(I think a change) A change would do you good

I came to Toronto almost 4 years ago (gasp!) and was determined to share my super exciting new life in the big city with everyone who would listen.  I felt inspired, energized and excited about the adventures ahead of me.

I've been loving it here in the "big smoke".  I feel really lucky to be able to experience life in a large city while knowing my roots are in rural Nova Scotia.  I quickly learned that, to survive, you must go with the flow but I never forget to stop and hold the door open for the person behind me.

Lately, I've been feeling like I'm in a place I've never wanted to be.  Maybe it's part of a quarter life crisis but I think I'm in...  a rut.  It seems crazy when I live in this amazing city with so much going on all the time but I've just been at a loss for things I'm really excited and passionate about.  Don't get me wrong- I have far from a miserable life.  I'm so fortunate to have a great home with an amazing guy, a supportive loving family, hilariously wonderful friends and a job that allows me to travel and meet people who have become like family to me.  But during my own time, I'm feeling like a bit of a bore.

So here's my plan:
1.  Say yes (and mean it!) more
     It's so easy to use the "I'm too tired", "I don't want to go all the way wherever", "But Big Brother is on!".  I'm likely missing out on good things by saying no.  I will say yes more (not to everything- I'm not Jim Carrey!) and focus on the positives.

2.  Try things that scare me
     What's the worst that can happen?!  I'm not talking about cliff diving or bungee jumping (we'll work up to that) but fighting the "I can't", "I've never done it before", "I probably won't be any good" and "I won't know anyone".

3.  Be nice
     I don't think I'm an outright mean person but I haven't exactly been going out of my way to be do or say nice things lately.  Expect some "I love your shirt!", "After you!", "You take the last piece of pizza- I insist!" and "I'll do the dishes tonight".

Achievable?!  I think so.  Keep checking in and send along any fun ideas or tips you may have.  I'll be updating you soon with weekend progress.

Have a great weekend,
Darby
   

... you can't always get what you want...

I took a big step last night and ventured out of my residential little neighbourhood to party with the likes of York University law students on the streets of Jane and Finch.  Big ups to Marc for the invite and party-hosting.  After some minor discrepancies regarding the rules of playing Kings and whether or not writing out the rules was a binding contract or merely an agreement amongst friends, we ventured to a bar called "Hoops" where a very white male decided it was his duty to school everyone in the place on how to properly perform the Soulja Boy dance.  Remind you of anyone...  dave....???

But now the real reason for this post.  After taking pretty much every mode of public transportation humanly possible to get to York and back again, I reached my subway stop.  A man approached me while I was walking out of the station and told me I had beautiful eyes and gave me a business card.  The front has his name, phone number and hotmail address with "Writer" as his job.  Then, on the back:

Life Time Member of

TorontoRealMen.com

Certified graduate of sexual guru program

By Dimitri The Lover

 *sigh*  I love this city.

...we bought an old house on the Danforth...

First thing first... does anyone have suggestions on how to get the sawdusty smell of ikea out of ones apartment?!  

My drive from NS to ON was relatively uneventful.  My parents came along in their car although Dad made Mom drive with me so that he could listen to his music at an above average/healthy level which prohibited me from playing my really vulgar gang rap.  Maybe next time...  The strangest thing I saw enroute was (you guessed it...) in Quebec.  There was a huge motel on the side of the Trans-Canada shaped like a castle with huge dinosaurs placed around the perimeter.  Just when I was thinking to myself "Wow- who would actually stop and stay there?!" I figured it out.  There was a HUGE neon sign flashing "WE....            SPEAK....       ENGLISH!"  If it hadn't have been 10am, you're damn right I would have pulled over and stayed there!  

For all of those people who have ever doubted I can do something handy, I will have you know that in the past 9 days, I have purchased my very first power tool and have assembled:

1 desk (L-shaped with CD rack and storage!  those are way harder than your average desk)

1 coffee table

2 dining room chairs

1 dining room table

1 ikea chair (the ones that don't exactly rock when you lean back but kind of bounce a little) and

1 bed

I have also installed 1 cork board above my desk AND curtains!

