Happy Anniversary to Me

Tomorrow will be the 8th anniversary of my official hiring at my workplace. How time passes so quickly when you believe in what you are doing and enjoy who you do it with (mostly). It used to be more of a family feel, where we all helped each other, spent off work time together, and all felt like we were working together towards the same goal. What has happened? Have the next generation of young people become selfish, me me kind of people?

It creeped me out to find this newspaper clipping in my papers last year. This was the job ad from the October Now Magazine in 1999. It took them almost 3 months to do the interviews, all the while I was working on contract for them. How stressful it was watching other people do their computer tests right beside me! How stressful it was to be rushing materials for another new member local and then rushing to my interview.

I believe 20-something people were interviewed, but they still hired me in the end. Their main reservation at the time was that I was too young. Perhaps now, all these years later, that ended up being a good thing.

Happy anniversary to me.

On Handbooks & Embarassments

The handbooks didn't come in on time this year, so we are suffering and trying to get the damn things out still. Actually instead of WE, it feels like ME at times. How many things will go wrong this coming year? Is it an omen? Is this going to be the year of watching all my co-workers do nothing while I still care and put in a 200% effort? I don't know how many more damn people I can deal with complaining about something which they get free. It reminds me of other handbook disasters years. Like the year we printed the price of alcohol in 2 places and had to stick white stickers over both ads in 12,000 handbooks!

Or it doesn't beat the year when we picked the most uncanny Orientation theme. Yes, in April of 2001, we decided the theme would be "Ground Zero". The Student Centre site was about to be demolished and the design of the book and materials would look like they were building blueprints. It was to symbolize starting at the ground and building up something good. I remember distinctly the conversation with the President at the time. He wondered if people still equated that phrase with the bombing of Hiroshima. We both concluded that people entering University that year wouldn't equate THAT phrase with war and bombing. Who knew we were being so naive. Famous last words.

So off we went with that theme. The week of September 5, 2001, we gave out stressballs, nerf balls, bandannas, Activist Newspapers and 12,500 handbooks, all with the moniker "Ground Zero" on them. One week later, on September 11, I turned on the television and saw the news.

The coincidence was so uncanny! Now Magazine even covered it on the page one news tidbits (click on photo above to read it)!!! I was actually phoned for an interview asking if we did that on purpose... I have never been so famous without anyone knowing it was me. Perhaps the anonymity that time was a good thing.

Time to Chop it Off!

It's time. I don't really know why I waited this long to cut it. This is a really bad, unflattering photo of my hair. I left it untied and took this photo to remember how long it grew before I cut it. I'm not sure why a whole year passed before I did cut it. Has it become indecision? Has it become something I've become attached to? Yes to both. It was also finding someone to cut my hair. Sometimes I find it so unsatisfying getting a $60 style/cut when it isn't worth it, and last time I really don't like what I had. It sucked. So, in the meantime, it morphed into many different styles. Some days when I actually took the time to style it, it could look like a totally different, brand new cut. It was great. [emphasis on the word was]

So, I cut it. Looked at old cuts I liked of mine, brought a photo, and helped it along it's way. All for $35 – and with an espresso and head massage to boot! Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!! <<---- sighs of relaxation!

It's Done!!!

I feel so tired... I suppose I'm really fucking glad it's over. The book is done for another year. Another year of reflecting on all the amazing things we've done. It was truly a productive year. It's also interesting to see how my style evolves over all the books I've done. Sometimes I can't believe how quickly 8 years has passed there. I have grown. I feel like a different person than I was when I started. Is that a good thing? I don't know if I want to think about it. Working there has really enabled me to tie together my need to help people, be involved in some sort of activism, work with people whose minds aren't formed yet...

Some people find reinventing the wheel over and over again really boring. I see it not so much as this, but as an opportunity and challenge to create a similar thing in a completely different way. 8 times over. But it's so hard not to work at night and look at what's out there and think about how it would apply to where I work. No one really could think that I do this, but I can't help it. Everything I see I judge it for it's application to things I'm working on at work and on my own. Perhaps my analytical mind helps me in more ways than I think. I guess many of us do this at work. Spend extra time in your own life on work things.

