Writings
To Whomever it May Concern, Part II » Sat, Aug 18th 2007 9:48 pm
Nauseated by the prospect of another uneventful year at home, I started thinking of ways to make productive use of the time. My first idea—working for myself, at home—was rejected on the grounds that I make a terrible manager for myself. My second idea, however, had potential.
It was about three years ago that I was given the opportunity to redesign the front page of “SimplyAudiobooks.com”. My brother (Pete) has worked at the company as the lead developer since its inception and he was, obviously, mostly responsible for their choosing of me as the man for the job. I completed the design, delivered it to them, and that was about all I’d heard from them since.
Despite the three-year-long silence, I knew it wasn’t a reaction to the work I’d done. The company grew and there was now an internal team of designers doing the sort of work that I used to do, and so my services as a contractor were simply unneeded. Months ago, though, I heard that the leader of this team was getting a little overwhelmed and was looking to lighten his workload. Again, Pete mentioned my name and, again, I was doing contract work for Simply Audiobooks.
I don’t remember the day, and I’m only barely convinced that the month was “May”, but I do recall lamenting to Pete about my ordeal. The conversation went something like this:
- Aaron:
- Fuck me. I’ve another year off.
- Pete:
- You want to do some design work for SAB?
- Aaron:
- Sure. I’d even entertain the idea of working there full-time.
- Pete:
- From home though, right?
- Aaron:
- Well, I’d have to move out I think. I suck at working from home.
- Pete:
- Ah.
And so went the first of many conversations on the subject. Eventually, they led to a full-out job offer to work full-time in the head office, in Oakville, under the title of “Web Designer”.
I was excited. Very excited, in fact. Looking back on the history of “me”, I’d never done anything like this before. I hadn’t even daydreamed about it, really. I’d been standing at the starting line of a year-long walk in the park and, after only about a week’s time, was now hurdling toward a gauntlet that would forever change my life. And I had one month to find shelter!
Literally, even. I was to start on the first workday in July, and had to find a place to live in before that date. In the event I failed to meet this deadline, I’d be stuck bunking with Pete in his very nice—but not very roomy—one-bedroom apartment in Toronto until I succeeded. I wasn’t particularly worried about the deadline because the idea of shopping for a place of my own—a place that reflected “Aaron”—struck me as “awesomely awesome”, so I assumed my willingness to browse would ensure that I found a nice place in time for work.
Unfortunately, I’d been terribly naive and had overlooked a rather significant factor in finding a place to live. Essentially, a beautiful apartment is absolutely worthless if living in it means taking two buses, a subway, a train, and another bus to work every day. It took a while, but I eventually decided that living in Toronto and commuting to Oakville was just not something I was going to be doing. So, I set my sights on Oakville, with less than a week before I was to start my new job.
Ever-aware of the approaching deadline, I sat down at my computer, fully prepared to sift through pages of apartments located in Oakville. On the site I’d been using, there were four that met my criteria. About six minutes later, I was searching for other classifieds sites that might offer better results.
Pete found “The Oakville Beaver”, and about 30-some-odd ads down the page, I hit the effing jackpot: Eight-hundred square-feet of modern-designed goodness. Laminate wood floors, open-concept kitchen and living area, side-by-side fridge, dishwasher, Jacuzzi bathtub, walk-in-closet, air conditioning, and with high-speed internet access and cable TV included; this place definitely reflected “Aaron”.
I immediately called to inquire, and was amazed and delighted to hear that it was still available. Better yet, the starting date which I’d overlooked and was listed as August 1st—a month later than the date I was shooting for—was actually not going to be a problem at all; July 1st actually worked best for everyone. Pete, of whom I’d been asking such favours for an entire month, generously agreed to have a look at the apartment for me. He gave it two thumbs up, and after driving myself out to Oakville the very same day to meet the landlords, I signed the lease and was all set to begin my journey.
It was strange enough that I’d even embark on such a quest, let alone in such a short period of time, and on such short notice. Stranger, still, is that I wasn’t the least bit panicked during any of it. Despite having being at square one only four days before the starting date of my first full-time job with people I’d never met, in a city I’d never known, living alone and fending entirely for myself, I was calm and almost always sporting a subtle smile. Yes, despite the flood of terrifying new things, I was curiously certain that everything was going to work out.
And even if they didn’t, I figured, I wouldn’t mind that either. Even the uncertainty of absolute change could barely faze me. For you see, I’d met a girl…
1 Geoffrey Sneddon on Mon, Aug 20th 2007 8:00 am
First Andrew Kespanis, now you. Everyone has outdone me
That said, good luck. It’s a harsh world out there.
2 Aaron on Mon, Aug 20th 2007 9:23 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to him directly, but: Krespanis got a girlfriend?
As for you, you’re still young yet. In time!
3 Paul D on Thu, Sep 6th 2007 4:37 pm
So, how’s it going?
4 Aaron on Thu, Sep 6th 2007 5:07 pm
Actually, Part III is still waiting to be written. Haha. I’ve been having trouble finding the time :S But soon!
5 Florentin on Mon, Sep 17th 2007 12:03 pm
One thing that doing “nothing” for a (long) while seems to do is give one a lot of time to think. Even if the majority of each day is spent just spending time, there are inevitable moments where you find yourself contemplating life. At least, that was my experience.
6 digital photography on Fri, Oct 26th 2007 11:50 pm
nice!
7 digital photography on Fri, Oct 26th 2007 11:50 pm
I mean if I wasn’t that high I would probably understand whats going on :0