GROW UP

As I mentioned, I've recently come to realize the joys of job security with recently becoming permanently employed with the police service. It is surprising how much relief comes with knowing you don't have to worry about contracts and the giant boulder of unemployment hanging over your head, ready to drop at the first sign of recession. One of the beauty things about my job is that law enforcement is not an industry that will be going out of business any time soon.

The realization that hit me yesterday is that this is no longer just a job. This is a life and a career. What made me realize that so intensely? RRSPs and Pension plans.

A one hour meeting discussing my enrollment in the police pension plan, followed by talk of mutual funds, RRSP contributions, and life insurance knocked the point home. I found it slightly ironic that within 2 weeks of getting on permanently, we were talking about retirement. 30 years. Wow.

So now, after having slept till 11:30, while sitting in my apartment surrounded by half made paper monsters, drinking instant coffee out of a kitten-decal mug, preparing for a day off playing MarioKart in my pajamas...I am reading about whether I want to go with an Asset Allocation Fund or if I should build my own RRSP portfolio. Further, I have been trying to figure out what kind of investment style I have, if I'm prepared to take risks with my investments for higher gains.

There are pie charts.

I like pie.

In the words of the great sage, Jack Handy, "when you die, if you get a choice between real heaven and pie heaven, choose pie heaven. It may be a trap, but if it's not mmmmmmm pie".

Oh yeah. I'm totally ready for RRSPs.

Where to begin...

6 months since the last post. I'm not very good at this blogging thing.

At any rate, what a half year!! Anything before March, mind you, is not worth mentioning. It was a scary and hurtful three months that I'm happy are behind me. We'll leave it at that.

My roommate is nothing short of amazing. The last 4 months have been hilarious, and I couldn't ask for a better girlfriend to live with. And it's only going to get better from here. She is a lovely, caring, and strong person. We're both making a fresh start, living here, and she is the perfect person to move forward with. I'm so excited for all the things in store for her, and all the positive changes and events that have happened already.

Work went from great to amazing. There is something to be said for job security, and as of one week ago, I now get to enjoy the sense of relief that comes with knowing my job isn't going anywhere. Moving from contract to permanent is a huge load off my shoulders. It is also strange, in the best possible way, to be thinking now of a career rather than a job. That was the mentality I had going in back in November, but now it seems so much more real. There are still some things to get used to, office dynamics, work related stress, career path planning. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the reality of working in law enforcement and the reality of society and people. That will be for another post though.

As already mentioned, I had a visit from a very special someone:

Over the week we had together, we went on a harbour boat tour, something I've never done despite living downtown for years! It was a very new perspective on the skyline and the city, and you know, Toronto is a good lookin' place!

We revisited all our old haunts, Hemmingways, Korean BBQ, Shanghai Cowgirl, Horseshoe. All were just as we left them, and all were amazing. It was probably the company, though.

Naturally, we made our usual zoo trip. Always a good time, and this time, no 3 hour transit trips to get there! The simple joys that a car bring.

We drove out to Niagara for a couple of days. Unfortunately, the riches we had planned to win didn't quite come to fruition, but breaking even is a close second. A slow drive through wine country and Niagara on the Lake topped off the last day. It was an amazing way to end a too short visit. A vacation in a vacation.

For now, gentle readers, that will have to do.

Once again, I promise more regular updates.

Quarterly mass update

Best week ever.

Having a just one week to spend with my best friend and single most important person in my life was not nearly enough time. But we made the most of it. Despite the 20 month absence, it was like nothing had changed from the moment we met up. And boy oh boy did we cram a whole bunch into one short week!

I miss him already.

2011 = seriously excited

There are a lot of reasons I'm extremely excited for what 2011 has in store.

I'll start with this one:

A certain favourite Irishman (favourite human being ever actually) has indicated that a visit MAY be in the works in the upcoming months.

Just the notion of this as a possibility excites me more than I can express in a blog.

I've never missed anyone so much.

I'd post a favourite picture of us, but I value my friendship with him too much.

Why hello friends!

It seems I have been neglecting my poor blog. So, my precious readers (all two of you), here is your much anticipated update.

My new job is wonderful. Working for the police has certainly been a change of pace, as well as a sombre eye opener to the realities of the world around me. At no point have I been totally oblivious to the imperfection of the city I live in, and surrounding area, but I never realized how much actually happens here. No different from any other city or region, seeing the things that happen behind closed doors and hearing the stories they keep from the news creates a new respect for everything I have, and for how dangerous the world can really be.

On a lighter note, I've made some wonderful new friends, and one in particular who has proved to be a great support and beautiful person to have in my life. It will be disappointing when we are put on different platoons...i dread.

Many other things are in the works, but I don't want to leave myself with nothing to say in more posts!!

Stay tuned.

New....

everything!

New job starts Monday.

New car in the next week.

New start!

Fall changes....

As I ambiguously pointed out in my last post, change is in the air. Well, now seems an appropriate time to explain...

I FINALLY got word on Friday that I got the job at the Waterloo Regional Police I've been waiting 7 long months for. 7 months is a long time to be left in anticipation, in case you've never experienced such an agonizing wait, or if perhaps you don't function using a standard 12 month calendar.

With that news comes several other update worthy changes. First, I am getting my first car in less than 2 weeks. I feel equally excited and anxious for this, as it feels like a responsibility I have successfully dodged for about 12 years. That being said, I already have plenty of road trips lined up and waiting! Niagara on the lake is the first on the list!

I'll be ending my tenure at the Bauer Kitchen in the next while as well. I think I will try to stay on 1 or 2 shifts a week as I start with the police, just to give myself a small financial buffer I deal with the new responsibility of automobile ownership. That being said, if i start to find that I am too worn out to cope with life after a few weeks I will leave the restaurant with ease!

Finally, I've decided I need to invest. In lots of things. But mostly in the dreaded "market". This, THIS, is the most terrifying new part in my life. Money scares me. There, I said it. So appointments with investment people are arranged and someone else gets to handle my money. I'm sure even a one eyed monkey could do a better job with my finances.

I feel like I've gone from 0-grownup in about 10 seconds.

Some un-police-job related news:

-I've ditched contacts for glasses. Permanently.

-I think I will be switching to a vegetarian diet in the next couple of weeks

-I have started another blog, something more professional in nature, for the World Religions Educators Network. Its intimidating.

-My apartment looks like an autumn wonderland. Lots of red leaves everywhere. Even with my twig-vase.

Phew. That was a long one.