Hi, my name is Rob, and I'm an eHarmony unsubscriber.
Last year, on the August Civic Holiday weekend *1, I visited my parents as they stayed up at a Bible Conference Centre in Muskoka (how clever of me to rearrange words). While there, I picked up a couple of books in the series called "Marriable," which is written by a pair of writers who met online and had a whole lot of ups and downs in their dating lives. They were pretty interesting books, and I figured I could give online dating a trial.
Logging on to eHarmony made sense. I am a Christian, I would prefer to date other Christians. It's kind of a dead breaker.
So off I go in August of last year. Now, from what I'm told, eHarmony matches based on so many levels of compatibility. This is nice, and I'm sure the over 300 girls I was matched with are all great, except the vast majority also lived in either BC or Nova Scotia. Not great when you really can't travel *3. Also, Canada is a pretty vast country, with very poor quality and high cost connections.
It just would have been nice to meet other people I'm actually interested in that actually live close enough to even consider dating. Oh, right, that is what a social life is for. Over the year I tried this system out, I rarely got past sending first questions before re-thinking or being shut down. There was one series of "open communication" which I lost track of back in February, and that was the greatest success. Meanwhile I was making great friends with great people that could become great things IRL.
Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to do this while still in school. Maybe I hadn't run out of valid alternatives like the authors of those books. Heck, they were in their 30s, I'm only 23. So I decided part way through the year to finish the year I paid for, and see where that left me.
Last week, my subscription ended. And oh boy do I ever have a whole whack of new matches starting to flow in. I think eHarmony doesn't like when you use their free service - so they spam you with everyone they can in your area and hope you'll sign back up for at least another month. I'd be willing to do this to see if any of the matches disappear, or if they're really compatible.
So I think I've decided not to take much interest in the site for a while. I'd rather continue to expect great things from great people I see often enough to make me smile. If I happen to be 30 and looking, maybe I'd update my profile and giv'er another go-round.
One thing I must say, is that I have never come across a group so absolutely dedicated to Jesus. I specifically limited what I said in that regard on the profile. Though interesting to note is that about 75% of young Christian females are currently reading or have recently finished reading "The Shack." Statistically speaking, I should read it too.
*1 - first Monday of each August for those not in Ontario)
*2 - Muskoka is Ontario's premier Lake District... even though we have about four of them.
*3 - Or wouldn't even imagine having time to meet someone while rushing across the country, as the case would be.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
My PSP
In my recent endeavors into the world of corporate retail, I have discovered some quaint little phenom called the Personal Sustainability Pledge. This is somewhat of a laughing matter to me because of my own personal commitment to environmentalism since I knew what that word meant - in grade three.
I was part of the recycling/environmental club that ran for about a year, if that. We basically went to other classrooms, showed the other kids what they could and couldn't recycle (what kid in grade three uses envelopes with plastic mailing address areas? This was one of the little steps that kept me interested in geography, environmentalism, and heck, I now have a Bachelor of Environmental Studies.
So when the PSP goal was brought to my attention, I scoffed at the idea that someone's personal sustainability goal would simply be "recycling." Are you kidding me? That should be second nature by now. My generation grew up with household recycling (for the most part). Now there's even green bin (compostable) recycling in many areas of the city in which we will be employed.
So what is my PSP going to be? Making other people's PSPs better.
I asked about what was going to happen to the grocery waste from the store. Apparently we have a composter that people will pay to take stuff away from. I feel like composting needs to be done with staff foods too - in as much as it is possible. I'd like to set up a sealed bin which would be emptied regularly into the composter. It would be best in a break room. I'm sure such a bin could easily be found amongst the shelves of merchandise. Not hard to manage.
I have a 35.6 km drive to work. Alone, through what could potentially be a lot of other people's neighbourhoods. I think on day one, I'm going to post notice about ridesharing in the staff room. Maybe set up a management system? Who knows. With 300 employees, I'm sure one or two live somewhere on my way to work. And there are a lot of similarly positioned people.
Using transit to get to work is an option for some - except it involves three busses and a car ride for me to use that option. Otherwise I might consider it. However, there are many others who could take advantage of the bus service that does run to the store. I could also encourage that.
In my group interview session, I carried around my stainless steel water bottle the whole time. The managers partook of their plastic disposable water bottles. Working for such a corporation which often has deals on these kinds of things makes me antsy. I hate so much the fact that water is sold en mass in this form. I can understand having storage of water for natural disasters and medical emergencies - where clean water is vital, but everyday use of tossed bottles irks me to no end. I'd like to see the entire staff make a personal commitment to curb bottled water use, that the store would promote more sustainable personal hydration, and that any use of said disgusting bottles would be strictly monitored (bottle collection depot? - use our ability to charge deposits, and any deposit not collected is paid out to charitable or environmental causes.
