The Philisophical Works of a Pseudo Author

There's really not much to report, except that January is about to end and February is about to start with a bang. I thought the 'in like a lion' thing only applied in the spring? Apparently not. We are due for nearly 30cm of snow in the next two days, both of which are days I have to be out and about. :(

Other than that, life's been pretty quiet. I'm busy at work and 2 days a week at the museum. And inventory at the store starts next weekend so we're all scrambling to get everything done before that (not to mention sell everything before that. One of those is going better than the other.

I made it through January, though! Only two months left to go. I am thinking Florida is not going to happen this year, which is alright because that's money that I don't actually need to spend. Instead, an old uni friend and I are going to Ottawa for Winterlude to stay with another old uni friend. Should be a blast! It'll be cold and snowy and the driving might be a nightmare (401 + winter = natural disaster), but I'm still looking forward to it! I just need to find skates...

I am going to see the King's Speech this afternoon, on my own, because it won SAGs last night and will probably win Oscars and it's like my favourite cast ever. Also, I have nothing else to do until 5pm when work starts.

In other news...I slept today. And to me, this was integrally important to the fate of the world.

Got an interview for the Guyana job.

Oh my fucking god. That's more terrifying than a PhD proposal!

Edited: No dice, Thank You Goddess. Now I don't have to feel guilty for turning it down. Because seriously.

My entire back is just one big ache. From tailbone to the back of my neck my spine just feels like someone took it and twisted it into a spiral.

I called in sick on my second day of work. Ouch. But really, there's no point in me going because just driving there will be painful, and I could paint, but I know from past experience that I will have a headache before the clock strikes noon (I can already feel the first stirings at the base of my skull) and what use am I with a pounding headache? Besides, I spent all yesterday painting with what turned out to be a migraine by the time I got home. Honestly, the drive back from Bracebridge was agony and very very stupid. I could barely see enough to drive.

I do not want a repeat. And it's supposed to rain this afternoon. Although, looking at the window, I'd say before noon. It looks like evening outside! And it was trying to be sunny and hour ago, which tells me the weather system must be moving faster than the weather channel predicts. The radar has rain over Georgian Bay. So, probably no point anyways. Can't paint in the rain, it leaves annoying drop marks in the the wet paint! Which it did yesterday. On my perfectly painted bright white stern of the boat. DROP MARKS. ALL OVER. Bugger you Mother Nature. At least the ceiling struts will be fine...

I am so out of shape. June project...fix that. Like...as soon as my back stops throbbing and I can get the kayak out of the garage. And check the lake temperature. I wonder where the ladder got to? Huh. Hey, wet suit and swimming! When it's not - you know - that time. Kate, I think there might be a wet suit up here you could use. I will have to check the back closet. It may have been eaten by mice.

It's so calm here. It's the beginning of June in Muskoka, which is just another way of saying no one is here. There are lights on at the yellow place across the bay, but I have concluded they must live up here now, because they were on in early May too. Nothing on the far shore though, except at the church property. The lake is so still too, almost a perfect mirror and black as ink with the dark sky today. There's no birds chirping, or traffic on the highway (not yet, at least, that'll come in a few weeks), or boats on the water. Just utter, perfect, stillness. I could just sit and stare at it for hours. Which is about all I can do with my back!

Kate, how do you deal with this on a daily basis? Does it feel like your spine is in a clamp all the time, because that's how mine feels right now?

If it rains any more I think tarps on the boat will give out. ::contemplates that a minute:: Well, it's not my boat. It's not like it's going to sink sitting on a trailer in the driveway. So, how much do I love my aunt? Today, not enough to care.

Ow.

KBO = "Keep Buggering On" and it's going to be my new catch phrase. I feel it justifiably fits my life.

So, it's May. I used to love May. May meant great things and school was almost over and the cottage was going to be opened and summer was just around the corner. This year I don't give a flying fuck. It's just another month of being virtually unemployed, horribly underpaid, and horribly abused as a volunteer. I've written this month off already. The weather is lovely and I have nothing to do. In related news, I've buggered up my left foot and pretty much can't exercise worth a damn, so even that level of boredom relief has been snatched from me. I'm going to sit around the house and feel sorry for myself and hope by June that I can walk again.

I'm taking the boat job in Muskoka. It isn't great, but it can pass on my CV has culturally related to something-or-other. It pays $12 an hour and I'm guaranteed (I HOPE) 25 hours a week. That's more money than I made even in December. And it'll be till the end of September, maybe even into October depending on the weather. And it's only 4 days a week. Which leaves me 3 other days of the week to do all the work around the cottage that no one else is going to do because they've all decided they aren't going to Muskoka this year. Apparently there are more important things.

So, that's pretty much my summer. Work like crazy for 4 days out in the sun on the lake, work in and around the cottage on various things the other 3 days. Write a bit, read a lot, paint a picture or two (where am I going to hang these things?) and all around ignore the next thirty odd years or so of my life. It's a plan, at least. It's not a great plan, but I live for any type of plan that doesn't involve being homeless or unemployed.

I'm going to go broke on food and gas at Muskoka prices. But hey, maybe I'll get tips!