I remember when I first was seriously pursuing design as a career. I kind of got there more quickly than I had planned. So much fucking around in my second degree that I made the choice for myself. I needed to be self sufficient and to have to answer to nobody but myself. This was my main priority and goal. No one believed in me but me. I knew everyone around me thought I would fail, and they told me so, but I knew I was into it and I could do it. It was the first time I saw how doing something which you really enjoy makes it so much easier in life. And I am thankful for this.

Don't get me wrong, I love mentoring people. But I feel I need a mentor myself. And I am not in the right place to find this. The novelty of succeeding at something people thought you wouldn't at is beginning to wear off. I want to find my next challenge. What the hell would that be? Perhaps I question things way too much. Or perhaps all the signs are going by without me noticing them...

Speaking of Geek...

I love world transit systems. And apparently so does this site. They are obsessed with design too! If you you can read Spanish, check out their blog too!

http://metro.b3co.com/

I love the maps, signs, the colours, the tickets, tokens, logos when I am in other cities... It's funny how much I detest the system here and try my best not to ride it if possible!

Top Signs You're A Design Geek

1. You think Spyders don't crawl walls...they calibrate screens.
2. You're in the sun and you look around for a Drop Shadow to sit under.
3. You give your relatives a lecture about color spaces and profiles when you email them your vacation photos.
4. Seing someone use Lens Flare, Comic Sans or Courier adversely affects your blood-pressure
5. You maintain a grid system for your refrigerator magnets.
6. You organise your CD collection according to the Pantone chart.
7. You sit at work for eight hours straight just looking at your monitor, waiting for a spark of inspiration that doesn't come.
8. You're up 'til 5am because you came up with the best idea ever while brushing your teeth last night.
9. You have a densitometer... and think it's perfectly acceptable to take a reading of your skin tone.
10. You know Lorem Ipsum by heart.
11. You take pantone chips to the paint store.
12. The preschool teacher complains your child won't color inside or outside the lines – only indicate colors on a separate sheet.
13. Activating your entire font collection makes your computer crash – and you're running OSX.
14. Really good packaging stays up on top of the kitchen cupboards.
15. Ephemera is not. It's period design reference samples.
16. You spend $200 on a font for your personal website because "it's the only one where the lower-case g is just right..."
17. Looking at a menu make you go "hmmm, ITC Baskerville italic" rather than "mmmm, lunch!"
18. And when you finally order, you go for Layer Based Slices with Grain Texture...
19. You use words about fonts you dislike that other normal people reserve for fascist dictators and serial killers.
20. Apple+Z is the first thing that goes through your mind if you drop and break something.
21. You refer to colleagues as Strict, Transitional, Loose and the Future Unemployed.
22. You figured out how all your stuff went together at the factory.
23. You analyze your enviromental colour in CMYK, RGB, Lab and Hex.

Cottaging - An Ontario Tradition

This city is always better when you can get away. Even in the winter. Yes, the snow may be piled up higher, but at least it is scenic, quiet, has non-slushy roads and sometimes even a fun huge snowbank! When else do you get a chance to play cards, chat, make food and drink late into the night? I don't know if I would recognize this area in the summer. It must be so lush and beautiful!

At least when we went inside, there was the nice burning fire. It was fun keeping the place warm all weekend by burning logs. Sorry environment, I must keep myself warm! It reminded me of camping and getting the fire going first thing in the morning. Or the old fireplace in our old house with the sparks that managed to always jump out through the iron chainlink fireplace curtain onto the carpet. It was always scary to poke or fan the fire - watch out for sparks!

Lunar Horoscopes: Year of the Boar

Snake - A hectic year in which the Snake will need to exert maximum effort for minimum gain. He may suffer financial mishaps due to poor judgment. A time to look before he leaps.

Horse - The Horse’s success may be destroyed by outside interferences. Illness delays plans and progress. Investments and projects develop snags and complications. His troubles should start to fade with the onset of winter.

Sheep - A fair year in which the Sheep recovers from past troubles. Home life could be neglected by him. He will have access to funds previously withheld from him.

