss?

Jason as always.  Nick when I’m on the road without him.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I can’t pick just one, but I’ve met some really great people this year!

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014.

That people you thought you could trust can and will turn on you in an instant.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

“And he still gives his love, he just gives it away
The love he receives is the love that is saved
And sometimes is seen a strange spot in the sky
A human being that was given to fly”

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I committed career suicide.

Apparently.

I’ll admit it, I’ve gotten really spoiled the past few years with a nice cushy culinary job.

I earned it. 

What a lot of people don’t realize is that the culinary industry is very egocentric and God help your sorry ass if you have a vagina and are *gasp* better at something than some guy on your line.  It’s also very, very sexist.  Growing up and pursuing this particular art form was nothing short of a hellish nightmare.  I was constantly told that I would never make it as a Chef.

Except I did.  I even wrote my own damn cook book too.  Because I am AWESOME. 

I have spent the last 4.5 years in a upscale, private daycare.  On June 13th 2014 I was unceremoniously fired for reasons I can not currently discuss in a public forum.

So I did what any self respecting Chef would do.  Dusted off my CV (which is a work of art) and hit the ground running looking for work.  There is no shortage of restaurants in this lovely city and generally at any point I found myself without a job I always found one within a week or two.  Usually within in a few days.  When you work in a restaurant, jobs as a line cook are plentiful.  As are other higher ranked opportunities (such as Chef de partie, sous chef and so forth).

That is until you work in a daycare for almost five years…

That right there?  That’s what you call career suicide.

I have lost count of how many CV’s I have sent out.  I have, to be fair gotten my fair share of call backs as well.  Which is great until you show up for the interview and they compliment you on how ballin your CV is, but then when it gets to your qualifications and experience, it’s like they never read the fucking thing!?!  It’s pretty clear that I haven’t worked on a line in almost five years and I’m straight up about that too.

Oh and I can’t forget the times that I have been either scheduled for a job trial and/or an interview only to show up and be told that the position has been filled.  Because clearly calling me as a courtesy is too taxing for you.

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So I finally caught a break.

Or so I thought. 

I accepted a job at a not to be disclosed location and all of a sudden I became the most popular person ever!  My phone was going INSANE with interviews and job offers.  I have one place BEGGING me to come there.  Except I had committed to one and I told the others that I would get back to them.

Well the really nice, high paying sous chef job required me to be more bilingual than I am and that made me sad because I couldn’t accept it in the end.  Another job trial was in a production kitchen but the kitchen manager was a giant douche bag and I knew the minute I laid eyes on him, it wasn’t going to work out.  I was right.  Which was fine actually because holy shit listening to CJAD all day and cutting vegetables? zzzzzzzzzzz  Yeah I would have done it for now because well bills and stuff.  I could go on and on but needless to say, it just wasn’t working out.  It’s basically been what’s stated above, lather, rinse, repeat.
I need a few days to settle in somewhere and get organized.  The first few shifts for me are always clumsy and awkward but you team that up with not being in that environment for so long?

You’re fucked.

Metaphorically it’s like this: It’s like an old friend you’ve known for years and years and all of a sudden you don’t talk for 4.5 years.  Then you get reunited.  Which is great, it’s familiar but a lot has changed too.  So you need to spend time playing catch up with this person.

Except no one can afford to give you that time, or you’re not French speaking enough or lacking your papers or a car and the list goes on and on.

So I took the last option I had handed to me, they’re really nice people, gorgeous restaurant and then as we were setting up to open I noticed that there was 4 different types of meat on the counter.  I put my hand on them thinking that they had just been pulled out of the fridge.  Nope.

THEY WERE ROOM TEMPERATURE! RAW MEAT, LEFT OUT ON THE COUNTER, OVERNIGHT IN JULY.

Oh hell no.

So.  So much for that place.  Back to the grind I go, more interviews, more of the oh, you’ve been out of restaurants for a while.  Yeah this isn’t going to work out (Again, read my f’ing CV jackass).

Yet I didn’t give up, that is until yesterday.  I had a training shift schedule at a place that I thought would be a good re-introduction back into a line.  I was flat out honest about where I stood, how long it had been since I had worked on a line and blah blah blah.  He didn’t care, thanked me for being honest and I thought OK cool it’ll do for now.   I was asked to be there at 5pm and I waited and I waited until 5:30 and that’s when I left.  Because if you can’t be bothered to be there on time or at least make the effort to call me or your restaurant, that says a lot of things about you and they’re not nice.

I had one last interview today.  It was more of the same, but I got points for being honest.  No real loss there, the place is an hour away.  *Note to self, no more jobs in the mile end.

So that being said, i’m moving onto to other things I’ve had in the works for a few weeks.  Just need to finalize some details first.

 

 

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Dear Dustin

An open letter to my nephew who turned 18 today.

Dearest Dustin.

I remember when your mom told me she was pregnant with you.

Instant Joy. 

I was SO excited, I couldn’t wait for you to arrive!  I took your mom and dad out to Mr. Sub and your mom got the most disgusting concoction I have ever seen.  I still lived at home and your mom and dad lived next door and I was the one who answered the phone when your mom called in the wee hours of the morning panicking because she was pretty sure that her water broke and she couldn’t pee and could I please get mom.

I was fortunate enough to be let into the delivery room minutes after your arrival, which technically wasn’t allowed but the rules were bent for me that day and I remember the first time I held you in my arms.  Your dad was glaring at me because I was hogging you and had a real hard time giving you back.  I absolutely adored you from that moment and that’s one thing that hasn’t changed.

