Bummersville.

Glass? Half empty.

So, it's REALLY unusual for me to get in a long term funk like this. I have swinging ups and downs, sure, but I usually level out in the optimistic range. Being unemployed for almost a year (mostly my own fault) has finally taken it's toll. And it's not like I've been watching soaps. I've filled nearly every day of the past year with writing, launching my little pet biz, supporting rock-star hubby's burgeoning music career, and to a lesser extent, applying for "real" jobs.

I feel like a big flake. I declared war on 9-to-5 pressure in the fall and decided I wouldn't go back to a full-time job. I just wouldn't!! I thought I could piece together little bits and pieces of jobs (once my EI ran out) while launching my business. Then: we maxed out our joint credit card. How did this happen? I'm usually on top of our financial situation, as depressing as it is, but I let it slip probably because it was too scary to face. Reality: I needed a full time job. If Alex's own "career" was more stable, I could put our little family on the line and take some career risks, but he's taking a big enough leap that it would just be silly to try to do the same right now. I'm trying not to be resentful. Of course, the deal is that I'll have my turn one day, once he's raking in the sweet, sweet music dough. That's always been the plan.

But what if he doesn't? Ever? It's a possibility that my glass-half-full outlook couldn't ever entertain. Until now. I never doubted Sweet Thing's ability to "make it" and if it were entirely up to them, I still wouldn't. But the music biz is tough, my pets. Especially in our "home and native land". This year's rough itinerary is promising, though: releasing another single (or two), a couple of big summer festivals, a jaunt south and maybe some overseas action. But, since I'm in a "dark place", I'm skeptical. 

I'm being dramatic. I'm not exactly a candidate for suicide-watch. In fact, you'd probably only notice that I was a bit in the dumps if you really, really, really knew me. Liz figured me out right away. And I'm thankful for our Skype talks.

I guess that's why I haven't been writing. My blogTO contributions have slowed and I have been neglecting this blog, too. All in favour of good things, though: spending tons of quality time with Alex before he left on tour (this is day 3 of 32), applying for real jobs, interviewing for said real jobs, and building a productivity-friendly work space. (I will post photos soon!)

So, yes, things are looking up. Maybe that's why I'm back in over-sharing mode. It's an effort to snap myself out of uncharacteristic negativity. 

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More blogs coming soon: interview style, Sweet Thing update, small space decor (on a dime), and MORE! (I have some catching up to do, don't I?)

T-R-O-U-B-L-E

Capital T. Trouble.

If I had met this girl when I was single or young (or both), we would have found plenty of trouble together. But I'm married now, so I'm not allowed to have any fun. Kidding. But really, it's probably a good thing that I met her post-Alex.

She's road-tripping with me to see Sweet Thing in Ottawa and stay with my folks (they're getting a HOT TUB)! Too excited about what kind of shenanigans we might find.

I think I attract trouble. Or maybe I bring it out in people. Or do they unleash it in me? My high school friend's mother never liked me because she thought I was a bad influence. It was, in fact, entirely the other way around. I was a good girl until I met that group, but of course, her mother didn't really want to see it that way.  

All of my favourite people are so bad-ass in their own way. (And most of them live tooooo far away)

Like this one. Oh, don't be fooled by the fact that she's probably THE nicest person I know. This innocent smile can be deceiving. This is us last year at my wedding. 

But things weren't always so pretty...

Trouble.

Then there's this one. Oh my. I would say that Trouble is her middle name but her real middle name (and first name and last name) are already so freakin' cool. And not made up. Legit. (But yeah, trouble)

My sister (trouble).

 

This one. Hell yeah.

Don't even get me STARTED.

Oh lordy...

Mom/Trouble. Seriously. (Genetic?)

Have I mentioned how much I love these people? 

OK, so I've made my own contributions...

 

 

Good clean fun.

I'm just really thankful to have some seriously ridiculous people in my life. And I'm happy none of them have been arrested yet. 

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UPDATE:


It is with great regret that inform you that I missed the biggest troublemaker of all. She JAY-WALKED the other day. *GASP* 

Pretty much pure evil. I think a general rule of thumb is to never trust red heads (real or otherwise).

Babes who brunch.

Joey, our long-gone friend stolen from us by Corporate America, was up for the long weekend (via Vegas, then NYC). Toronto is lucky to have her back. Even for a few days. We brunched and beered on Friday.

Meredith says that she understands my plight. The lost-favourite-food-joint plight, that is. Like, if Aunties and Uncles closed, it would be akin to my Nataraj loss. OK. She does spend at least one breakfast a week at the place. And Friday was her second day in a row this week. Let's hope she doesn't end up an orphan like me. I love this place, too. I generally dislike the massive line-ups for tables, though. I guess Aunties isn't closing anytime soon. We all had breakfast tacos. It seems I'm always craving something Mexican-inspired these days.

That was kinda my favourite part of LA, actually. 

We were attempting "soft palettes" for natural looking photos. Ha! It's advice via M's acting world. I don't think we understood. Nonetheless, my aren't we just so natural?!

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Sunday morn. Me and Mister are splurging on Starbucks for breaky (yeah, sadly it's a splurge) and walking the THREE dogs this morn. I then have blogTO biz to attend to and Thanksgiving dinner to make/attempt. Owen of dreamboat lead-singer quasi-fame is our orphan this eve. I will try my darndest to overcome that incredible metabolism of his and put some meat on that boy. Turkey pot pies for the boys, and veggie for me. Mmmm.

Shout out!

Have I mentioned that I happen to be friends with the amazing minds behind GelaSkins? Through my forever-friend Dawn, I've met her main squeeze and his lovely business partners. Their company happens to be turning FIVE this year! Dawn reminded me that most businesses never make the two-year mark. Gotta say, I'm pretty proud!

Just a little Happy Birthday wish to GelaSkins! Congrats Drew, Jamie and Brian!

Oh, and I was really thrilled to be featured (headless) on the site in a few of the product shots (thanks to the amazing photography of miss Courtney Price):

Aaaaand... one of my favourite photos from our wedding last year (shot by Ms.Dawn herself) was used as the demo on the main page of the "Create Your Own" section of the site! Poke around in this section - it's pretty great! 

Help a wicked Canadian company! Buy a protective skin for your laptop, phone, iPod and even gaming controller!! (Too bad they don't make skins for my Canon Rebel and wide-angle lens.)

xo

[ all images c/o gelaskins.com ]