A Letter from Sarah to Sarah by Jeff

To the person who has come into possession of my body,

My name is Sarah MacPhail.

If you are reading this, it means that I am suffering from amnesia as a result of emotional stress, head trauma, or alien technology. I have been likely working in a sweat shop or hooking on the streets (because as a result of the amnesia I’ve lost all sense of my personal morality) or at a Burger King. You may have found me in Bolivia or one of Bolivia’s neighbouring countries. But you should know that I do not belong here, and while I don’t remember who I am, this letter has been crafted to remind me how to get home even though I’m suffering from this foreseeable bout of amnesia.

While it’s hard to know what amnesia Sarah will be like, it’s important that we both know who the real Sarah is. I am actually Canadian and Baptist. I have a Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount St. Vincent University. I have lived all over the Maritimes including Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. My roommates name is Heidi and I am currently living in Halifax, NS. My best friend is named Jeff deViller. I guess Becky Ackerman also ranks on that list... just lower than Jeff. And I mean, there are other people too, but I have amnesia and I shouldn’t have to remember everyone right away.

If reading this letter has not brought me back to my normal senses, just talk about Jesus and play a Hanson CD and I should be fine.

While I am in your care, please do not let me:

§ Get a tattoo (Unless, of course, if it includes Jeff’s name and/or a reference to Jesus)

§ Hurt small animals or children (I love animals and children!)

§ Drink toilet water (I’ve never done this, but it just seems like a bad idea!)

§ Be pessimistic (Just because you don’t remember where you came from, doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time!)

§ Kiss any boys (Seventy-two is enough!!!)

That should just about cover it. If none of this works, please seal me in a crate (air holes please!) with a self address, stamped envelope and send me to one of the following addresses. They’ll send back postage.

Go with Jesus,

Sarah Jane

Jeff's Dream Job - 2006

I compiled this list nearly 5 years ago. Upon applying to 122 different jobs (that's the new number since completing the first 100 on December 11, 2010), the list still rings true.

Jeff’s Dream Job

Includes:

• Creativity
• Face new problems and search for new ways to solve them
• Always facing new challenges
• Work that is not monotonous.
• Independent work, applied to groups
• Control over my own and others destiny
• The chance to change things
• Projects with a beginning and end.
• Salary good enough that I can purchase a small stage/theater when I retire.
• Writing
• The end result is more important then the means of achieving it
• Public speaking
• A group of individuals you work with on a daily bases with new people being introduced at the beginning of each new project
• Can choose some projects
• Big picture approach
• Demands respect

Reminiscing about High School

Yup... I remember back in high school when I was a notorious rapper... and thought that Spock was doing gang signs apparently...

This was actually for a project I did in drama class in high school. I had to act like a singer and created a bunch of CDs for props. This was one of the pictures!

Job Hunt Update: 100 Applications

Between September 29th and December 10th, I applied to exactly 100 different jobs. Following this, I did an analysis. This is that analysis.

FUN TRIVIA

Most Random Job: Funeral Planner

Longest Job Title: Communications and Member Engagement Coordinator

Shortest Job Title: Writer

First Job Applied For: Event Assistant (September 29, 2010)

Last Job Applied For: Xmas Tree Salesperson (December 10, 2010)

Noteworthy Companies:

• Bloom Ex (Online Flower Selling Company)
• Meet Market Adventures (Singles Mixer Planning Company)
• All Three Left Leaning Political Parties: Green Party, New Democratic Party, and Liberal Party
• Jerrett Funeral Home

STATISTICS

Most Common Websites:

• Charityvillage.com (34)
• Careerbeacon.com (11)
• Service Canada Job Bank (15)
• Workopolis.com (6)
• Monster.ca (4)
• Kijiji (3)
• Conferenceboard.ca (2)
• Jeffgaulin.com (2)
• Mediajobsearchcanada.com (2)

Most Common Location:

• Ottawa (44)
• HRM (29)
• Toronto (22)
• St. John’s (2)
• Charlottetown, PEI (1)
• Mississauga, ON (1)
• Pickering, ON (1)

Most Common Job Type:

• PR/Promotions (26)
• Event Planning (21)
• Writing (17)
• Customer Service (12)
• Fundraising (8)
• Marketing (7)
• Administrative (6)
• Volunteer Coordinator (3)

Most Common Job Title:

• Communication Coordinator/Officer (8)
• Event Assistant/Coordinator (6)
• Marketing Coordinator (6)
• Administrative Assistant/Coordinator (5)

Most Common Response: Never Heard Anything (91)

• Polite Rejection (4)
• Interviews (3)
• Writing Test (1)
• Call back, but needed a car (1)

Most Common Organization: Non Profit

• Non Profit (38)
  
• Non Profit – Youth (10)
• Non Profit – Health (7)
• Non Profit – Other (7)
• Non Profit – Food Bank or Housing (5)
• Non Profit – Arts (3)
• Non Profit – Environment (3)
• Non Profit – Social Justice (3)
• Businesses (13)
• Staffing Company (12)
• Publication/TV Network (9)
• Marketing/PR Agency (6)
• Educational Institution (4)
• Hotel (3)
• Political Party (3)
• Undisclosed Company (3)



Applications Due:

• No Specified Due Date (34)
• October (27)
• November (19)
• December (16)
• September (2)
• January (2)

Welcome... Glad You Can Join Me!

Welcome to my personal blog.

While I've been posting articles from work and school on this blog for a long time, in the new year I want to start writing more for me... random musings, theories, anecdotes, and the like. Many posts will be thoughtful, others inane, and some will be inappropriate. It's hard to say.

In any case, some topics that will likely be explored throughout the upcoming year include:
- My pursuit of a career and the odd jobs I take along the way
- Various pet projects I'm working on to keep myself occupied
- Life, love, and the nonexistence of my love life
- Television, movies, etc... I did study popular culture after all
- Theories on why things are the way they are
- And more likely than not, at some point I'll likely go into great detail about sex, religion, and/or the brilliance of Kevin Smith

So, enjoy!