New Directions

Yes I know this title is used in the TV Show Glee, but it's fitting so I'm using it. I took my trip home to California, and it was amazing. I hadn't seen my mom in 6 months!! The trip was a bit intense but also great in terms of finding out more about where I'd like to end up and where I consider "home" to be. When I touched down in San Francisco (I actually missed that feeling of almost flying into the bay when you fly into SFO) I got this rush of emotions like why did I leave? What am I doing in Toronto? So that was on my mind for a bit, letting those questions swirl around in my head.

The first part of my trip consisted of going home and spending time with my family..much needed time, and the second half consisted of hanging out with my brother in San Francisco. We went to a Beer Festival on an old WWII battleship in the harbor of San Francisco, this was our third year going and to be honest, I scheduled my trip around this festival and I feel no shame in it. It's always a great time with great beer and great people. Also, for the third time, we got to listen to our favorite U2 Tribute band, Zoo Station. We somehow have been blessed enough to have them play on the same day we've gone for 3 years. It was a crazy day that ended up with us getting separated from everyone else and going home with sunburns and watching the Back to the Future marathon on TV. I miss American TV.

During the last stretch with Trev, I downloaded a band called Mumford and Sons, and proceeded to have my mind constantly blown. Their music is the perfect driving/pondering music, and it definitely inspired me to go back to Toronto with a new outlook: to make this adventure be a learning, be rewarding, and most of all..to be open to outcome, not attached to it. If you're looking for new music, I definitely suggest their debut album, Sigh No More..they've become a bit mainstream with their single Little Lion Man being played on VH1, but I won't hold it against them. One of my favs is After the Storm, which actually was the song that inspired me to come back to Toronto with a new set of eyes.

With those new eyes I came back on Tuesday night, late. On Thursday morning I was greeted with my latest setback in Canada..being laid off from my job before my contract was up, due to lack of funds because it's a small, non-profit film festival. Now, I will not bad mouth former bosses/jobs on this blog, but I will say that I found out through a sympathetic email from a co-worker that morning, because APPARENTLY my boss had told everyone she talked to me about being laid off already.

So I finished out the week, and with a promise of festival passes and vouchers, I said goodbye to my co-workers, the Distillery District, and my new 12 mile bike ride to/from work that I was becoming fond of. I did realize though that I was surprisingly calm during this event, mainly due to my relaxed state from my trip and the new attitude I came back with, which included kicking Canada's butt. Well, Canada kicked my butt first, almost to the border, but I'm picking myself up and am updating my resume as we speak (well, I'm giving myself the weekend, then I'll update) and will get back on the familiar road of job searching. I'm one of those odd people who think things happen for a reason, and I know that you don't learn when life is easy, so I'm keeping my spirits up for whatever is gonna happen next on this journey in the land of loonies. Bring it on CANADA.

Take care of yourselves out there, and do something out of your comfort zone..it's the only way to learn.