doberman pizza. a baha'i (bahai, bahá'í) blog.

yaaaaa

Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 07:05:11 -0400 (EDT)

To: Dan Jones

what the hell is a computer science major doing delivering pizza?

you’re driving me nutz.

my man cash money got guts galore

i got my tax return today. that causes for a little bit of clapping time!

or at least, I think it’s my tax return. all I know is, someone called “MRQ MSP/DIV” credited my chequing account today, and I’m happy as pie.

pioneering

I almost feel like a kid again. I feel like some Huckleberry Finn wandering down the Mississippi in search of I know not what, hoping to be in the right place at the right time. Anyone else would surely look at me and call me insane for doing the things I’ve been doing. I could go back to Ottawa and get a cushy government job with a big fat salary in no time flat, and yet look at me, out in Drummondville, waiting, waiting, waiting for my boat to come in. Oh wait, make that train. There aren’t any boats around here, just trains. Anyway.

The good news is that I found some work — delivering pizza. Now, I know what you’re about to say about how insane that is and how I must be out of my mind — but hey, it’s money, I’m gonna try it out and see if it’s to my advantage to keep going with it. Even though I may feel like a kid, I am a big boy.

Or maybe you’re just laughing at me and saying “that crazy Dan Jones”. That’s perfectly ok. Besides, you’re laughing with me. ;)

The other good news is that I’m making some really super contacts here in Drummondville. On Wednesday I went to see someone at La Tablée Populaire, kind of like a really inexpensive restaurant that’s especially for people who are without work; they also have an internet access centre in the back. I asked the director guy whether he needed anyone to help out with the computers, maybe offer some introductory classes, and he responded with a hearty yes. There are tons of local companies that sponsor the place. It could be very interesting — and besides, it’s good to volunteer. On Thursday, I started delivering pizza, and during my break in between lunch and dinner, I moseyed over to the Centre Jeunesse Emploi, where my very cool and helpful counsellor asked me if I wanted to be part of the conseil d’administration (administrative council) of the Centre. Wow! I said yea verily. That should be quite interesting, and should allow me to increase my contacts quite a bit. And in other news, this morning I called up two places where I had taken tests (in the hopes of getting a job) and reminded them that I was alive. Next week I should start getting replies from them. Yo. Word up.

All in all, this job-hunting experience is going far better than my previous one in Victoriaville. I’m pretty sure it’s because this time around, I’m carrying around the extra one year of experience struggling to find a job.

So, in short? I’m working a part-time job, extremely temporary, but at least I’m making money; I’m making boat– er, trainloads of contacts; and I’m keeping up those contacts that I do have, which will hopefully end up soon with me having a nice, enjoyable, respectable, well-paid job.

Et c’est pas fini, ce n’est qu’un début.

life is a beautiful poem

Hi everybody. Baha’i youth from all over North America just lived through the amazing experience of the Montreal Baha’i Youth Conference. I was blessed to be a part of the organizing committee for the conference. I was actively involved in the preparation for the conference and even more actively involved in running the show during the entire weekend. I am exhausted and quite happy to have lived this experience. It is just marvelous to me to consider how someone like me who struggles to believe in his own nobility and worth could be so blessed and so confirmed. God just keeps on blessing me. I can’t figure it out. I guess I don’t need to… all I need to do is offer praise. Thanks, God.

First was the opportunity to serve in a capacity that’s familiar to me. I served, and every minute was a joy for me. Even the minutes when I fumed or groaned were joyful. If I were to do it all over again and change only one thing, I would make a point of praying more and dedicating this service to God.

Second was the love, fellowship, and unity I experienced with the youth on the organizing committee. These are truly people I can call my friends. It’s the first time this has happened quite like this, that I’ve suddenly made friends through service. I needed that. I’ve needed that for a long time.

Third was the sense of accomplishment, that even though things were hanging together by a shoestring, we pulled through and gave an excellent conference and an excellent show. People loved it. Things worked out. There were no major goof-ups. It was a success. It feels good to be able to say that.

What have I learned?

I am a lovable and capable servant of God. God gave me this conference as a gift, as a token of his unconditional love for me. And man… if God believes in me so much, what right have I not to?

ok, enough of that. now go see the photos!

the moon is gone

back in the day, when the moon disappeared at night there was nowhere left to turn, and all you could do was huddle in fear and hope.