Phew. Mouthful. Essentially, my PSP is to enlighten the masses. Put my degree to work, and show initiative and leadership in the workplace. Sure, it may be personal gain, but my personal sustainability project should also ensure the sustainability of my career and preventing the waste of all those tuition dollars, right?
I was part of the recycling/environmental club that ran for about a year, if that. We basically went to other classrooms, showed the other kids what they could and couldn't recycle (what kid in grade three uses envelopes with plastic mailing address areas? This was one of the little steps that kept me interested in geography, environmentalism, and heck, I now have a Bachelor of Environmental Studies.
So when the PSP goal was brought to my attention, I scoffed at the idea that someone's personal sustainability goal would simply be "recycling." Are you kidding me? That should be second nature by now. My generation grew up with household recycling (for the most part). Now there's even green bin (compostable) recycling in many areas of the city in which we will be employed.
So what is my PSP going to be? Making other people's PSPs better.
I asked about what was going to happen to the grocery waste from the store. Apparently we have a composter that people will pay to take stuff away from. I feel like composting needs to be done with staff foods too - in as much as it is possible. I'd like to set up a sealed bin which would be emptied regularly into the composter. It would be best in a break room. I'm sure such a bin could easily be found amongst the shelves of merchandise. Not hard to manage.
I have a 35.6 km drive to work. Alone, through what could potentially be a lot of other people's neighbourhoods. I think on day one, I'm going to post notice about ridesharing in the staff room. Maybe set up a management system? Who knows. With 300 employees, I'm sure one or two live somewhere on my way to work. And there are a lot of similarly positioned people.
Using transit to get to work is an option for some - except it involves three busses and a car ride for me to use that option. Otherwise I might consider it. However, there are many others who could take advantage of the bus service that does run to the store. I could also encourage that.
In my group interview session, I carried around my stainless steel water bottle the whole time. The managers partook of their plastic disposable water bottles. Working for such a corporation which often has deals on these kinds of things makes me antsy. I hate so much the fact that water is sold en mass in this form. I can understand having storage of water for natural disasters and medical emergencies - where clean water is vital, but everyday use of tossed bottles irks me to no end. I'd like to see the entire staff make a personal commitment to curb bottled water use, that the store would promote more sustainable personal hydration, and that any use of said disgusting bottles would be strictly monitored (bottle collection depot? - use our ability to charge deposits, and any deposit not collected is paid out to charitable or environmental causes.
Phew. Mouthful. Essentially, my PSP is to enlighten the masses. Put my degree to work, and show initiative and leadership in the workplace. Sure, it may be personal gain, but my personal sustainability project should also ensure the sustainability of my career and preventing the waste of all those tuition dollars, right?
Friday, August 14, 2009
Facing the facts
I'm not moving anytime soon. Fact of life.
This is a weird concept for me. I think I was so set on finding work that would involve me moving out and finding a place to live on my own and creating a new life, that I haven't fully let myself settle down. This impacts many areas of my life.
a) Cellular
Okay, so not much of a big deal, but I've kept my wireless number the same because it is what is appearing on my resumes, cards, and other contacts. Yes, it's been in addition to my home phone number, and yes I've been contacted more often on the home phone number than the cell, but I was holding out for the change that would be made to some exotic (non 905?) area code. I think that soon I should probably change the number over to a Hamilton-based number, to cut down on potential long distance. I might also add the Big-Blue-Smiley number to my Fab-Five, in order to eliminate extra charges.
b) Living
I have a lot of things still in boxes, though it's mostly the extra stuff for kitchen. I've been home for four months as of next week, which means that most of my food supply that had remained is now consumed by my mom in her quest to reduce waste (I'm a fan), but there is still all my extra stuff lying around in the basement (where the tv I never watch is... internet is way better than real-time tv anyways. I don't know what to do with all that stuff in the mean time though... it's a bit of a nuissance.
c) Church activities.
I was hoping to be able to go out and get involved in a new church in a new city, make new friends, and have some change. Instead, I'm going to be home for the foreseeable future. I've already made some steps to be involved, including re-joining the Video team (yes, we videotape and netcast our services), which I had an initial role in (generating awareness and developing a draft implementation report to the Board). I enjoy the work I do (I equate it to being back in communications tech class in high school).
