The silver lining.

What is the point of waking up if you expect the day to be terrible – lack luster, uneventful, completely mundane? I wouldn’t wake up if I expected that. Lucky for me, I don’t expect that. Hours later, the conversation finally ended. I couldn’t believe it. I still can’t believe it.

I woke up late today. I (sort of) did everything I wanted to do. I went to the gym tonight. It’s been packed the past few nights. I’m shocked I even felt motivated to go. I’ve had to read a few books over the past few days and what better way to do cardio? There are only so many Twitter updates I can read at one time.

Among the things I did, I had a long conversation today. Borderline arguing. I wanted to shake him. I admit that I’m naive about many things, but about enjoying life? I don’t think so. I recalled all the amazing things I’ve experienced and why I did them. I thought about the people that taught me the lessons that would change me. I tried to convey that work, when it becomes so, will be fun, exciting and maybe even amazing. Why would I spend years feeling a little too melancholy?

The silver lining. Tucked away under everything we do.

Music with a meaning.

A song that sounds different today than it did yesterday. A song with new meanings. A song with a memory, a face, a voice.

The Foo Fighters – Everlong (acoustic)
Silversun Pickups – Lazy Eye
Plain White Ts – Hey There Delilah
Arctic Monkeys – Fake Tales of San Francisco
The Beatles – Blackbird
Damian Marley – Pimpa’s Paradise
Adele – Hometown Glory
Set Your Goals – To Be Continued…
Faithless – I Want More
Brand New – Jaws Theme Swimming
Lauryn Hill – Freedom Time
Radiohead – Talk Show Host
Rx Bandits – Overcome

Jan 13/10

Stop the presses. College faculty vote in favour of a strike. OH COME ON. Voter turnout was only 47.76 per cent! Isn’t this a big deal? Doesn’t this affect us all? Why wouldn’t someone vote in this? One thing I learned in student politics was about voting, and the importance of voting. In the masses, a decision is being made. A very big one. A decision that affects many people – 200,000. I would be compelled to say something because I have an opinion. An opinion that counts. The worst way to disappoint is with apathy, and I feel really disappointed right now.

Bam. Just for fun.

Three days. So far so great. Today felt like a big day. Imagine coming home with bags full of fresh groceries. Imagine unpacking it all – wow, tons of good stuff. Well, today felt like that. The long holiday got me thinking as to whether or not I was really… into it. I guess I’m second guessing all of this. PR. “Really? Me? Hmm…” Today is the second, technically third, day back and I remember why I love it. People helping people when everyone else works 9-5. Funny thing. I’m excited. I’m actually scared. I lied when I said I was ready to just jump in. I’m not.

Sitting in three classrooms, listening to three different women. Each had stories that only make the work sound exciting, challenging. I hope Common doesn’t break the window screen. Chubby cat in the box. Last Wednesday, I revisited some grand ol’ memories at UWO . A bar completely different than I’d ever seen before. Tons of people. People here. People there. People were everywhere. There’s a new menu as well. Nacho pie. Not baked like a pie. Not pizza like a pie. It’s a bag of Doritos cut in half  and filled with the toppings of nachos. Salsa, green peppers, tomatoes, chili. All of this stuffed into a wire fry holder. You actually eat from the bag. It didn’t work out. I’ll never forget it.

Too early for bread.

Go to bread.

I think few people remember the odd Simpsons quotes. Celebrating 20 years of humour. Good for them. I knew yellow people were the most hilarious. Last week, I visited one of my favourite places. Growing old and moving on reminds me that favourites definitely change. I was at a once-dying campus bar, which is now a booming fully-licensed lounge. I sang “Happy Birthday Lisa” (the Simpsons-Michael Jackson) version to a guy waiting in line behind me. It was his birthday… whatever his name was.

Now that I’m back at school, I feel like I’m obligated to type, chat, write, tweet etc. I’ve decided to toss this blog out the window and start with some fresh ideas. Writer’s block is my worst enemy. When I have writer’s block, I’ve likely not gone to the gym, and I’ve likely grown a pimple. Instead, I’m going to start a thing a day. Everyday, I’ll write about something that I saw, experienced, heard etc.

Catfish?

Shake it.

Shake it up in the new year. Everyone makes a new year resolution. A time to restart, rethink or reinvent. A new me? Probably not. I could’ve said I’d go to the gym more, or I’d stop eating canned foods but those are things I know won’t happen. I like to be realistic. Instead, I decided that I should maximize what opportunities present themselves.