I hope all of you out there are sleeping well in warm beds. I have always had a lot of things to think about and it gets hard sometimes for a little guy like me to think about so many big things.

I need to pray. Have a good night, fellas. Hope to see your smiling, radiant faces tomorrow. Love you.

let’s get ready to rumble

ALRIGHT ALL YOU PEOPLE… I’M WAITING FOR YOU AT THE MONTREAL BAHA’I YOUTH CONFERENCE… YOU BETTER GET READY… THIS IS NO HOLDS BARRED… THE FIRST ONE WHO COMES IN, I’M GONNA TACKLE HIM AND PUT HIM IN A HALF-NELSON!

(Translated: see you at the conference!)

and a quick note

I just noticed something. the posts to my blog lately have had very little trace of misery and depression and blahs. almost like everything’s been all good. well, not ALL the things have been good, but, overall, things in general have been good. I’m really happy with the way my life is going. As long as I keep up the efforts of finding a job, and I keep being able to serve the Bahá’í community, I’ll still be real happy.

also let me just say that we just had the second get-together of Victoriaville’s one and only Ruhi Book 2 study circle! It’s starting out well so far. Everyone seems to be having a lot of fun with it. If the start is any sign of things to come, then this should be a really amazing group. It’s really neat coming back to Victoriaville, meeting all the same people I was on the Spiritual Assembly with, but this time in the frame of learning and sharing about the Bahá’í Writings. While we were all quiet and doing work, I suddenly had this flashback to the time I took Ruhi Book 3, to that quote from Bahá’u'lláh that says, “Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value.” And I suddenly thought, wow, all these people are rich with so much capacity, and everyone has these gems inside them of different capacities in different degrees. And we’re all here together to help each other develop those capacities to the fullest. It feels really good to be a part of that.

small poem

my love,

the apple of my eye,

the spring that’s in my step,

the sunshine in my sky,

o my love,

the one i cherish most of all,

here, you dropped your subway token.

job situation looking up

hello all you friends and family and good people who are interested in my simple life. Here’s an update from my side of the street. I had my first day of work in Drummondville on Thursday the 8th; it was just a short little contract, for an arpenteur-géomètre (i.e. a surveyor) who needed someone to install some network cards and get his network up and running. but it was work, and I was real happy to get it. I’ve been hanging around the Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi since the job search club ended, and it seems to have paid off — one of the people who works there knows someone who might have another contract for me, this time to put together a database with Microsoft Access, and for 4 to 6 weeks no less. So things are definitely looking up.

On the bleah side, I was sick yesterday… some sort of stomach bug. I had to postpone my visit to Défi-Emploi Drummond to today because I was getting some serious runs and dizziness and stuff. It’s much better today. I drank lots of fluids, mom. Lemon and honey in hot water. ;)

Lots more people in Drummondville know me now than when I first came here. I think I’m doing much better than when I came to Victoriaville. I’ve got the hang of this stuff now. By the grace of God, I’ll find something interesting (at good pay).

Things are heating up for the Montreal Bahá’í Youth Conference. Only 6 more days! we’re booked at 96% capacity! Reserve your spot now, don’t be left out!

the killer québécois diet

Oh, the things I’ve started eating since coming to Québec. I just finished eating a nice big slice of sugar pie. Aaahhhhh refined sugar and dairy products. Then there’s the poutine. No, I haven’t managed to cut that out of my diet. Even though I usually regret it every time I eat it… it’s just too deliiiiiciouuuuuus. Then there’s the cheese. Unaged, firm cheese. It squeaks in your mouth. Like cheese curds! When I came here I thought cheese curds were gross. But now I love ‘em. Then there’s other things that I don’t eat, but are just too notable to overlook: cretons (basically a rough pork pâté, I think), backbacon, barbecue chicken, tourtière, and many other things that don’t immediately come to mind. Oh the artery-hardening goodness!

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

montreal montreal

coming to you live tonight from the Shodjai home in Baie d’Urfé (well, ok, Montreal), and boy, this has gotta be the biggest place I’ve seen in my life! or maybe I’m just saying that because I live in a basement apartment. oy, people are honking outside. gotta go eat spaghetti. peace out

omg

this just brightened up my week. It’s nice to know that the Ottawa Bahá’í youth have a commentator. seriously, it’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen and it’s also a welcome bit of news on what’s going on back in the old homestead. Martin is the man. Someone please marry this guy!