Tuesdays with Tish: Do you remember the 21st night of September?
How “am” I?
Where did September go? Time flies when you’re working more hours. I miss my four day weeks. By the end of August I’m all “Yay, it’s time for Autumn!” and then suddenly, it’s October and yes, peak Autumn, but also I feel like I haven’t been taking advantage of this precious short-lived not-too-hot-not-too-cold temperature window.
I worked more-than-usual hours at the ol’ day job this month, but otherwise I am trying to DO LESS. I want less on my to do list. I want more ‘want to’s and less ‘have to’s. I want to spend less time on the disposable Instagram content and more time on work I really care about.
I think a lot of us still feel this sense of a new year starting at the beginning of September, leftover from our school days. I definitely feel it, and always want to reset with the change of the season. And with my birthday coming up, I start thinking back on my year and the year ahead. Thirty-two!? How am I already going to be 32!? Didn’t I just turn 30, with my whole life ahead of me? Oh, right. Pandemic time warp.
I was this old when the pandemic began.
What happened in September?
September is always a busy month at work leading up to the Animation Festival at the end of the month. So, I was glad I was finally able to get together with my friend to film the ‘show off’ footage of a video I’ve been slowly working on for months; I made window stickers for my Kia Soul to make it look (a little bit) like a hearse.
I shared my last Tiny Tale for a while (and it’s one of my faves). I’ll definitely pick those up again, but it’s one of the “little” content things I’m taking a break from to work on the “bigger” projects.
I shared a personal essay that I wrote way back in February. I found out about the CBC Literary Prizes and I wanted to write something to submit something for the Non-Fiction Prize. It had to be “unpublished” to be considered, so I kept it to myself until the longlist was revealed. I wasn’t exactly holding my breath on making the list, but I wanted to make sure I could be considered. The longlist came out, so now I can publish this piece that I titled un(love)able which sounds real “boo hoo me sad” but when I came up with it, it was more of a play on words thing with being unable to love (like everyone else) or something. This is the type of subject matter I am writing about for what will someday be a book of personal essays.
I also did a few Lorelei Gilmore reels before deciding I am over reels. And decided to go through my 50+ ideas/prompts for Tuesdays with Tish blog posts as short n sweet IG posts instead.
What’s happening in October?
The Ottawa International Animation Festival is still going until October 3rd, online, worldwide. If you want a free taste, use the discount code CanPan2021 on the Canadian Panorama screening. (I can attest, even though it’s not a competition screening, the films are really impressive.)
October 5th, 2021 marks 15 years since I created my YouTube channel. Yup, I’m old. And I am working on a video about my years on YouTube, and my unsuccessful video-creating “career”.
Here is an embarrassing picture of me at 13, making my very first video!
I am going to Prince Edward Island! I will take 14 hours of driving across four provinces to get there, but I will have five full days alone in a cottage. I’m going to ~disconnect~ and treat it like a writer’s retreat; do nothing but write and explore the island (and watch Anne of Green Gables TV & movies). I’m still deciding on what kind of video and photos I want to get to capture it all, but there will be something to share after, for sure.
After, like 3,000kms of driving, it will coincidentally be time for baby’s first oil change and baby’s first winter tires and baby’s first license plate renewal. Oh, the joys of car ownership (leaser-ship?) aka with great power comes great expenses. Don’t expect any Christmas presents; I’ll be broke.
But seriously, I will have at least the Tales with Tish trailer published in October. Seriously. I’m serious this time.
After… a long time, Juliana and I will finally sit down behind the mics again and record a Rated F podcast! We’re not always (never) consistent with the podcast, but we never miss our beloved Drunk Halloween and Drunk Christmas episodes. Which means looking through our episodes, it seems like we get drunk a lot, but it’s just a lack of non-drunk episodes throughout the year. We haven’t decided on a movie yet, so I welcome suggestions; I’m looking at Disney Channel Original Movies.
Finally, most importantly, what’s happening in October is HALLOBIRTHWEEN! I don’t have plans yet, but there’s not many options since I can’t, or don’t want to, go to public places or have multiple people over. Maybe I’ll take myself across the Ottawa River to look at the autumnal foliage in Gatineau Park; I hear good things. I hope you all celebrate Hallobirthween and eat lots of candy and have fun on this most hallowed of days. And gimme presents.
The End
What’s your Halloween costume? I won’t reveal mine yet, but I will say it is a minor character in an animated show. If I do it well, anyone who’s seen the show will recognize me. And anyone unfamiliar with the show might think I'm a Hogwarts student?
How are you celebrating Hallobirthween? Do you hand out candy, or just buy it for yourself? I’m so glad there’s no trick-or-treating allowed in my building or else I would greet every kid with “NO! It’s MY birthday! YOU give ME candy!” and no one wants that.
Where’s your favourite place to be in Autumn? I’m partial to Lake Huron, where I grew up. I went there last October and the hiking and views of the lake were so fucking beautiful iloveitsomuch.
What’s your favourite Anne of Green Gables? The book, the 80s movies with Megan Follows, Anne with an E? Or something else? Anne Shirley is such an amazing character; so optimistic and hopeful about life and she sees the romantical, tragical, beauty in everything around her. An icon if there ever was one.
See you next Tuesday!