You Keep Me Hangin' On

I have recently received word that my days in Montreal are numbered. That's right, I am moving. Not only am I moving, but I am moving to, of all places, Toronto. My life has gone through many changes since my last post and considering this will be my very last post in "Natalie, Sans H" I feel it is necessary to give you all an update.

After the marathon, I had to start going to physio because I contracted "runner's knee" which totally ruins one's life if one is the active type (I am such a one). I grew depressed and started to watch TV show after TV show, which eventually turned into TV series after TV series. I felt trapped in the city, since during my childhood on PEI I always went cross country skiing with my Dad after school on weekdays. Here there's none of that. (Although I did get a spot of exercise now and then from having to help people push their cars out of icy parking spaces). I voted a few times. I went to France for Christmas and visited Mont St. Michel. I finished my M.A. thesis (before going to France) and I started making a movie for the NFB.

Then something crazy happened. I sent a piece of my writing to a magazine competition called the Broken Pencil Indie Writers Deathmatch. I never imagined they would even consider my story, "There are Two 'i's in Wii". Then I received an email from the editor saying my story had been selected among the top eight to compete online for readers votes. They have since taken down the page that shows my story. The battle was tough and I never imagined I would get far, but then suddenly I realized I was winning and not too long after that, I actually did win.

Then, in the same week as I won that contest, I received a letter from the University of Toronto offering me a very good opportunity (cha-ching!) to do a Ph.D with them. How could I say no? After all these months of working and studying full-time in Montreal, and trying to get someone to read my hobby writing, I finally get some pay-off. Who would have thought? The only thing is that now I feel pretty sad about leaving this crazy city. Will I enjoy Toronto just as much? Will there be the same big city challenges there as there are here? Is it more like PEI since more people speak English there? I guess time will tell.

I won't, however, be leaving you, dear readers. I am starting a new blog to go with the new chapter in my life. I'm not sure of the title just yet, but when I am, I will edit it into this space here ASAP. Also, I'm sure it will be bigger and better than this one ever was, especially since I am honing my tech skills - as you can see I have already learned how to create a hyperlink (and there's more where that came from). Ciao ciao les amis! Until the next chapter! xoxo