My involvement in college and career or young adult groups is sorely lacking. I blame a culture of 'don't you know?' - where people expect me to know what is happening, when, and where, and assume that if I'm not there, I must be gone or busy. I'm neither, I'm at home wondering if stuff is happening. I'm actually excited, however, for the group from another church to start up again in September - there are a lot of my friends from highschool there, which means I get updates more frequently. They also advertise events on facebook - which means I get invites and know what is happening. I like that. I'm very much a fan of getting invited to events rather than having to dig around for information.
d) Community
I've often wondered about getting involved in community organizations. I'd really like to find one I'm remotely interested in and can use my skills towards. I should investigate more, and hopefully figure out what will work with whatever work schedule I end up working.
For you folks out there in blogger land... how did you adjust to returning to home after college? Especially for living with parents?
This is a weird concept for me. I think I was so set on finding work that would involve me moving out and finding a place to live on my own and creating a new life, that I haven't fully let myself settle down. This impacts many areas of my life.
a) Cellular
Okay, so not much of a big deal, but I've kept my wireless number the same because it is what is appearing on my resumes, cards, and other contacts. Yes, it's been in addition to my home phone number, and yes I've been contacted more often on the home phone number than the cell, but I was holding out for the change that would be made to some exotic (non 905?) area code. I think that soon I should probably change the number over to a Hamilton-based number, to cut down on potential long distance. I might also add the Big-Blue-Smiley number to my Fab-Five, in order to eliminate extra charges.
b) Living
I have a lot of things still in boxes, though it's mostly the extra stuff for kitchen. I've been home for four months as of next week, which means that most of my food supply that had remained is now consumed by my mom in her quest to reduce waste (I'm a fan), but there is still all my extra stuff lying around in the basement (where the tv I never watch is... internet is way better than real-time tv anyways. I don't know what to do with all that stuff in the mean time though... it's a bit of a nuissance.
c) Church activities.
I was hoping to be able to go out and get involved in a new church in a new city, make new friends, and have some change. Instead, I'm going to be home for the foreseeable future. I've already made some steps to be involved, including re-joining the Video team (yes, we videotape and netcast our services), which I had an initial role in (generating awareness and developing a draft implementation report to the Board). I enjoy the work I do (I equate it to being back in communications tech class in high school).
My involvement in college and career or young adult groups is sorely lacking. I blame a culture of 'don't you know?' - where people expect me to know what is happening, when, and where, and assume that if I'm not there, I must be gone or busy. I'm neither, I'm at home wondering if stuff is happening. I'm actually excited, however, for the group from another church to start up again in September - there are a lot of my friends from highschool there, which means I get updates more frequently. They also advertise events on facebook - which means I get invites and know what is happening. I like that. I'm very much a fan of getting invited to events rather than having to dig around for information.
d) Community
I've often wondered about getting involved in community organizations. I'd really like to find one I'm remotely interested in and can use my skills towards. I should investigate more, and hopefully figure out what will work with whatever work schedule I end up working.
For you folks out there in blogger land... how did you adjust to returning to home after college? Especially for living with parents?
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Job I'd do - Just for fun
I'm extremely jealous of certain people on the campus of Waterloo. They got to do something I would want to do for free. Help people.
Student Ambassadors at Waterloo have flashy jackets and take high school students on tours around campus, showing them where their classes would be, talk about some cool things that happen on campus, and explain what life is like at Waterloo. They are the front line of making a good impression on parents and students (okay, mostly parents).
The reason I would love this job is because I love sharing knowledge, or testing to see what I do know. Sure I've done this a lot with younger students when they get to campus, but it's much more fun with people who have NO CLUE what you're talking about. It's all fresh and new.
This past weekend, I was visiting friends who are finishing up the Spring term of school (exams finish this week). I wanted to be sure that I say so-long for now, just in case I don't get to see them all too much. I stay in the student apartments where some of my good friends live (mostly because I can get in late without a key, and they borrow a sweet futon from a friend for the term). As I was walking across campus on Sunday afternoon, heading to the plaza for some Harvey's (Canadian burger joint) I had a vehicle pull up and ask for direction to the student villages. This was one of the times I really wanted to say (for their convenience) 'Do you have room in the back for me?' I often find that I give better directions by travelling with the person, given enough time.
UW's campus makes sense, some of the time, but there are many paths to choose from, and our wayfinding needs improvement (should happen in the next couple years). In a car, however, you can drive in circles and easily find most buildings, especially the residences, which are clumped on the north-west portion of 'south campus' (a term that isn't explained well amongst the university as a whole). I gave the directions as best as possible, but it's still hard.
Well anyways, back to the point. I just love being able to tell people where to go, and how to get there. It must be my love of maps.