I've been spending my days in my "home office" and weekends and evenings exploring my new home of the Danforth/East York area of Toronto.  Luckily, I had a visitor come knocking on my door introducing himself as the Liberal candidate for the Toronto-Danforth riding- Andrew Lang himself.  He asked me if I had given any thought to the upcoming election and I let him know that I hadn't given thought to anything other than assembling furniture since I was knew to the city.  Upon telling Mr. Lang that I was from Nova Scotia, he perked up and informed me that he has "lots of family" from Nova Scotia.  I asked him what part they were from and, after a moment of hesitation, his response was "All over really but mostly downtown.  Some in the suburbs."  "Downtown?" I replied.  "Downtown Nova Scotia?"  "Yes!" he responded with confidence, "I just love it there."  Now I was left with two choices.  1) Call him an idiot and go on my merry way or 2) Make him my puppet.  "Oh absolutely" was my response, "Living downtown Nova Scotia is great.  There's a lot of waterfront property there.  You don't get that as much in the Nova Scotia suburbs."  We made idle chitchat for another 4 minutes or so about the differences between downtown Nova Scotia and the Nova Scotia suburbs until I think one of Lang's helpers started to clue in and they made their into my building to make small talk with other residents.  He did however let me know that he and his wife lived near by and he would be happy to answer any questions I have about the area over email... then neglected to provide me with his email address.

One important survival tip I've discovered is, when calling Bell's help hotline (which I've done about 25 times since I've been here as has everyone else I know), you can completely bi-pass the tell-me-what-your-problem-is automated message girl by yelling "LET ME TALK TO A REAL PERSON" into the phone.  Her response is "Ok.  I'll connect you to our next available service representative."  Too bad the automated chick is probably more knowledgeable and helpful than the actual person you get on the line.  Rats.  You win this round, Bell.

I intend to start taking pics and videos of funny things around here soon.  A few shout outs before I go:

The AARAO crew:  I'm going to miss traveling with everyone sooooo much this year.  Please please please drunk dial me all the time and be careful who you give the finger to on the highway.  Drive safe and party hard.

Wolfvillians: I absolutely crave Lib Pub, Paddy's beer and Merchant coffee.  I miss you all so much and I hope that the wings are still amazing on Wednesdays at the Axe and that the DJ at the Vil still says "It's laaaaaaaadies niiiiiiiight" on Thursdays altho' there is no advantage to being female that night or any night at the Vil unless you want to pick up

Those of/in the Nish:  Thank you for such a wonderful summer.  It was so great to be in such a positive and supportive environment.  I suppose we might have had some fun too :)  Shirlyn & Sean, you are awesome roommates and I miss you and our TV nights.  Please tell Jon, Kate and the kids I miss them.  

Keep in touch and talk to you soon,

Darbs

All my friends, where did they go?! To Montreal... Toronto!

This is my first shot at this blogging thing but I feel as though life has been much too exciting lately to keep it to myself.  I also anticipate another year of wacky highway signs and pictures infront of "The World's Largest ______" statues and monuments.

For those of you who are out of the loop as to what I've been up to lately, here's a quick summary:

At the end of June, I did the unthinkable and left my beloved Wolfville-  the home of no traffic lights, world's best burger (Lib Pub of course...) and excessive noise (but only until 1am) and relocated to Antigonish to take up a super exciting job at St FX.  Although I likely won't be spotted painted blue at any Xmen football games any time soon, I have had a great summer here in "the 'nish" eating pizza from The Wheel, dancing it up at Piper's and keeping my hands in my pockets during campus tours so that families don't notice my lack of a certain ring that seems to be a bit of a big deal around here.  I have to give huge props to Shirlyn and Sean for putting a roof over my head and being so fun to live with! 

My stay in Antigonish is soon coming to an end as my position with the university is based in Onterrible.... ehem... Ontario.  I will be moving to the big ol'city of Toronto (or Ta-raw-na as some would say) in September.  I'll be spending my fall on the road again recruiting and can't wait to spend time with the AARAO crew again.

Stay posted over the next few weeks for chronicles of my move to the T-dot and everything that comes with it!  

Wish me luck!!