While I was 26

Tomorrow I turn twenty-seven.

And because someone once told me that “celebration without reflection is hollow and empty,” here then, in no particular order, are some of the things I’m most proud that happened in the last year. I:

• Celebrated a year of marriage (thanks Jenna)
• Started running (thanks Beginning Runner’s Handbook)
• Started playing the ukulele (thanks Tom, and thanks Steve and David)
• Pitched, produced, and hosted my very own pilot for CBC Radio
• Started drinking Scotch seriously
• Helped make another season of Spark, a show that I think is both important and good
• Schooled another class of aspiring audio producers at Ryerson
• Took a weird digital cable channel up on their offer to host a fake talk show
• Formed a brand new rock and roll band with my friends Tristan, Mike, and Isaac

Here’s to becoming old!

Crack and Cheese

Jenna sends me the best recipes. Tonight I made “Perfect Macaroni and Cheese” (AKA crack and cheese). I’m pretty sure I dirtied every pot in the house.

Yum. There is no way this is good for me.

Married!

We’re back from Germany, and guess what? We’re married!

Now it’s time to party!

Photos and more to follow.

Matrimony

We leave for Germany tomorrow.

Just Jenna and me.

To get married.

It’s all very exciting, and I hope to post lots of photos and things at the wedding blog when we return.

See you soon.

Marital audit

In preparation for getting married, I checked out the “Getting Married” section of CBC’s HR website. Under the FAQ:

I don’t want to know what an audit involves.

So long 43rd floor

This past Sunday, I finished moving in with Jenna. And at midnight last night, my lease at 210 Victoria expired. There are many things I won’t miss about the Pantages, like the long elevator rides and crusty staff at security.

But boy, I’ll miss the view:

A new home, a new job, and… another new job

This past weekend I moved most of my earthly possessions to Jenna’s. As of August 1, we will officially be cohabitating, and no longer spending enormous amounts of money on two separate apartments. The move was remarkably easy thanks to Rae and her car. There are still a few things at my old place, but all of the big stuff is gone.

Also, I’m happy to report that I have a new-ish job. Starting August 13, I’ll be working on the new Nora Young show Spark. It’s a great concept, a great team, and I can’t wait to get started, but I’m really going to miss all the people I work with now.

As well, I’ve been offered a job at my alma mater, Ryerson. I’ll be teaching audio production part-time in the School of Radio and Television Arts. I have one section of BDC101, and it’ll take up my Tuesday evenings starting in the fall.

Wow.

After writing that, I realized what an enormous amount of my life changed in the past two weeks.

Smog Dog

I’ve lived in Toronto for almost three years now. The whole while, I’ve never purchased (much less consumed) a hot dog or sausage from any of this fair city’s ubiquitous street meat vendors.

Last night, all that changed:

Special thanks to Jenna for getting me intoxicated enough to make it all happen.

Last bike ride before winter?

Today, I picked up my bicycle from College and Clinton and drove it home. The sun was shining, I had a brand new haircut, and every traffic signal turned green for me just in time.

I’m tempted to put my bike away for the winter, because it just doesn’t get much better than that.

I hate phones

But after moving this past weekend, I realized that I need some kind of telephone. And prices the way they are, the convenience of a cell seemed worth the premium over a land line.

But cell phone companies are evil. They rope you into 2 or 3 year contracts with the lure of cheap or “free” phones. And mostly, their “free” phones suck. I had a 2 year contract with Bell Mobility that ended in the Spring. It was nothing but headaches, and I resolved to never give them any of my money ever again. Ever.

So I did some research, and figured it out something I’m pretty happy with:

I picked up an unlocked Hong Kong version of the Motorola SLVR from Canada Computers at College and Spadina for $219. The same phone, locked to Rogers Wireless, would cost $389.99 without a contract.

Then I walked into Fido at the Eaton Centre, signed up for the recently announced $30/month Urban plan, and ponied up $30 for a Fido SIM card.

So: an unlocked GSM phone, a monthly plan I can change or cancel anytime, and no dealings with Satan Bell. Not too bad.

Cell phones suck. Cell phone companies will always rip you off. But this way, I feel like I’m getting ripped of the least.