Oh, Edmonton. Yesterday was so, so bad. I knew I was in trouble at 7:30 a.m., when I spilled a large coffee all over myself, the floor and the counter at Java Express on Jasper Ave. I tripped and fell on my way into work. I forgot my lunch. But most troubling, I couldn’t think of a g.d. thing to write about. Sitting there, starving, in my coffee stained shirt, I began to panic. “OMG,” I told myself. “I guess I only had 2 weeks of blogging in me after all.” It seemed that what was once my greatest love, the internet, with all its limitless potential, had gone astray. You fickle, fickle dame.
But then two very important things happened, within moments of each other: first, I received a tweet from my friend Allen (he lives in Regina and has a top notch radio show called Dead Blog Collective Mouth Radio that you can catch online Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.). It said: “Doing what you love and making sure it’s true is the only way to save us from the mess we’re in.”
“Yes, Al,” I thought. “You’re right. I believe in the possibilities of new media. Perhaps it’s not so crazy to think that writing about local news and affairs could be of value to people. Perhaps it’s enough that I just enjoy what we’re doing.”
Spirit reignited by Al, I decided to check my email, in pursuit of interviews for a story I’m working on. I had visions of a Letter from the Editor (which incidentally I am supposed to write on Mondays -#deadline fail) espousing the virtue of doing what you love, whatever it may be, regardless of the outcome, provided it is meaningful to you.
But then something else happened. I got an e-card from my brother, via a site called ‘Hollywood is Calling.’
Dennis Haskins wants YOU to succeed!
Yes, that’s Mr. Belding. And yes, this was a 30 second video from Mr. Belding, telling me that if I work hard I can succeed at anything. I would post it, but c’mon y’all, Mr. Belding’s got to eat (If you REALLY want to see it, you can check it out here).
This is also a mad-lib style note of support from my older brother Paul, who assures me that though I am “really upset about (Michael Jackson),” he knows I can get past it and “my (new blog) will really take off.” (Incidentally, he says it cost him about 7$ Canadian, and the site has hundreds of “celebrities” to choose from.)
And so I wish this for you, my dear friends. That next time you have a day like I had yesterday, and you feel like you’re heading nowhere, remember: Doing what you love and making sure it’s true is the only way to save us from the mess we’re in.
Or alternately:
When I am really upset about (proper name/noun), I can get past it. If I just work hard, my (activity of choice) will really take off.
The really sad part is that I actually wrote that whole thing myself. I was under the impression that Mr Belding would read what I supplied in a unique and custom recorded message so I wanted to add enough awesomeness so that Sally could fully appreciate the message while simultaneously forcing Dennis Haskins to emote. Alas, I was somewhat disappointed to discover that my carefully crafted note would only be tacked onto under the inspirational musings of Zack Morris’ principal.
that makes it even funnier, dude. and, also, somewhat touching. did you notice that among the many messages you can get delivered by a “celebrity,” there was an option to have them say “thank you for the job interview.” really? next time i interview for a job, i can hire larry holmes to call and follow up?!