My New Life

Okay, so it's been... 5 months since I've updated this blog. And I know I've epically failed on that part. But I'm back, and hopefully with my new life, I'll be able to update regularly.

What is this new life you speak of? Well, it is the life of the Graduated. For good. Finally.

Thank f*cking god.

After seven, long, hard, sweat producing, tear inducing years, I have finished school. With me I take away a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English Literature and minoring in Russian Literature and Language (so basically I've got a 75% Lit degree :D) from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Along with that, I will have the golden nugget - the degree that has landed me where I am right now. My Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University - three years in the making, it's been a long (and seemingly never-ending) journey to get it completed. I've had numerous mental strains and breakdowns, and have needed to recover my nerves in the beautiful bounty that is my homeland of Newfoundland and Labrador.

I landed a job 4 weeks before I graduated from the Mount. Prior to that, I was freaking out about jobs, relationships and how much it would cost to move back to Newfoundland to live off the bounty of my parents, so to speak. Nothing better than the familial dole.

Needless to say, that didn't need to happen. I received an email from Ottawa; Citizenship and Immigration Canada, to be exact. With a moving allowance and a skip in my step, Mike and I ventured onward to the National Capital to follow my dreams of working in the public service. I don't know why it's my dream, maybe because I feel that working for Canadians in helping the government's day-to-day activities is better than putting money in a multi-billion multi-national corporation who is only concerned with the bottom line and not the benefit and welfare of its workforce, or citizens. Call me optimistic.
We moved up here in July - we've been settled away for 2 months and we both enjoy it. Mike's working for Pepsi, and getting trimmer and more muscular by the day. It's an added perk for me! :D

Being out of school is... difficult. I miss the close connection I had with my friends. Amanda, Dee, Justin and Sarah are always in my thoughts as I had to leave them behind to start my life. I wish it could have been different, or that they were small enough to fit into my pocket or luggage and I could stow them away with me up here. It was tough moving from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia three years ago; moving for a second time and leaving behind more people that I truly love and care about is absolutely heartbreaking. I spend my evenings on the telephone for hours, calling people and seeing what they've been doing. It's amazing how much can happen in 8 weeks time in someone's life!

I can't even describe how difficult it is being away from my family - i.e. my brother and his wife. I had the luxury of knowing Curtis, Jenn and Rebecca were only a few kilometres away and I could see them whenever I had the time. Now vacations need to be planned months in advance, and I will be the Aunt that Rebecca won't recognize and will hardly know. The two days we spent at my brother's before hitting the road, I put Rebecca down for the night. I remember rocking her, with her head on my shoulder and I just couldn't stop thinking of how much I will miss doing it.

Maybe I'll have to get one of my own ;) Just kidding.

So, onto happier topics. I'll be heading home to Newfoundland in 3 ½ weeks time for Lindsey and Brogan's wedding. Yay! As I write them, I'm currently breaking in my new brown shoes that I will be wearing with my bridesmaids dress. Well, my shoes are breaking in my feet, more like. But either way, no pain, no gain! After that lovely interlude, I come back to Ottawa for 4 days, and then I'm off again to Halifax, to get my degree. I think it will really sink in around then. One of my best friends will be married, and I'll have my degree. Life is continuing on its path, but I wonder how on god's green earth did I get so far up it? Last I knew, I was meandering through it, taking my time, and I'm suddenly on top of one of the most important milestones of my life.

What's next? Mike and I will be getting a new car, getting married, saving for a downpayment on a house, and moving within the next 2 years. After that, I guess it'll be baby-making time.

I think I'm getting gray hair already. My Peter-Pan syndrome has been proverbially thrown out the door, into the cold, to wander off and find some other unsuspecting adolescent that doesn't want to grow up.

I don't have time for him anymore, I've got to get back to work.