"Today, everything was fine. Until roundabout, quarter to nine, I suddenly found myself in a bind. Was it something I said? Something I read and manifested that's getting you down. Don't you dare come to bed with that ambiguous look in you eye, I'd sooner sleep by an open fire and wake up friend..."

I’m starting to believe that with every job I have, I learn what I don’t want from life. I’m not sure if it’s some higher power’s way of telling me to run while I can and pursue the career path I want, or it just ends up making me realize that I can’t stay in said jobs forever. First stop on the jobs to date: Canadian Tire.

I worked at Canadian for 5 years during the end of my high school and majority of my university life. My boss, the tiniest, angriest woman I’ve met to this day with moods that change like the weather, a short fuse and a fifteen years of service Canadian Tire badge. At the annual CT mandatory unpaid meeting, the higher ups in head office would pass out badges for years of service (and souls rendered) in a big formal ceremony. Watching these men and women who appear unhappy and lifeless the majority of the times I’ve seen them get their badges, scared the crap out of me. I wondered if they always dreamed their lives would be this way, and why they never left the Tire when even in the world of retail there are better alternatives.

My next retail stop. Bluenotes, where everyone who worked there was between 18-20 (I was 23) and my managers were my age. It always bothered me that the managers were my age and couldn’t understand my lack of enthusiasm when peddling deals like t-shirts 2 for $20 or about folding millions of graphic tee’s with phrases like “naughty girl” and sparkles on them. One girl I used to work with was all about working her way up in the Bluenotes family at the ripe age of 23. She’d also wish for something ‘exciting’ to happen in her life like marriage or pregnancy, so maybe she was exactly where she wanted to be?

My internship at CityLine was awesome; I really believe it changed my life. However, not getting paid for 4 months was not the greatest thing - but you make do to get where you want to be in life. I realized quickly in an industry where some people don’t know your name, or making a point of telling you that they in fact never plan on learning it, that you have to take the bad with the good. With that experience and my first insight into television, I decided I wouldn’t forget (if I make the big bucks I like to dream of) to appreciate the people I work with down to the coffee runners (as I was one) and to remember their names! I like to believe in karma and hope those who forget what it’s like to be an intern will be harshly reminded one day.

Which brings me to my current job. The Library. This surprisingly is the job that has been the most indicative of what I don’t want for my adult future (should I ever start to consider myself an adult, lol). I don’t want a standard 9-5 job; I don’t want to be part of the shuffled herd of the rush hour GO train. I don’t want to work an unchallenging, mindless job that I don’t care about. I don’t want to talk shit behind my fellow employees backs then turn around and give them a big fake smile afterwards. But there is a woman I work with who spends the ENTIRE workday talking about herself. When her pets are sick, she sends building wide email updates. It’s worst when you actually know this lady, I assure you. So maybe the best way to figure out who you want to be is figuring out who and what you don’t want to be? Maybe this isn’t the case for everyone, but it’s does seem to be in my case.

Speaking of jobs! I got my official hiring e-mail for the Beijing Olympics, it’s really happening! It’s as follows:

Congratulations！
This email is to let you know that we will be hiring you to work for us during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. We will be sending you a letter in January that will let you know your work dates and how much you will be paid.
Please keep in mind that this is not a volunteer position. You will be part of our paid staff here at BOB. We look forward to working with you at the Olympics!

I wonder what crazy realization I’ll get from this job; I’m really looking forward to finding out. Although I’m still having a hard time picturing myself in China. It just seems too crazy.