New job - Real job

Hello!

OK, here are some updates! I was just about to say that I tried the poll on my website (anastasiadesroches.org) to see what sort of content people would like to see, and, due to lack of response I was removing it. By lack of response I mean no one gave feedback, not one single person! Then I thought I should go check before posting and guess what?? 1 person responded! Hahaha. It is not as much feedback as I would like but if you are that one person, thank you! It is a start. I'll leave it up for a bit longer. Go vote people!

So the title of the post is “new job“. Perhaps should have started with that? I now have a real job, a day job. I am working for the Saint Thomas Aquinas society or the SSTA (French acronym). I work on a few different projects, coordinating events and such. The communications department has just launched a new website (ssta.org) and it is really well done, you should go see it! Also, I'll use my blog to shamelessly ask you to help us get our name out there. :)

You can follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaintThomasdAquin

or on Twitter: @commSSTA

Another of my current projects is the initiative to help make The Centre Goeland viable. This is a centre in my community that hosts all sorts of events with a focus on youth activities. They have a great facility. It is run by volunteers at the moment and I am part of a committee that is trying to find ways to raise awareness (and funds) for the centre. One way YOU can help is by simply signing up and voting daily at this Aviva contest page: http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf11386 you register and sign up with your email address you don't need to sign in every time, just the initial registration. It will then save your info if you use the same computer.

Those are my ramblings for now. If you're looking to discover some new music (it is new to me, maybe not to you) I am listening to the song “Ring them bells“ by Sarah Jarosz.

Happy Sunday!

Anastasia

Hello blog, do you remember me?

... or, if you are reading this do you remember me? I wonder so often what to do about my blog that I spend way more time thinking about what topics to post than I ever spend actually working on a post. I think that part of the problem is that I have so many interests that are intertwined. When I start writing about one (or thinking about one) it leads to the next and I am overwhelmed by the different possibilities of things to write about!

So today I am just writing... whatever comes out on the page will be the post! I think I'll give a little life update. I have been doing some soul searching. It all started with a JOB! From January 2011 - June 2011 I had the opportunity to teach music in a school, from kindergarten to grade 12! It was a scary thing at first but I was really excited to try it and it ended up being a great experience for me. I am not a certified teacher and the opportunity presented itself because there were no certified teachers available. They have since filled the position so where does that leave me??

I am 38 years old. I have never had a full time, Monday to Friday, 9-5 kind of job until this. As you can imagine it was a whole different life for me. I tend to be a relatively organized person and that was a big plus for me during this time. Of course, one of the big benefits of having a “normal“ kind of job is getting a regular paycheque. For someone who has been self employed for many years this is an amazing, magical thing!! Every two weeks, someone magically puts money in your bank account!!!

You get the idea, I enjoyed the job and I actually enjoyed the routine of it all. I did however, sacrifice some of my personal goals. I was ready to record a CD when this all happened. I was very much into writing music. Teaching left no time for this so it went to the background for a while. I am finding it difficult to get back... or even to determine if I want it back. I thought maybe I was meant for the rat race. I applied on a couple of jobs, even had an interview but it didn't work out. I wasn't sure I wanted it to.

So, now, things are falling into place as they usually do. New possibilities, new contracts. Back to teaching some lessons next week, trying to make my website (www.anastasiadesroches.org) more functional (check it out and vote if you have time), a trip to British Columbia in three weeks to find some inspiration, an invitation from the department of education to work on the music curriculum and, Workshops and a house concert in Fredericton on November 19th.

So, there is my update. I think I am on the right track... I'll try to let you know, if I can get over myself enough to just write another post soon! Thanks for reading!

Anastasia

Happy New Year!

Here we are, 2011. I am thinking about New Year resolutions. I rarely make real resolutions. Do you? What kind of resolutions do you make? I am curious as to how seriously people take their resolutions. Saying you are going to eat better or exercise more seems to have become a bit of a joke. People don't seem to follow through. Have you ever kept a resolution for a whole year?

New Years Eve for me was full of my favorite things; family, food and card playing! I love playing cards and learned a new game called “la poule“ which involved standing on your chair and making chicken noises when you had the right combination of cards. More cards were played on January 1st. A good start to the year.

I got spoiled for Christmas. I just finished trying out my new Donkey Kong game for the Wii. The save points seem a bit far apart for my liking but it is fun so far. I have been wanting to try Apple TV for a long time and got it for Christmas. We were in Québec until last night so I had to wait to try it. I find the picture quality great but the wait to load Netflix content long. I suppose this is because it is impossible to get high speed internet with any real speed where I live.

As for the pictures, the first one is the view out my front window at the moment. It surprises me that on January 3rd there is still no ice on the Northumberland Strait. I like this. The view is not as interesting when it ices over. The second picture is one I took at Véro's mom's place in Pointe-aux-Outardes. We went for a walk and a neighbor had these figures in his yard. I really liked them and thought I'd share. Happy New Year to you all!