The end of an era

When I was  15, I was working at a local butcher shop. I’d been there for two and a half years, almost to the day, when my boss pulled me in the back room and said, “I have to let you go. I can’t afford to keep you.” That was the first and only time I had ever been let go from a job. Since then, I’ve enjoyed meaningful, full time employment that only ever ended because I had moved on to other things – or because there was a baby trying to escape from my uterus.

And then today happened. It pains me greatly to say that, after almost a year, I was let go from Magmic. Although I’m definitely more than a little emotional over it, I have to say that, you guys, I had a blast working with you. I’m also relieved that I was able to leave the company while remaining on good terms with everyone there. I was informed, adamantly, that the decision to let me go was purely a business decision and not a personal one. It’s a tough climate and an even tougher industry. When you work in social media and marketing, there’s always that lay-off axe looming above your head.

Having the opportunity to work with such an, intelligent, amusing, and devoted bunch of people was a pleasure. I couldn’t even begin to list the things that I learned from every single one of you. To be able to say that I’ve sat in on meetings with some of the greatest minds in the mobile industry is, quite frankly, fucking awesome.

With that being said, I’d like to share a few words of gratitude to some specific people who especially made my experience at Magmic an exceptional one.

To Kyle McInnes, I’d like to thank you for putting in a good word and landing me an interview with the CEO. Without your support and encouragement, I most likely would have chickened out entirely. The things you’ve taught me will stick with me throughout my career – even if I don’t choose to stay in the mobile industry. Thank you so much for all of your help.

To Jen Chorlton, you made my transition from maternity leave to professional office worker as smooth as anyone could have hoped. You always managed to maintain a balance of professionalism and casualness that made me feel comfortable in an unfamiliar atmosphere. You were, and continue to be, an inspiration to me as a female in a male dominated industry. Thank you for everything.

To Nick Tremmaglia, I know we don’t always see eye to eye, and there were many times where we could have torn each others throats out (or maybe that was just me), but you were super awesome with easing me into my new position at Magmic. You always helped me out when I had no idea what I was doing, and you always provided constructive criticism where copy was concerned. I admire your determination and your often stubborn, no-bullshit attitude.  It was  great being able to work side by side with you this past year, and I wish you the best of luck with Wave Crasher and your little bundle on joy on the way.

To Reza Kazemi, I only had the fortune of getting to know you the last few months, but I’m super glad that I did. You’re a genuinely talented man with a heart of gold. You may not have known it when you were lecturing me on the ins and outs of the mobile industry, but you taught me some important lessons. It’s with great sadness that I’ve come to accept the fact that I’ll never find another ukulele player to serenade me while I blog. Thank you for your kindness.

To Jonathan Simon and Lionel Regis, you guys were awesome deskmates. When I moved to the Bplay side of the office, it was a blessing to have you two dorks sitting next to me, cracking questionable jokes at one another. Lionel, I’ll never forget your incessant clicking, and Jonathan, I hope your Wall of Twitter Excellence lives on even after I’m gone. You guys are great, and I’ll miss working closely with you both.

Last but certainly not least, I’d like to thank John Criswick. It has been an absolute honor working for you. It goes without saying that you’re a legend in the industry, and I could never thank you enough for the opportunities and experiences you’ve provided for me. Everything I’ve learned, the people I’ve met, the connections I’ve made, and the places I’ve gone throughout my year with Magmic have been incredible. My year with Magmic has taught me countless invaluable lessons that I’ll keep with me for the rest of my life. Thank you so much for everything.

To everyone everyone else, it was fantastic working with you. I’ll cherish the laughs, the dodge ball games, and the moments of pure, unbridled nerdiness forever. I’m really going to miss baking cupcakes and cookies for you guys. (Also, to my guildies – I’ll catch y’all in Azeroth)

I hope to maintain the many friendships I’ve made over the past year, both personally and professionally. If you ever want or need to contact me, please feel free.

I wish everyone, and the company as a whole, the best of luck for the future. Thank you, and I’ll miss you all.

Tell me how you really feel.

You might have heard by now that my better half and I are in the planning stages of starting our own business.

I’ve been told countless times after slaving away in a kitchen for days on end that  I needed to start my own company in the food industry, but I’ve never had the confidence to do it. This past year has done much to improve that. I’ve always had a mind for food and the making of such, but last year I discovered that I had a special knack for one little dessert in particular: the cupcake.

I started making cupcakes for parties, for family members, for community organized events, and the feedback has almost always been overwhelmingly positive. I know what you’re thinking. “How exactly does one make  a bad cupcake?” Believe me. They exist. And people unfortunately still pay real money for them. I seek to end this travesty of mediocre cupcakery.

Though I’m still a rookie by industry standards, I think I’ve got what it takes to grow a successful business – the details of which I’m keeping on the downlow for the time being. Be patient!