Monkey - An active but trying year in which the Monkey’s problems can be resolved but not without much compromising. Joint ventures will prove unrewarding or even dangerous.

Rooster - A disturbing year with worries caused by unexpected difficulties. Trusted associates may give wrong advice or encourage him to spend beyond his means: a year to discount good news and plan prudently.

Dog - A calm year. Gains and unlikely benefits may be realized through speculation, but expect delays and additional expenses: a year to cultivate new and influential friends or contacts.

Boar - The Boar’s life will stabilize this year as gains and some progress are foreseen. He may have some persistent health problems or infection that he should attend to. New friends and opportunities dominate the winter months.

Rat - A time for the Rat to consolidate. Friends and family members make excessive demands on his time and money. If not careful, his illness could develop complications.

Ox - A mixed year for the Ox, as family troubles and some friction at work may disturb him. On the whole, he will fare quite well as the numerous problems that beset him will be little ones.

Tiger - The Tiger will need to curb his spending this year as the prosperity that comes in the beginning of the year will not last for long. He must be on guard against high-risk investments and new associates.

Rabbit - A mixed time for the Rabbit. Unlikely difficulties have a tendency of cropping up this year so the he must not be overconfident and must take every precaution to protect his interests.

Dragon - A good year. Luck shines through the dark clouds that hovered over the Dragon during the Year of the Dog. Although he will have to travel or entertain a lot, no problems are foreseen in his family life.

Happy Chinese New Year

The meal I made this year for Chinese New Year since I was celebrating on my own this year. Dumplings, my family dish and cucumber soup! If only I knew how to cook for 1 person... I even bought red lucky candy to eat as many as I could so this year will be sweet. My first attempt at food photography ended up turning out pretty well.

The Twelve Animals of the Chinese Zodiac

1. RAT - 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Charming, adaptable, creative, ambitious, opportunist, gregarious, erratic, gossip. Symbols of wealth because rats are always able to find food, considered a basic form of wealth.

Compatible marriage to: Dragon, Monkey, Ox
Second choice: Rat, Tiger, Snake, Dog, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Horse, (worse) Sheep

2. OX - 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961,1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Steadfast, methodical, unimaginative, dependable, loyal, possessive, logical, honest, unromantic. Strong and not willing to make too many changes - down to earth and practical.

Compatible marriage to: Snake, Rooster, Rat
Second choice: Ox, Dragon, Hare, Money, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Horse, Dog, (worse) Sheep

3. TIGER - 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Leadership, brave, rash, impetuous, warm, sincere, aggressive, authoritarian. A beautiful animal that will attack if his territory is invaded.

Compatible marriage to: Horse, Dragon, Dog
Second choice: Rat, Ox, Hare, Tiger, Sheep, Rooster, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Monkey, (worse) Snake

4. HARE, RABBIT - 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Withdrawn, independent, aloof, submissive, humble, gossip, melancholic, gambler, placid. An excellent judge of character, can detect sincerity or trouble.

Compatible marriage to: Sheep, Boar, Dog
Second Choice: Hare
Incompatible marriage to: Dragon, (worse) Rooster, Rat

5. DRAGON - 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Flamboyant, extrovert, elegant, imaginative, strong, decisive, resolute. The dragon is considered the flashiest and boldest member of the Chinese astrological family.

Compatible marriage to: Rat, Snake, Monkey, Rooster
Second choice: Tiger, Horse, Sheep, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Ox, Hare, (worse) Dog

6. SNAKE, SERPENT - 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Restraint, insinuating, subtle, pushy, double-dealing, scandalous, vicarious, sensuous. Symbol of medicine and healing, intuitive and intelligent.

Compatible marriage to: Rat, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Dog
Incompatible marriage to: Monkey, (worse) Tiger, Boar

7. HORSE - 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Competitive, cheerful, talkative, talented, showy, impatient, independent,tough, hard workers and competitive by nature.