I am trying very hard not to think about Thanksgiving.

1. I have two job interviews at the end of April!

They are both in Muskoka!

Unfortunately, they are both part-time. I'm not sure how 'part' yet. I know which one, though, that I would rather have if I got the choice. Because one is historic tours of Port Carling and one is...retail.

2. I went to Mapleview today. I should now better, but after pilates, job applications (urgh), a long walk, finishing a book, and lunch, I was....very bored. So, I figured I would drive a short distance and then walk some more. Which means the mall, pretty much, because this is Burlington, ya know? Anyway, I did really well (for me). Ardene had a deal on for 2 spring scarves for $15, which is cheap and they had dozens to chose from. Bought torquoise/pink stipe and a green/brown floral print. Both to match jackets I own.

Then I walked down to H&M. I have this thing with H&M. I love it when it's in England. Beyond that, I kind of hate it. But now it amuses me to go into the store here and walk around and go 'oh, look! isn't that nice! I own it' and marvel at the difference an ocean makes in fashion. Two months ago (ish) I went in and found a dress that they did not have in England. It's the perfect Ascot dress. It just screams English lawn party. It's light green with flowers and it matches my eyes and fits in all the right places. But it was, like, January and I didn't even bother trying it on. I don't need another dress and it was $60 (no bad for a dress, really). But today, the weather was nice, and I was feeling good about my tax return (HAH), so I tried it on. They only had the small sizes left. I loved it even more than I did in January. So...I bought it. Because it really does look stunning and I am sure it will one day come in handy. As long as I never gain weight, because I bought a 2. I would have felt better with the 4, but unfortunately it uh...sagged in the bust a bit. I hate being small.

You didn't actually read that last paragraph, did you?

You know what really bugs me? I applied to a bunch of jobs in Muskoka (non museums) and I've heard back from a few asking me if I'd be available on such-and-such a date to interview.

My resume CLEARLY states I live in Burlington and I CLEARLY stated in the cover letter that I would be moving to Muskoka on the Victoria Day weekend and NOT BEFORE. So they are asking me to come up for an interview KNOWING IT WILL take me 6 hours to drive round trip and nowhere to stay.

I have already email two back and asked for a phone interview, citing the fact that I am very busy for the next week at the museum and that after that I am going to Washington for two weeks. One has not deigned to email me back AT ALL and the other I will give more time, because they are a small business and I don't think they check their email very often.

BUT STILL.

I want to win the lotto.

There is a job in Peace River that I am qualified for that actually sounds pretty good.

IT'S IN PEACE RIVER. There is only one way to get to Peace River, ladies, and that is to get in the car and drive for 4,000km IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER.

I don't think I want money that badly.

Has something in the works...maybe even paid. Stay tunned!

I have concluded this week that if I got paid for it, I'd have the best job in the world. Screw the Great Barrier Reef and a massive yauht.

I moved down to London on Saturday with the help of Cas. Friends are essential when attempting to cart luggage on the underground without killing yourself. Trust me, I've tried it without. Not pretty. I absolutely love my place. It's a 2 bedroom flat that I share with a 30-something working couple who are rarely home except to sleep. They are wonderfully quiet when they leave at 8 in the morning, and I am a mouse when I go to bed at night. The building is part of a 3 part 4 story complex 200ft from The Globe right off Southwark Bridge. I have everything within a ten minute walk. That includes the best market in London, two supermarkets, museums, theatre, 4 liquor stores, 2 underground stations and of course the office.

On Monday I spent the day at a conference for Stories of the World (2012) and toured the London Transport Museum for free. Tuesday I spent in the London office reading publications (some of which I read over the winter for school) and getting a shinny new laptop. Wednesday I went to the Cambridge office for the day and job shadowed. And today and tomorrow I will sit at home on my sofa with my wifi and the kitchen 10 ft away and 'work from home'. I have 3 projects to manage this summer, all of which I have support for, but I'm project manager! The first is to make the CT Twitter account useful for marketing and to get all the staff involved. See, if I got paid, I'd be getting money to spend all day on Twitter! Got some ideas already and the start of project plan. Next week I am job shadowing in various locations and various people (some of which will be terrifying experiences of board meetings and meet & greets with people I should consider famous in this industry but who I don't know). Then I have 6 weeks of intensive project management. I'll have tons for my CV by September!

I am already organising the To Do list this summer of things I want to do. The first is a Globe play next week. I've got a ticket to Brahms at the Proms in September. This weekend I think I'll go to the Tate and maybe the Belfast. Definitely The Rose. Hopefully the weather stays shit because it will keep the tourists away. The weekend next I might try Kew Gardens if it's sunny or Greenwich. Definitely Body Worlds at O2 before Cas leaves! Plenty to stay busy.

Just got back from shopping at Borough Market, amongst the tourists. So much I want to buy! So can't afford it! Will have to stick to Sainsbury's.

It's 4 now...technically done work. Certainly did less today than yesterday, but I worked an extra hour yesterday (8-5) then I needed to. Will carry that over today to make me feel less guilty. Tomorrow, new project!