Student Ambassadors at Waterloo have flashy jackets and take high school students on tours around campus, showing them where their classes would be, talk about some cool things that happen on campus, and explain what life is like at Waterloo. They are the front line of making a good impression on parents and students (okay, mostly parents).
The reason I would love this job is because I love sharing knowledge, or testing to see what I do know. Sure I've done this a lot with younger students when they get to campus, but it's much more fun with people who have NO CLUE what you're talking about. It's all fresh and new.
This past weekend, I was visiting friends who are finishing up the Spring term of school (exams finish this week). I wanted to be sure that I say so-long for now, just in case I don't get to see them all too much. I stay in the student apartments where some of my good friends live (mostly because I can get in late without a key, and they borrow a sweet futon from a friend for the term). As I was walking across campus on Sunday afternoon, heading to the plaza for some Harvey's (Canadian burger joint) I had a vehicle pull up and ask for direction to the student villages. This was one of the times I really wanted to say (for their convenience) 'Do you have room in the back for me?' I often find that I give better directions by travelling with the person, given enough time.
UW's campus makes sense, some of the time, but there are many paths to choose from, and our wayfinding needs improvement (should happen in the next couple years). In a car, however, you can drive in circles and easily find most buildings, especially the residences, which are clumped on the north-west portion of 'south campus' (a term that isn't explained well amongst the university as a whole). I gave the directions as best as possible, but it's still hard.
Well anyways, back to the point. I just love being able to tell people where to go, and how to get there. It must be my love of maps.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Oh Profile Questions.
A number of years ago, I updated my blogger profile and in the process changed the answer to the random question featured there. Here is the old one that I just changed now:
Your superpower is that you smell like dandelions whenever someone lies. How will you maintain your secret identity?
Build a house of sod, and work from home.
Your superpower is that you smell like dandelions whenever someone lies. How will you maintain your secret identity?
Build a house of sod, and work from home.
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Blogonomic Downturn
After talking to Lisa of 20 SB, an online community she created for bloggers who don't fit a typical definition of anything in this highly categorized age, I justified not joining for the lack of blogging I've done since 2007.
One major reason, of course, is the lack of anything of interest in my life to publish significant blog entries on. Or so I thought. There is of course my uptake of the Tumblr platform, but I also blame Grebel. That doesn't really make sense, does it? In fact, the majority of my posts of the early days of the blog are Grebel related. True.
Instead, I started to relate a personal history through dialogue, rather than text. I feel like after 2007, I was sick of using computers to type things up on, especially during school. I became a very socially interactive person, and even struggled through four terms of school because I put social interaction much ahead of my schooling. Too much ahead. I think this time of talking made me relate stories much more effectively through dialogue, but by the time I got to a computer, I figured everyone knew the story, and of course the blogging world wouldn't care at all. I had already been accused of talking too much about my life anyways.
That was when the rebrand to a more planning focus happened. And consequently I lost interest in blogging full posts entirely. A sad series of events, but maybe this is exactly what I need to do now in order to eat up some time and work on my writing skills.
Time to hit the books.
One major reason, of course, is the lack of anything of interest in my life to publish significant blog entries on. Or so I thought. There is of course my uptake of the Tumblr platform, but I also blame Grebel. That doesn't really make sense, does it? In fact, the majority of my posts of the early days of the blog are Grebel related. True.
Instead, I started to relate a personal history through dialogue, rather than text. I feel like after 2007, I was sick of using computers to type things up on, especially during school. I became a very socially interactive person, and even struggled through four terms of school because I put social interaction much ahead of my schooling. Too much ahead. I think this time of talking made me relate stories much more effectively through dialogue, but by the time I got to a computer, I figured everyone knew the story, and of course the blogging world wouldn't care at all. I had already been accused of talking too much about my life anyways.
That was when the rebrand to a more planning focus happened. And consequently I lost interest in blogging full posts entirely. A sad series of events, but maybe this is exactly what I need to do now in order to eat up some time and work on my writing skills.
Time to hit the books.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Experience Matters
The current employment market is being satirized and criticized all over the internet. Last night I happened upon a College Humor video that equated the Bachelor's Degree student to child sponsorship cases. The problem, evidently, is that there are very few sectors willing to invest in the cycle of employment; everyone demands experience.
After talking to various friends and family members about this, they agree, and can come up with their own stories of how young workers just aren't given a chance. Much of the current problems, as I see it, stem from increased life expectancy, removal of mandatory retirement, and job-hogging consultants. They are, of course, completely inter-related.
