Before I start, i hope you like the new look of the site! New year, new look :)

So..

It has been an insane 3 weeks since I last wrote. Work has been madness. No really, not the usually madness that I talk about, 12-15 hr. a day MADNESS!

First off, my manager was on vacation for a week since the first day of work back. No problem, since everyone deserves a vacation... But of course, in my team, after me (a lowly coordinator) the next person up is the account director! That's a $60-80K difference in salary (+ a share in the company's profits, so I'm sure it's higher than that!). Can we say understaffed?

It was tough because I had to put on an account manager hat, sitting in meetings about programs that I knew little about. When clients asked me questions, I had to give short and opened ended answers like "well, that's something we're still exploring" or "I'll have to get back to you to verify" or some shit like that. It was super bad for the first 3 days because of a major program that my manager has been spearheading mostly herself. I was also on vacation just before she left, so I had a backlog of 100 emails to catch up on my programs that she was covering for me.

Anyway, the main issue was that one major program I just wrote about. I assisted with the concept development stage before the pitch (November/Dec), but after I've only been doing siloed tasks like building the critical path. Of course, the account director had many other things to take care of (since she has to manage more than just my accounts) so sometimes I was left working on decks and that budgets by myself. Thankfully after those 3-4 days of hell I started to get an understanding of the mechanics of the program, and more importantly the budget!

Ok, I'm getting into too much detail, and obviously I can't get into detail about the programs on an online journal. But all in all, when my manger got back from vacation she had to go to Montreal on business, and while there one of her family members passed away! OI! Understandably, she was MIA for a few MORE days... That lasted until this week, when she finally got back.

Even while she's back, I‚m still working until 8, but it's better than 10-11 p.m. I know it sounds insane, but the "regular" firefighting work hours of 8:30-5:30 just fly by, and it's only then when I can start doing some of my own work.

OK enough about work. I am starting to look for a new job, so when (if!) I find time I will send out a few more feelers and see how the market responds. I've sent 2 out already, with more to come.

Bday Dinners and Moving

Yesterday I celebrated one of my longstanding best friends' 25th bday. Wow, a quarter century. He's the same age as me, so my big 2-5 is coming soon too... So. We went out with a couple friends to Milestones, sitting in a booth with high tables and low lighting. I think I have a smurf torso b/c I felt like I was at "the big people's table". I just sunk into the booth too the point where the top of the table covered 3/4 of my chest! I reverted back to my younger days by taking off my shoes and crossing my legs (a la budda style) to give me some lift :)

I gave him a Floyd calendar and a great shirt from American Apparel (almost bought of another colour one myself), which I think is totally his style. He already has great style, and I think it will accompany his wardrobe quite well. Let's hope it fits him. I know that he has commented that some of the shirts sat just a bit too high on the waist, so I made sure that the silver grey t-shirt (with subtle lime green stitching) I got him was cut an inch longer. I'm always apprehensive about buying clothes without trying them on, but this time I thought I'd take the plunge. Plus, there's always a gift receipt!

Today I'm also packing because the big house move is next week! Let's hope these next few days will be the only snowstorm for the next week, or else it will be an even tougher move! I get a day off from work for moving, so at least I can help out as much as I can on the big day. This afternoon I should be packing, but I'm writing instead. Heh. There isn't too much of my stuff to pack, b/c most of my stuff is still in boxes from when I was in co-op at university. Too bad for my sister though. She's 9 years younger, however she's got 4x as many clothes, accessories and other crap than me. I guess I'm a bit of a minimalist compared to her!

I have another bday to go to tonight, which I have been planning for the past week. The only thing I couldn't plan on is this insane weather! It's crazy out, and thankfully I did my shopping in the morning just as the snow started to come down super hard. This night will not fall because of the snow, and I will keep you posted on how it went!

Take care,

RE

"Eat drink and be merry"