So yeah, I thought I'd have a chance to get around to replying to messages and getting a feature journal up, but... that didn't work out so well, and here's why:

Friday, June 27, 2008: My mom tells me about an ad in the Sun Times regarding Sun Media looking to hire a graphic designer in London (at Bowes Publishers). So, I spend Friday night/Saturday morning putting a resume/cover letter together to mail out to Sun Media... the application deadline is Monday, June 30.

Monday, June 30, 2008: I'm in London (visiting friends and stuff for Canada Day). I figured I'd mail that resume and cover letter. I get to the post office and she says the package won't arrive 'til Wednesday... but I send it anyway. Might as well, right? I'm not expecting to hear back from anyone since I'm sending this so last minute... plus in order to send it express, I have to fit the package into one of their own envelopes that is slightly smaller. So, I fold my envelope on one side and the top (hoping to have not folded the resume and cover letter inside).

Tuesday, July 1, 2008: Sweet fireworks show and awesome times with friends... a few pictures to upload someday.

*Nothing really exciting happens for a while... just working and sleeping and stuff*

Friday, July 11, 2008: My mom comes in to work and tells me Sun Media called. They want me in for an interview as soon as possible. She tells me that I can get a hold of them on Monday since I wouldn't be able to after work.... but I decide to go home during my lunch hour and call back. I get ahold of Susan (the graphics editor and possible future boss) and we discuss an interview time. We decided on Monday at 11:00AM. I start to panic afterwards 'cause I realize I still need to get my portfolio pieces printed. The printer here in Port Elgin isn't open on weekends. So, my next thought is Staples *gag*. I call up Staples and ask them about their weekend hours... not good since they're the same as Canadian Tire's (and I'm working all weekend). So, I spend all night getting files prepped for print and exported to PDFs and burned to a CD to take to staples for Saturday.

Saturday, July 12, 2008: I take an extra long lunch break to drive to Owen Sound (40 minutes away) to get my files to Staples. I explain to the girl in the print department what I want as clearly as I can... I think I was pretty clear with what I wanted... but when I got home from work, my mom said they called and couldn't print anything. So, I figured it was a problem with the CD... so I call 'em back about a half hour before they close and ask the girl what the problem is. It wasn't that they couldn't print the files... they were trying to scale everything to fit the paper size I asked for (11x17). I have no idea where they got the idea to do that from, but... all I wanted was for them to print everything at the original size on 11x17. Bah! So she says she understands and goes back to printing everything.

Sunday, July 13, 2008: I hear that Staples couldn't print 4 of 10 files. Two of which I'd have really loved for them to have printed. Oh well... I just said screw it and took what they printed successfully. I had a backup solution for the other four files which worked out rather well in the end. I kinda forgot that I had my own printer.

Monday, July 14, 2008: Interview day! I drive to London and drive by the place to make sure I can find it. I'm early, so I drive to a nearby Starbucks to pee. I drive back to the place and I'm a couple of minutes early. The receptionist pages Susan over the intercom a few times (I'm like, 'crap.. she's probably in an important meeting and I've got the receptionist paging her like this. This oughta be good. Haha.) So, she finally shows up and she seems really nice. So far so good. We go into the office and she explains what Bowes Publishers is all about and what my job(s) would be.

Quite simply, Bowes Publishers does page layouts and inserts for newspapers all across Canada. There's a bit more to it... but yeah... Google it if you wanna know more.

So, the interview goes pretty well... I show her my work and explain a bit about each piece and answer questions. She seems to like my work. After showing my portfolio, she takes me over to a computer and has me do a quick page layout in InDesign. Piece of cake! She says she likes that too. We then go back to the office and she tells me the starting salary is 37,500 to start... benefits and vacation all included, etc. My jaw nearly drops as I'm expecting to hear 20-24,000 to start... 25,000 if I'm lucky. So, now I'm thinking... 'this job is too good to be true.' She tells me she has a couple of more folks to interview after me and says I should be hearing from her by Wednesday or the end of the week at the latest.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008: I'm at work and I hear over the intercom: "Tony line 3 please." I knew it wasn't a normal call since they never use my name over the intercom. I answer it and it's my mom—she tells me Susan called and wants me to call her back before 7:30. I run upstairs to the office and call her back right away. She starts out with, "We never did discuss the hours.... they would be 1PM - 9PM.......... are you still interested in the job?" Of course I am! I tell her I am, and she tells me the job is mine! WOO!

So, I'll start August 5th.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008: I go to London to look at apartments. I find one I like, I give them a 509 dollar money order to hold the place and they do their credit check and tell me they'll get back to me the next morning.

A few minutes ago: I got a phone call from the landlady—I'm approved. I move in August 2nd.

Wish me luck in the beginning of my career. And, I promise I will get that feature journal done.

Peace