In short:

1. Reconnect or stay connected.
   My closest friends no longer live down the hall, or in the same city. Over the past year and a half, I’ve found it difficult not seeing my favourite friends. The convenience of conversation isn’t there, but it doesn’t have to die. Location means nothing, right? I want to stay connected. I find it rare to find friends so amazing, so I don’t want to let them go.
2. Value everything.
   It’s easy to complain about x,y,z assignments. In my last semester as a student, I’m realizing that every task has a meaning and I need to value that. This is my last chance to be a student and to be able to learn from a group of mentors that know what they’re talking about. I’m not reading a book, I’m listening to people. There’s a value in that.
3. Have fun.
   It’s that simple.

Now. Time to have fun in the aisles of a grocery store.

Up and Atom. This is better than Radioactive Man.

Social media. What is that? Watch this. In 2 minutes and 28 seconds, you’ll get it.

Four months ago, I couldn’t tell you anything about it. I wasn’t ever technologically inept but social media and web 2.0 were foreign terms. Essentially, it is about how the Internet has become a growing force in the PR industry and that, at this point in our quasi-careers, we need to jump on the bandwagon. As a class of 40 individuals, I could sense the confusion, the hesitation and the rebellion.

Four months later, social media isn’t such a new thing. In fact, it’s an old thing! I thought Twitter was a fad but turns out I use it everyday. Email, youtube and facebook were all building dust in dirty old corners of the virtual world and now, the entire class is taking part in the viral. We are viral… well, okay maybe not quite yet.

Recognizing that new PR students are going to be creeping into this program with equally wide eyes, I feel compelled to provide them with a few tips, or maybe warnings.

1. Don’t rebel. Recognizing that social media is not a fad, but in fact, an opportunity for us to be able to thrive in the work place, find jobs and create greater professional (and personal) networks. Get on board.
2. Contribute. Signing up for whatever accounts isn’t going to help you or anyone else. Being a contributor (if not a leader) is the way to really get something out of all this web 2.0.
3. Take your time. Don’t rush into it. Half the confusion that arises is because you have no clue what you’ve just signed up for or what it is used for. Take the time the learn about it and most importantly, learn how it benefits you. It is all about you afterall.
4. Invest in yourself. Don’t force yourself to follow PR professionals or read PR blogs if that doesn’t interest you. Start with what does. Like fashion? Follow some fashion blogs. Like cats? Follow @ICHCheezburger on Twitter.

Essentially, don’t stress. Social media is a simple concept but can seem overwhelming because there are SO many applications that connect you with an even larger number of people. Isn’t that an opportunity? If you could get your foot in the door with the world, why not? Get on board. Better yet, get ahead. You never know, you could become the next social media guru.

Need more tips? Check out Shelley, Maria, Dhruv, Meg and Amanda’s posts.

Why?

Dear Humber PR,

“Special interest groups: groups of individuals or organizations that share a common focus or goal, that have a single, common concern. They come together.” – Barrie Doyle

I always assumed we had a common goal – become successful PR practitioners. Alongside the nature of the program, making friends and having fun is assumed right? Not today.

In the last month, I’ve found myself in a hard place. I’m a strong person. I’m often a very professional person but recently, the lines between professional and personal have become very blurred. Emotions are in play. I recognize and embrace the fact that we all have different personalities, but today, I think I’ve just reached my end. I respect differences, truly I do. What I find difficult is trying to negotiate over a battlefield that was created over…? That’s the thing. What started it all? Why aren’t we talking about? Why can’t we work it out?

I’ve never been in a situation where a compromise couldn’t be met, especially when it came down to perceptions. That’s what it is. Misperceptions and misunderstandings have escalated to a point of seeming hatred and resentment. I didn’t ask for this. Because I didn’t know your name, I didn’t say hi. That doesn’t make me unfriendly. I feel like I have found myself in the middle of this conflict/misunderstanding/debacle and I don’t want to be there. I try, I always try, to level the playing field. Today, so much has made it clear that it just won’t work.

I don’t understand why those who have seen this happen don’t help. I feel like this misunderstanding is only growing with the help of our mentors, our teachers and our friends. Shouldn’t they help us? Don’t they want to see us all succeed – professionally and personally? I’ll take the blame and accept when others want to choose someone to target. That’s fine. But today, not anymore.