I promised your parents that I would be your guardian should something happen to them.  I was honored that your parents asked me to be your God mother and I stood before all of our loved one’s and God as I promised to do everything I could in my power to help you, to guide you, to protect you and most importantly to love you no matter what.

I never, ever go back on my word.

I’ll never forget the time you asked me about being gay, which also led to a discussion about adoption all the while wondering where on earth your mother was! Ha ha >.<  We (your mom and I) still laugh about that to this day and about how mortified *I* was.

When you were small, I used to sing you are my sunshine and that has proven to be true all these years.  No matter how rough things got, I could always count on you (and your sister when she arrived) to brighten my day and to remind me of how blessed I truly am.  Through the years there’s been some insane ups and downs.  Lot’s of sleepover’s, trips to the park, ice cream, hugs,  tears, joy, frustrations and times when I was sorry and very angry that I couldn’t be there with you to take the hurt away when I moved to Montreal.  Just remember my dear heart, death before dishonor.  I promised you and your sister that I wouldn’t ever hurt you.

I will beat the snot out of anyone who dares to hurt the love of my life.   

I can’t believe that you’re 18.  *I* was 18 when you came into this world and you have turned into a remarkable young man and I am so proud of you and the man you have become and I can only begin to imagine what an outstanding man you’re going to become.  Here are some pearls of wisdom  and there’s some more here and some more here.  There’s a lot of validity in those pearls of wisdom.  Cherish them.

The only piece of advice I wish to leave to leave you with is this: Be true to yourself, because at the end of the day that’s who you have to live with.  I’ll love you no matter what. xoxo

You are my sunshine.  I’ll love you forever, i’ll like you for always.  As long as i’m living, my nephew you’ll be. <3

All my love, Aunt Stephie

 

 

 

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2013 in review

I can’t recall if I did this last year or not and looking back at previous entries it almost makes me sad to think that the older I get, the more lame my life seems to become lol.

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before?

I was able to say good-bye to a friend, finally.  Went Mosaïcultures internationales, which was something extraordinary.  Checked out nuit blanche, fete de neige, the Montreal ice hotel/village, was part of a live audience for a taping at a Just For Laughs gala, seen Debra DiGiovani   (She’s hilar in real life, I promise).  Celebrated a non smoking anniversary (one year baby, working on a second!).  Seen pink in concert, not once but twice!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Here’s the thing about resolutions.  We all make them and usually break them and feel like a total failure.  Why do we always need to wait until the end of the year to write a new chapter?  There’s 365 days in the damn year, own that shit!  Write a new page every damn day.  You don’t need to write a new chapter, sometimes all you need to write is a poem.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Sure did!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yep.

5. What countries did you visit?

This question always depresses me.  I never get to go anywhere good because I am always, seemingly poor.  I REALLY need to rectify this problem.

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013?

Ohh less stress, less debt, less housework!

7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

I don’t know the exact date, but I know it was in Sept.  Julie (Jason’s mom) was kind enough to send me some of Jason’s ashes and I was able to finally say goodbye to him.  I finally found peace within my soul, something I had not had for a very long time.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Registering for school, putting a dent in my debt and doing the things i’ve been meaning to do.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not finding a better paying job.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing too major.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

A sexy new camera for school.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Mine, because you know what?  No one is going to celebrate you quite like you.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Someone’s mother, who shall remain nameless (not my own).

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills, concert tickets, stuff for school.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Career change!!!!

16. What song will always remind you of 2013?

Anything by P!nk because I was fortunate to be able to see her twice.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Happier, fatter and rich in some ways (non monetary) and poor when it comes to actual money

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Gone to see and do more when the weather was nice.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Ordered in.  All this take out and extravagant eating is not helping my fat ass out any and it certainly isn’t helping my bank account.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

With my darling boyfriend for the first time since last year we couldn’t be together and my family in Ontario.  It was awesome as usual.

21. Did you fall in love in 2013?

Every day!

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Grey’s, two broke girls

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

Nope.

24. What was the best book you read?

Ugh that’s a tough call, I read so many good one’s

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Oh I don’t know about that, nothing really stands out for me.  Which is pretty sad in it’s own way.

26. What did you want and get?

A new camera (pro series)

27. What did you want and not get?

A raise.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Kick ass 2

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Went out with the boyfriends family and had a lovely dinner and got spoiled of course.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not being in debt.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012?

Plain, casual with some more amped up color for a change.  Although due to going out more, i’ve had to acquire more fancier attire.

32. What kept you sane?

Art.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Russell Brand.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

People getting pissy in the US over healthcare.

35. Who did you miss?

My nanna and my best friend.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Sandra.  Nick’s cousin, we just seem to get each other.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013.

That those who can take you for granted can and in fact will.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

“The Giving Tree”

All the leaves on the Giving Tree have fallen
No shade to crawl in underneath
I’ve got scars from a pocket knife
Where you carved your heart into me

If all you wanted was love
Why would you use me up
Cut me down, build a boat, and sail away
When all I wanted to be was your giving tree
Settle down, build a home, and make you happy?

I lie in the dead of night and I wonder
Whose covers you’re between
And it’s sad laying in his bed
You feel hollow, so you crawl home back to me

Well, I see a trail that starts
A line of broken hearts behind you
That lead you back to me
The once sad and lonely fool
With nothing left but roots to show, oh