Compatible marriage to: Tiger, Dog, Sheep, (best) Horse
Second choice: Dragon, Snake, Monkey, Rooster, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Ox, Hare, Horse, (worse) Rat

8. RAM, SHEEP - 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Affectionate, caring, trusting, selflessness, artistic, fastidious, creative, complacent, diplomatic. A follower rather than a leader, happiest in a crowd, and is best not placed in a position to make decisions.

Compatible marriage to: Hare, Boar, Horse
Second choice: Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster
Incompatible marriage to: Rat (worse) Ox, Dog

9. MONKEY - 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956,1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Inventive, curious, quick-witted, scheming, versatile audacious, mischievous, resentful, energetic, humorous. They are energetic and develop personal loyalties.

Compatible marriage to: Rat, Dragon
Second Choice: Hare, Sheep, Dog
Incompatible marriage to: Snake, Boar, (worse) Tiger

10. ROOSTER - 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Determined, pride, alert, confident, abrasive, aggressive, rude, affectionate, resolute, punctilious. Roosters make great managers and leaders. Compatible marriage to: Ox, Snake, Dragon Second choice: Tiger, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Boar Incompatible marriage to: Rat, Rooster, Dog, (worse) Hare

11. DOG - 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Loyal, honest, likable, trusted, conservative, sympathetic, tolerant, active, reliable. The dog is active and sociable, ready to mix at get togethers, and good listeners.

Compatible marriage to: Horse, Tiger, Sheep, Hare
Second Choice: Rat, Snake, Monkey, Dog, Boar
Incompatible marriage to: Ox, Rooster, (worse) Dragon, Sheep

12. BOAR, PIG - 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Unpretentious, joy, caring, industrious, trusting, naive, hardworking, hospitable. The boar is caring ,not lazy, but quiet.

Compatible marriage to: Hare, Sheep
Second choice: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Rooster, Dog
Incompatible marriage to: Monkey, Boar, (worse) Snake

The Snow Has Arrived

After everyone complained so much over the holidays about the lack of snow and global warming, here it finally is. Snow. -11 degrees, feeling more like -21. At least it hasn't become slush puddles that reach your shins yet. But this will come as the forecast for next next weekend? 7 celsius. Somehow I still look up at the fat soft flakes with the same childhood wonder I did the first time I saw snow when I was around 8 years old. It falls and makes things seem peaceful, quiet and calm – just don't stick your tongue out in this city to eat it!


I love the fact that I can come here as I please. When it's not a weekday high traffic time, I love walking through here and talking a bit of a breather. As you can see the good old T.O. landmark is becoming eclipsed by the new towers that keep on coming! At least this place will always be here. Quiet in the summer, great for fall leaves jumping, amazing for snow angels in the winter...


Above: an old tollgate at College and Yonge after a heavy snowstorm c. 1885 (Lantern Slide) and the same intersection this past week, after the snow finally stopped... I have an obsession with finding old photographs of exact locations I know today. It's scary to imagine where what it will look like in another 120 years. Archives have such random photos everyday people took. City engineers took so many for land and road surveying. Without those from the 1800's, who would ever have known how many trees existed in this city before they were all removed. Poor trees!


Some valentines icicles I saw along the way today... Brrrr..... What a freezing, cold day :(

It's A Sign!

I have been meaning to start a blog for such a long time now. There are so many things that happen that seem like signs to me in life and this was another one of them. A friend has one and I thought it would be a good way to keep in touch and feel closer to each other's lives, despite living in timezones. I procrastinated and procrastinated and then got sick and there was the sign – right in my Saturday crossword:

How random that we stopped there, off the highway, on our very first car trip with no parents and took this photo. The highway landscape was so flat, but there in the distance as we drew closer was a... skunk. We laughed so hard at it we almost gagged on our slurpees! So here it is. Can you believe it was more than 10 years ago?

"SQUIRT" - the skunk
Born In: 1992
Height: 13 Feet
Birthparent: Peter Soehn (Kelowna, BC)

"Some years ago it was decided that the Village of Beiseker needed a mascot which would leave a lasting impression on tourists and identify our community in particular. A public contest was held inviting ideas and drawings for a mascot. As a result, "Squirt" the skunk was adopted..."