Movie to see: A Dog's Purpose

Sit With Me Rescue is hosting an advanced screening of A Dog's Purpose at the Mayfair Theatre. Get your tickets here: goo.gl/tKqBZ2. All proceeds raised go to the dogs of SWM. Thanks Universal Studios for reaching out to us and proposing we have an advanced screening.

Big props to Stephanie Smith, graphic designer extraordinaire, for the poster!

See you at the theatre!

Happy New Year!

It's still seems odd to me that I now have 'free' time where I am able to do what I want. Not working almost 24 hours a day has really forced me to come up with ways to spend my time. I've rediscovered my love of writing. Knitting has become fun again. I watched a movie one night after work this week and DIDN'T feel guilty or that I should be doing something productive like laundry.

My patience is back, I'm well rested and I enjoy getting up in the morning again.

It's nice to feel like a real human again.

Happy New Year all!

Recipe: Orzo Dill Salad

So I started a new job, and with it, a new attitude to saving money and putting an emphasis on making my own meals. So tonight, I have made a delicious orzo dill salad. It's lemony, and dilly and delicious. I don't know if it will make it until lunch tomorrow!

Orzo Dill Salad

Ingredients: Orzo, fresh dill, cucumber, garlic, red onion, feta cheese, lemon juice, olive oil,

Method:
1. Cook the orzo according to the packaging. Once cooked, run under cold water to help cool it down. Let it sit in the strainer while you are prepping your other ingredients.

2. Chop cucumber however you like into bit size pieces.  Transfer into a large bowl. Finely dice onion, and several cloves of garlic. (I LOVE garlic, I used 5-6 cloves of garlic!) Rough chop about a 1/4 cup of the fresh dill. Crumble feta into the bowl. Finally, add the cold orzo. Stir all together.

3. In a separate bowl combine 4 tblsp of olive oil, and the juice of one large lemon. Mince 2-3 cloves of garlic and finely dice about 1 tblsp of fresh dill. Whisk together and pour over the salad mix.

4. Using a spatula, mix the salad and the dressing together. Finish with a wee bit of salt and a good dash of pepper. Let sit for about 20 minutes before serving.

ENJOY!

Struggles make us stronger?

I've been struggling a lot lately it seems. With a lot of things. My lack of a serious relationship, lack of enjoyment at my job, feeling lonely... so many things.

Today everything hit the breaking point. And I spent the afternoon in tears as I went through my day. I was texting a friend when I was reminded that it's not all bad. The last several weeks have shown me that I am stronger than I thought I was. I've learned to be uber patient. To hold my tongue and put my best foot forward.

All this is true.

But it's also true that I've learned to listen to that quiet inner voice. Finally.

And so I picked up the phone and made a call I should have made weeks ago.

Now, I'm much less stressed and anxious. I feel like I have a plan. I'm making strides to leave this negativity behind.

Sigh. Finally.

Oh hai.

It's been a long few weeks/months for me.

I've been frustrated with work and more stressed about being a barista than I should have been. There been lots happening behind the scenes and long story short.... I don't work at The Coffee Shop anymore.

Whewf.

New job, new start, less stress and more fun!

Really excited for this new chapter to begin!

Monday Morning Musing

Cup of coffee to my left, empty breakfast plate to my right, CBC playing in the background. Two dogs on dog beds. 

This is my ideal morning. I am surprisingly content and have been since the beginning of February. It's like I have finally come to grips with the fact that this is my last semester of my program at college. At the end of it I will be able to find a 'real' job. I have been applying for 'big girl' jobs basically full time for the last three weeks. I've crafted my resume in multiple formats and emphasized different aspects of my education and work experience. I've written and re-written my cover letter probably a hundred times. I've gone to 20+ job interviews and still have no new job. But I'm not panicking. Yet. 

Which probably sounds a little weird. And it's not because I want to be a barista for the rest of my life. I think it's because I know that I will have my program completed and I will be a certified bookkeeper. And even if I am working at Starbucks past the end of my schooling, it doesn't change that I am an accountant. I've realized that no matter what happens, I am educated. I am an accountant. 