What I would love from you guys, my beloved eaters of cupcakes, are testimonials. For those of you who have eaten my cupcakes, vegan or otherwise, I’d love to have it written how you felt about them. You can be as gut-wrenching or as simplistic as you’d like. All I’m asking for is honesty from the people who’ve eaten my little creations. They will eventually be included on my website – which a close of friend of mine is working on as we speak!

Help a sister out, would you? Leave your testimonials in the comment section below. Though they’ll all be included on the website in the end, I will choose the one I like the best and I’ll bake the author and one friend of theirs each a dozen custom cupcakes.

And, go!

An OC Transpo tale

A girl walks up to an OC Transpo kiosk and asks to sign up for a regular monthly pass. “Sure,” says the teller, “just stand over there and I’ll take your picture. That’ll be $(whatever grossly overpriced cost it is now). Thank you.” To this, the girl replies, “Wow, that was painless! Thank you so much!”

*****

Meanwhile, on the other side of luck, another girl has just realized that she’s lost her wallet. This realization was only made worse when she realized that in her wallet, along with all of her other forms of identification, was her Eco Pass. And since this girl resides in the far-off lands  of Orleans, her Eco Pass is her connection to civilization. Well, shit.

So, with a tight schedule and a  limited cashflow, she decides that the first,  most important, and easiest thing that she’ll get replaced is her bus pass. After all, it’s how she was able to go to work every day. The alternative was to use tickets until she had her pass replaced, and since she takes express routes twice a day, that could have gotten expensive. Quickly.

Alas, replacing her Eco Pass was of paramount concern. “How hard could it be?” she thought.

It is at this point in our story where we must refrain from bursting into uncontrolled laughter at her faulty assumption. She is, after all, a naive little girl who believed that this would be a simple matter of proper documentation and, most likely, a fee. She was fine with this considering it was her silly mistake in the first place losing her wallet. But she was wrong. Oh, so very, very wrong.

After receiving the replacement form from the accounting department at her place of work, she set off (rather quickly because she had a deadline and two meetings to attend that day) to the OC Transpo kiosk at the Rideau Center. It was nearing the end of the month, so of course, there was a monsterous line-up. Praise be, Fruit Ninja.

After 25 minutes in line, it was finally her turn. The conversation went a little like this:

Girl: “Hi there. I need to replace my Eco Pass. I lost my wallet. Silly me.”

Asshole: “You’ll need your replacement form, photo ID, and it’s going to cost you $25.”

Girl: “See, here’s the thing. I lost my wallet that had my photo ID in it. I do, however, have my health card (the red and white one, unfortunately), birth certificate, a paystub to prove I work there, the original forms from my first Eco Pass, and the replacement forms.”

Asshole: [Blank, emotionless stare] “I need photo ID.”

Girl “…but I have all of this other documentation. Is there nothing you can do for me? Please, I need my Eco Pass.”

Asshole: “Without photo ID, I can’t replace your Eco Pass. Next in line, please.”

Girl: “Awesome. Thanks.”

While she understood the need for photo ID, she was a little ticked off. She remembered in her younger days when she’d applied for a regular pass without a shred of identification or hassle. The difference, she supposed, was that if you’re paying them upfront, everything was A-OK. But if you’ve already been paying them off of every paycheck for the last few months, they won’t even talk to you.

“Well,” she thought, “I guess I’ll just have to pay for tickets until my new driver’s license comes in.” Unfortunately for her, she wouldn’t find the time to do that until almost two weeks later. That was also right about the same time she realized she’d have to change her address on her license, which would probably make the whole waiting process that much longer. She swore that if she didn’t have bad luck, she’d have no luck at all.

After three weeks of spending $8 a day on tickets, and a week after she had filed for her replacement driver’s license, she boarded the #35 from Lakeridge Drive to make her way to work. She popped in her tickets, and the bus driver, as he routinely does, asked her if she’d need her transfer. Absentmindedly, and in all probability still 86% asleep, she replied “no, thank you.” And off they went.

Just as she was arriving at her stop (Laurier Station), who boards the bus but the OC Transpo agents. Joy! Unable to remember whether or not she had taken her transfer , when the agent approached her, she looked up at the uniform with a flustered look and said “I can’t find my transfer!”

“Ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to get off the bus with me.”

After giving the emotionless and clearly uncaring agent all of her information and explaining to them then entire ordeal, the girl was slapped with a $150 fine and three options: 1) pay the fine, 2) have it revoked within two weeks with proper identification, or 3) bring it to court.

So here she is, stuck in limbo. Up until now, she’s given (between buying tickets and still paying for an Eco Pass that she isn’t using) an estimated total of nearly $300 over the span of a month. A sum which will only continue to grow until a plan of action can be decided. Until then, she’s unsure of when her license will arrive so that she can replace her Eco Pass and effectively shoot down the fine, whether she’ll have to take the matter to court, or whether she’ll have to bite the bullet and pay the $150.

If ever there was a case for human kindness and leniency, this, ladies and gentlemen, is not it.

Any semblance of respect I might have had for OC Transpo has all but left the building.