I just can’t wrap my head around why communicators cannot communicate. I think, for once, we just need to come together and realize that what’s happening is bigger than it is and was created over nothing. Maybe I’m just naive but I though this industry was about building relationships, not tearing them apart before they begin.

I’m just… disappointed and feeling let-down. Will anyone step up and turn the tide?

Eng residence pt1

A night at the Eng residence o’ fun is pretty ridiculous. There are 4.5 of us. Every day is a new adventure. A thrill ride really. For tonight, here are the characters/people/the fam jam.

Dalai Lama? Dad?

Dalai Lama’s Twin.
My dad’s a senior-ish. He turned 60 this year. A trait that has been passed down is his face. My grandfather had the face, my dad has the face, and now I possess this face. It’s no ordinary face. It’s the dalai lama’s face… but puffier. I unfortunately have the same puff-ball face features I had as a child and looking at my dad, looks like they are here to stay.

My dad has just started to bald. To protect his noggin, he wears a beanie cap during the fall, winter and spring seasons. Yes, that would be three entire seasons. It’s hideous. If you see his green Toyota Corolla (yep) driving in the middle of the road, that’s him. Say hi.

Momma.
Next, is the 80lb karaoke lover, my mom. She believes that she was born to perform. She sings alongside the television and radio. If you’ve ever heard Cantonese opera, you’d know it is high-pitched. I mean, HIGH-pitched. Windows shatter. She’s learning how to shake her booty. We once bought a hip-hop dance VHS (that’s how old it is). She still practices. One day, she’ll be the next Chinese-Canadian idol? She likes to wear my old clothes but will splurge on a designer purse or expensive something that she’ll wear once. She has a thing for massage furniture. We have two chairs AND a bed. It’s weird.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Techie.
My brother is a techie. He built his own computer and proceeded to build me one. He has refurbished a least a dozen computers. All of which he has wanted to keep. We have a computer lab in the spare bedroom. It’s weird. My brother takes on hobbies pretty heavily. He bought a pool table when he wanted to become a pool shark. He built a gym in our basement after getting his black belt in Tae Kwon Do (all the boys do it, my dad is a quadruple kick-yo-ass). He works out for 3hrs a day and has abs. It’s also weird. He also has a knack for derogatory terms.

The Token Asian.
Not so token in a whole family full of them, but usually, I am the only asian in a group of people. Yes, Chinatown freaks me out. Too. many. asians. must. stand. out. (something about the power of conformity). I’m the youngest. I’m the only one to have gone to post-secondary education and beyond. I am the rebel. I drink alcohol, I have a tattoo, I moved away from home at 18, I refused to be a doctor. The list goes on and it’s always “aiii-yahhh” (watch this to get a jist). I act as a constant reminder of what happens when you have kids: screaming, laughing, money wasting. I studied Women’s Studies and Psychology. Big into diversity. My “speciality” (is that what I’d call it?) is LGBTQ equality and education. I believe in equal rights and freedoms. Freedom to drink, tattoo, move out etc.

Common is a dog.

LOLCAT
This LOLCAT can has cheezburger. Last is the 0.5 of the group. Common. He’s the cat. I got him as a gift to myself for convocation. He’s my first real pet (the stupid goldfish and the many dead TMNTs don’t count) and he’s awesome. He’s not the average cat, he’s more like a dog. He hates being alone but loves banging on the door when someone’s in the bathroom. He once ate a rubber band. He knows his name and few commands such as “bug” if shrieked. He is the third child I’m sure my parents always wanted and if they didn’t, well someone’s got to clean his poop.

Up next: Eng residence pt2 – the shenanigans begin.

Snowy.

I was driving home yesterday with my window open, just a crack. I was listening to Common. It reminded me of last summer, when the snow melted. I remember being overjoyed that I could speed through the melting snow and not worry that my SUV would go flipping through the road. What a good feeling.

Well, the snow hasn’t come yet (please don’t come) so I have a few more days of being able to drive without scraping off my car or giving myself an extra 20 minutes because everyone else will be driving 40 km/h. I kind of like when the snow begins to disappear. Spring is always a happy time – even if it’s just institutionalized and the thought of happy bunnies and chickies is what I’m supposed to be thinking. It makes me happy, so what’s wrong with that?