But I've stopped thinking that I'm better than working at Starbucks. And all because of a series of conversations that I have had with my parents, and surprisingly one new co-worker (who used to work for the Government) and a regular customer that I see daily. 

I'be been having a hard time wrapping my head around still being at Starbucks. I'be had friends tell me that I'm better than working at Starbucks, that it's not worth my time. I've had friends tell me that a job is job and I should be thankful to be working for a company that has benefits and perks like Starbucks does. I don't know how many times I've called my parents and complained that "I still work at Starbucks". Thankfully my parents know how to gently humble me. My mom and dad, always gentle in their questioning, asked me why I'm so unhappy there. "Is it because you think you're better than your co-workers?" I paused in my complaining. I can honestly say that's not it at all. Most of my co-workers are highly educated, kind people, who work hard. I think my silence gave me away to my mom who gently asked, "do you feel like you're better than working at Starbucks because you have an education?" My mind races. A huge part of my being unhappy at work is because I feel I am over education and qualified for my position as shift supervisor. I ponder the people I work with. Two registered nurses. Highly educated and qualified women. They do work in a hospital as well, but they have chosen to also work at Starbucks. They have chosen to work for Starbucks. I think of my newest co-worker. She left a government job to work at Starbucks. She could have transferred to another department, she could have made a move to the private sector, but instead she chose to work for Starbucks. One of my favourite regulars is a woman who is working on her PhD in some kind of social science program. She is verbose, and interesting and someone I would love to sit and spend hours talking with. We were chatting not that long ago and she mentioned that she would love to work for Starbucks someday. She spoke about how it must be so nice to know that I work for a company that stands up for what it believes in, that helps builds community, that gives back as much and as often as it does. And that made me pause. 

Starbucks is that company. It is a huge supporter of the LGBT community. It's sponsored gay pride parades, it openly hires people regardless of sexual orientation. It celebrates all people. Starbucks allows it partners (employees) to spearhead local initiatives that we feel are important. Here in Ottawa, we volunteer at the Shephers of Good Hope helping prep and serve meals, we have the snowsuit drive that we hold, we (partners) raise tens of thousands of dollars for Camp Quality and volunteer there, I've volunteered at HOPE Volleyball, and many many community charitable happenings. Everytime I volunteer, Starbucks donates my hourly salary to the organization that I'm giving my time to. 

Maybe it sounds like I've drank too much corporate CoolAid, but I had forgotten about the good that I have done on Starbucks' dollar. I was too focussed on how I was better than Starbucks. But I'm not. And it's going to be hard to leave if and when that time comes for me. Applying for new jobs has shown that I'm being paid more now as a shift supervisor than I would be starting at the bottom in an office position. I have full benefits, which I am not guaranteed access to when I go to a new company. I won't get my nice perk of a free pound of coffee a week. 

So, today on my day off, I will apply for jobs and send out many emails in the hopes of being hired. But ultimately, I'm more than happy to have a cup of coffee to my left, and pups sleeping on beds, and CBC playing in the background and Starbucks on my resume.

                         

 

The Joy of Volunteering

I've blogged, previously, about being a foster home for a dog rescue. I love every minute of it. It's one of the best decicions that I've made. 

I'be also taking on a more involved role as the volunteer coordinator for the rescue. This position originally started out as me covering for our VC while she was on vacation. And when she stepped out of the role, I continued on in it. It is very time comsuming and draining. But I enjoy what I am doing as VC. It's fulfilling and at times stressful. And I love seeing the events that we plan and host as a rescue come to a successful completion. 

This weekend I had the chance to be on the "front line" so to speak. Several volunteers cancelled at the last moment and so I took over being present at one event. I trimmed nails, spoke about the rescue, and just generally had a great time connecting about doing a little bit of goodness in the world around me. It also helped that I had a great partner in my foster dog, Nigel. 

I know that I've complained about having to coordinate volunteers a couple of times, but today brought back why I do what I do and why I love it so much. 

So thanks to all the people that came out and renewed my love of volunteering. Thanks for being interested in Sit With Me, thanks for asking questions and donating money. Thanks for sharing the stories of your loved dogs, and laughing at Nigel as he wiggled his bum at meeting new people.