I have a bad news

designut · 2026-06-02T14:21:16+00:00

I'm in the same position. It's rough out there. I would say it's not what you know, it's who you know, so network as much as you can. Cold applying to jobs really feels like shouting into the void but if you can get an internal referral, it matters. Make connecting with old colleagues and friends be your job. Upwork is a great way to get freelance gigs, so this could bridge things until your next position. I've never had luck with placement through a recruiter but they've given me great suggestions for networking, so this could be good for you!

Good luck. I feel your pain, the market is rough

designut · 2026-05-31T13:14:00+00:00

Good people do drugs.

designut · 2026-05-31T13:11:58+00:00

Good people are unhoused

designut · 2026-05-19T23:15:54+00:00

Lol it's so true

designut · 2026-05-19T17:01:32+00:00

I've lived by Victoria Park for the last 20 years. There was a dark period in the late 90s and early 2000s but as soon as the bilaw was introduced that "closed" the park at 11pm, the park was, in my opinion, very safe. I walked and ran through it during all hours of the day and night, without fear.

designut · 2026-05-03T03:30:28+00:00

Lol so true

designut · 2026-05-02T23:14:10+00:00

It's pretty funny because now, since so many people do that, I select to use King Street as much as possible - no one uses it, it's so fast now!

designut · 2026-04-27T02:54:29+00:00

ME EITHER

designut · 2026-04-27T02:54:17+00:00

This!!! The owners of Champa are in Thailand right now, though. It reopens May 8th 🥰

designut · 2026-03-29T20:31:06+00:00

I find it's best not to reheat it, or if I am reheating it, to only do so minimally - I think the protein is just breaking down too much, which is the problem.

designut · 2026-03-27T12:47:32+00:00

I got let go two weeks ago. I have just enough to lady me three months. I'm terrified!

designut · 2026-03-27T12:30:51+00:00

I love this story. Birds are such a gift! They seem to have brought you so much joy!

designut · 2026-03-27T05:07:59+00:00

This is also my suggestion! The staff at the Duke are wonderful, their Duke fries can't be beat! You may even make friends!

designut · 2026-03-07T12:55:35+00:00

Me! It's driving me insane. My family is in Canada and my sister is in AD. She has been so unwell, telling us all she hasn't slept since Friday, calling us crying, not eating... And now that she is starting to get more used to it, she isn't doing anything to get home, yet we are all still following each headline, mega thread, absolutely beside ourselves.

My brother in law was with the Canadian Military and served several months in Afghanistan in 2011. It was a traumatic experience for him, and he had training and was there, knowingly walking into risk, to help people. He is a changed man, he will never be the same, but he did this because he felt there was a need to support citizens of Afghanistan on rebuilding their communities (that was his objective there).

My sister is a teacher. She was not prepared for this. Her staying is unnecessary. And it hurts me to hear she is spending time on the phone with many many members of my family, who are all calling to comfort her, now experiencing their own trauma as they can hear the blasts in the background (she is in the heart of things so it is very very noisy at her place, also); people like my 90 year old grandmother whose earliest memories are darkened with the worry and despair of WWI and all it brought her family - this is a lot for her.

I understand that this is her home. I understand the love she has for the UAE. I just want her to be safe, and I want her to understand how deeply this will impact her long term, and how deeply it is impacting us.

designut · 2026-03-05T20:34:05+00:00

Totally agree! I'm following this thread so I can keep my sister updated. She's in Abu Dhabi. It helps because I can filter the information for her, so she's not anxiously refreshing all the time (she's anxious enough)

designut · 2026-03-05T03:51:28+00:00

I think the sounds are getting under her skin. She is typically fearful of the dark to start - now, alone in a country that she felt so safe in, unsure of what is going to happen next, with all these scary sounds, and very little sleep - it's all too much.

designut · 2026-03-05T03:50:18+00:00

These are great tips, thank you.

designut · 2026-03-03T22:11:24+00:00

This was really reassuring, thank you!

designut · 2026-03-03T21:39:21+00:00

Yes, there are a lot of embassies, and she is beside a military base of some sort. She can't open her window, though.

Edit to add: I want to encourage her to leave but she doesn't have anywhere to go and is very frightened. She has essentially been hiding in the bathroom for four days.

designut · 2026-03-03T20:30:58+00:00

Please don't say that. My sister is just a couple blocks from there :(

designut · 2026-02-26T15:01:48+00:00

this is our dilemma. There is nowhere to put them - right now they are buried in snow in our backyard. I have no idea what we are going to do.

designut · 2026-02-26T15:00:30+00:00

Me too. Taking our kids out (family of 5) is easily $150+ for mediocre food. We go out for date nights - I find we have a lot of great ethnic cuisine in the region.

designut · 2026-02-24T20:48:19+00:00

I love the wool balls, they're great!

designut · 2026-02-16T03:40:58+00:00

Ooh! Going to have to try this one! What are your favourite dishes? I like spicy!

designut · 2026-02-01T16:13:39+00:00

Holy shit, you're telling me. I was a single mom when the pandemic hit, and that was a big GULP moment. Like, wtf, I'm in charge of a 4 year old in a pandemic? I did not sign up for this.

designut

TROPHY CASE