So, it’s sunny, and warm once again, here in the Nation’s Capital, and it looks like today will be the highpoint for the next few days at least. Yeah, it’s certainly looking like another cool summer. What’s up with that?

I did my research yesterday, got it sent off to the co-writer, and thought that was the end of it. Six or so hours later, I had an email bounce. Interesting. I called up my one editor, who told me to send him the research notes just in case, and I did, having the foresight to cc my co-writer. As it turns out, the producer who assigned the piece had an old, defunct email address, which the editor caught, so he finally got in touch with the other writer, and things were sorted. But it delayed things by a full 24 hours, when the producer wanted this to have a “quick turn-around.” So much for that. Today I’m doing an interview in about a half-hour, which I’ll write up in the afternoon. Still no word from the one editor I’ve been trying to get in touch with the whole week about any other assignments he needs me to do for the next issue – and his continual non-response to both phone calls and emails is really starting to piss me off.

Also, I have now confirmed that I will be attending the (American) National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association convention in Montreal in early September. A few weeks ago, I was invited to sit on a panel there about political reporting, and I have now confirmed that I can make that day fit within my nascent grad school schedule. That’s pretty good, because it’ll be a great place to network and make contacts, and yay, more recognition.

Otherwise, I’m getting my haircut this afternoon, and I’ve got a barbecue tomorrow afternoon/evening, which should be a lot of fun. And then Sunday, it’s back to working on more stuff for The Novel/The Sequel Novel/Book Three – though just what I’ll be doing hasn’t yet been determined. It may be more background work, it may be more research – we’ll see.

So, the sky is still grey, here in the Nation’s Capital – and I was sure it was supposed to be sunny today. Alas.

It was a pretty crazy day yesterday, with that one story dominating my afternoon. It was also a bit of a juggling act, because there was an interview I was able to get that I ended up offering to the bureau I really want to work for, because I couldn’t use it in my piece for various reasons. I had been hoping to at least get some mention for the contribution – a “with files from” note at the bottom, kind of thing. But no. I hope that the bureau chief at least learns of my contribution (as he’s someone I’m really, really trying to impress, and he was out yesterday, leaving me to work with his deputy), so that I get one more point of virtue in his ledger, but I guess we’ll have to see. Anyway, back to work on my other assignments today.

Otherwise, I have to try and get those OSAP forms off to my grad school today, since I didn’t have time to yesterday. My attempt on Monday was met with the assertion that I needed to bring my SIN card there for them to see – I couldn’t just give them my number with other ID. No, they insisted on seeing the card, or at least a photocopy thereof. Seriously? The bureaucratic nonsense surrounding this is ludicrous.

Tonight, Abstract and her long-suffering husband are coming over for movie night. I’m not sure what we’re watching yet, but I’m under the impression it will be a little more light-hearted this week.

PS—We’re down to the final three in Canada's Next Top Model, and I think by this point, it’s going to be Linsay who takes the title. I had thought for a couple of weeks that Meaghan might be the dark horse of this competition, but after her confidence was shattered yesterday, I don’t think she’s got enough to pull it off. I also don’t think that Nikita deserves to win, and hey, Linsay would be a First Nations Top Model, which is pretty cool if you think about it. And besides, she’s grown by leaps and bounds, and really pulled it off the last two weeks, so I think she’s going to take it. Also – does anyone else find it odd that they haven’t shot a commercial yet? Do you think that’s coming next week, or will they just skip that this cycle?

So, the sun is finally out and it looks like it’s going to be a nice day, here in the Nation’s Capital. In fact, tomorrow aside, it might even be a nice week. Won’t that be a nice change?

Today it’s back to calling up editors and getting my next couple of projects lined up and underway. Friday was all about grad school meetings, and that wound up being a huge headache. Okay, not the meetings – those went fine. No, it was when I went to apply for student loans to make up the difference in what I’m not getting in scholarships and funding. The people in the Awards Office sent me to a website, which I went to, spent two hours filling out various things (including having to dig up all manner of things from my undergrad), and after all of that, the website tells me that I’m eligible for $100 of funding. I kid you not - $100. Wow – because that’s going to make all the difference in the world. Seriously, WTF? It was at that point that I reached my “Hulk Smash!” level of rage and headed off to the gym to work it out before I did smash something. So today or tomorrow, I get to head back to the Awards Office and have a sit-down with someone and figure something out because seriously, that’s not funny.

My party on Saturday night was quite fun. I saw a few faces that I hadn’t seen in a very long while, and it was lovely just to have a chance to hang out with my friends again. That said, attendance was a little on the low side because it’s summer and a lot of people were out of town, including pretty much every one of my journalist friends. Alas! But I had lots of fun, as you can see.


Astroboy and his new boyfriend


Me, Bloody Gorgeous Boy's boyfriend, Bloody Gorgeous Boy himself, and another friend


The Six Million Dollar Man with the Dark Doppelgänger






Astroboy, his boyfriend and Number Five


Number Five spent a lot of time mugging the camera...


Me with My Charlotte



Tonight I don’t have much in the way of plans. I’ll likely watch a couple more episodes of Skins and finish reading The Walrus – because it can’t be a party every night.