I had a chat with a group of more senior planners at a recent School of Planning PRAGMA Council dinner. They discussed their work, and plans to continue working well past a reasonable retirement age. These are the planners that swoop into Municipalities, sell their experience and credentials, and get paid big money to do the work. I'm not going to comment at all on the quality of the work, because I'm sure the majority of it is straight up brilliant, but it may also fall into the Grey-haired planning approach - recycled, out of date, repeated. I've heard stories (and seen for myself) examples of omitted changes in By-laws to place names (Replace All is a wonderful feature, just be sure to get all spelling variations of the place names). Ideally, these planners would work to impart their knowledge on training exercises, fill more senior policy positions in government (MMAH, MOE, MTO, etc) and act in an advisory role. I love to learn from them, but I can't because I'm in that wishy-washy "unemployed" stage after graduation, not wanting to fork out more cash/time for a Master's Degree, and not qualifying for interviews because I do not have the minimum (everywhere) two year experience.
What I do have is a 5 year general degree with co-operative work experience. 8 months worth of working in a planning department, conversing daily with a County Planner, and bi-weekly with a group of 5 Township Planning staff, two Conservation Authority Planners, and various other municipal or government staff. Plus 8 months of working directly with data pertaining directly to municipalities in Ontario - including sensitive statistical and demographic data that I can be trusted with. Now I understand how that is not two years worth of experience, but did I mention that you can also pay me less money?
I often wonder if this should be something put into my Covering Letter:
In essence, if we stop paying those really high-priced guys to do the actual work, and instead get them to take over faculty positions, or at least provide a solid amount of required mentoring (hey, we could even pay them for their troubles!) then that might free up some extra municipal cash to pay someone less money and get the experience they need to move up.
Sooner or later these guys will die. Fact of life and death. I just hope we can figure out (I hope to help) a way to better support graduates. OPPI, take note from AACIP - they work together to support 10 junior planners per year, and help the rural planning districts. You could learn a thing or two.
/Rant
After talking to various friends and family members about this, they agree, and can come up with their own stories of how young workers just aren't given a chance. Much of the current problems, as I see it, stem from increased life expectancy, removal of mandatory retirement, and job-hogging consultants. They are, of course, completely inter-related.
I had a chat with a group of more senior planners at a recent School of Planning PRAGMA Council dinner. They discussed their work, and plans to continue working well past a reasonable retirement age. These are the planners that swoop into Municipalities, sell their experience and credentials, and get paid big money to do the work. I'm not going to comment at all on the quality of the work, because I'm sure the majority of it is straight up brilliant, but it may also fall into the Grey-haired planning approach - recycled, out of date, repeated. I've heard stories (and seen for myself) examples of omitted changes in By-laws to place names (Replace All is a wonderful feature, just be sure to get all spelling variations of the place names). Ideally, these planners would work to impart their knowledge on training exercises, fill more senior policy positions in government (MMAH, MOE, MTO, etc) and act in an advisory role. I love to learn from them, but I can't because I'm in that wishy-washy "unemployed" stage after graduation, not wanting to fork out more cash/time for a Master's Degree, and not qualifying for interviews because I do not have the minimum (everywhere) two year experience.
What I do have is a 5 year general degree with co-operative work experience. 8 months worth of working in a planning department, conversing daily with a County Planner, and bi-weekly with a group of 5 Township Planning staff, two Conservation Authority Planners, and various other municipal or government staff. Plus 8 months of working directly with data pertaining directly to municipalities in Ontario - including sensitive statistical and demographic data that I can be trusted with. Now I understand how that is not two years worth of experience, but did I mention that you can also pay me less money?
I often wonder if this should be something put into my Covering Letter:
I understand that your salary range for this position is $k - $5k per annum. As a compromise for my lack of two years worth of experience, I am prepared to counter-offer you $5000 less per annum for as long as I hold this specific position. Your money does not matter. However, your position is what I spent $40,000 worth of tuition, living fees, and incidentals ($3000 of which was to pay for job searches to make more money back) to get myself into. I really really want to do what this position advertising. I am willing to get more money, just for the experience. Also, that guy who took an unrelated degree then saw money in the planning field at the time who is also applying for the job? He's going to leave you as soon as he realises he's unhappy. This is my freaking calling. The orange flyer told me so.
In essence, if we stop paying those really high-priced guys to do the actual work, and instead get them to take over faculty positions, or at least provide a solid amount of required mentoring (hey, we could even pay them for their troubles!) then that might free up some extra municipal cash to pay someone less money and get the experience they need to move up.
Sooner or later these guys will die. Fact of life and death. I just hope we can figure out (I hope to help) a way to better support graduates. OPPI, take note from AACIP - they work together to support 10 junior planners per year, and help the rural planning districts. You could learn a thing or two.
/Rant
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