It's been an interesting few weeks.
I left my shiny new job in late February, but was promptly offered a contract position with one of the agencies I'd done some work for last September.
The interesting thing about being a contractor with the governmental organization I was with is that they only deal with a certain list of approved vendors. So I've signed up with one of them.
The question during the discussions I had with these contracting firms was - do I incorporate, or do I become a sole proprietorship?
My accountant was in favour of incorporation, as was one friend of mine. Others said sole proprietorship was fine. I was ambivalent because either choice would have been ok by me. That said, the contracting firms had a strong preference dealing with incorporated people (ok), but the clincher for me was that the CRA has been causing problems.
Specifically, the contracting firms like to keep the contractors busy - after all, they get a nice cut of every contract handed out, and the government hands out tons of them. This means that if you're in the right line of work, you can be employed continuously.
In steps the CRA. If you're working continuously care of EmploymentFirmA (EFA), then they can deem that you're a de facto employee of EFA. You can imagine the paperwork and tax headaches this can cause everyone. And has - some of the agencies won't deal with you unless you're incorporated.
So, welcome to Me Inc.
05 March 2009
20 January 2009
As I Please III
Time flies when you're having fun. I can't believe it's been five months since I last took the time to write something here. I've been living the curse of living in interesting times.
Life has been hectic and busy and I can't seem to catch up no matter how fast I run on the treadmill of life. Honestly, I'm finding it difficult to fathom how I completed a masters degree because if I were in school right now I'd probably undergo spontaneous combustion.
Ever since convocation I've been feeling like I need something to do, and so I've signed up for the WSET "Level 3 advanced certificate in wine and spirits", which I will likely follow up with their formal diploma in wine. Fifteen weeks, over 140 wines, all starting on March 31st.
I also took Foodsafe level 1 last weekend.
Life has me in a bit of a reactive mode at the moment. I'm working on getting my time under my control so that I can work towards my goals rather than have what I'm doing dictated to me. Wish me luck!
Life has been hectic and busy and I can't seem to catch up no matter how fast I run on the treadmill of life. Honestly, I'm finding it difficult to fathom how I completed a masters degree because if I were in school right now I'd probably undergo spontaneous combustion.
Ever since convocation I've been feeling like I need something to do, and so I've signed up for the WSET "Level 3 advanced certificate in wine and spirits", which I will likely follow up with their formal diploma in wine. Fifteen weeks, over 140 wines, all starting on March 31st.
I also took Foodsafe level 1 last weekend.
Life has me in a bit of a reactive mode at the moment. I'm working on getting my time under my control so that I can work towards my goals rather than have what I'm doing dictated to me. Wish me luck!
05 August 2008
Priceless
Application for grad school: $75.00
Tuition and fees: $8,367.71
Almost 100 books: $4,000.00 (est.)
Printing and binding thesis: $97.96
New friends, knowledge, wisdom, and being published): Priceless
Tuition and fees: $8,367.71
Almost 100 books: $4,000.00 (est.)
Printing and binding thesis: $97.96
New friends, knowledge, wisdom, and being published): Priceless
29 May 2008
The Cursed Kandsinky
In Paris recently, I went to the Pompidou (modern art museum) and bought a poster, a
reproduction of a this Kandinsky painting:
I then promptly left said poster on the train in Montpelier. I figured I'd just get a replacement back in Paris our last nigh in France, but the museum (and bookshop) were closed due to a strike (the cleaning staff shut the place down that particular day).
When we got back, I ordered a canvas print of the Kandinsky poster, from allposters.com. It arrived today. I paid $14.18 in brokerage fees (COD of course) and when I opened it up... it was the wrong print. The thumbnail on the bill was right, but not the print itself.
I'm perhaps destined not to own this particular piece.
reproduction of a this Kandinsky painting:
I then promptly left said poster on the train in Montpelier. I figured I'd just get a replacement back in Paris our last nigh in France, but the museum (and bookshop) were closed due to a strike (the cleaning staff shut the place down that particular day).
When we got back, I ordered a canvas print of the Kandinsky poster, from allposters.com. It arrived today. I paid $14.18 in brokerage fees (COD of course) and when I opened it up... it was the wrong print. The thumbnail on the bill was right, but not the print itself.
I'm perhaps destined not to own this particular piece.
01 April 2008
Tasting Sweet
In the movie (and the book) Iron and Silk, Pan Qin Fu asks Mark Salzman if he can "eat bitter" when Mark says he wants to join the Wu Shu dojo.
In typically enigmatic fashion, the question has many layers, and by the end of the book, Mark concludes with the thought that you to eat bitter means you can taste sweet.
I successfully defended my MA thesis yesterday, but will be attending convocation this fall as the deadline for the SFU library to get everything submitted is the 10th, and even had I received the list of revisions from my defense committee yesterday, there just simply isn't enough time to get everything in order, edited, approved, signed off, and all necessary copies to the library between now and then. Which is a long way of saying I'm drained and tired and want to go on my big trip to Europe at the end of the month and work on the edits at my leisure this summer. Besides, as I'm not eligible for the employee transit pass at my new job until the fall, it'll be nice to have a UPass for the summer, not to mention access to the library.
My defense is a blur. I know that I was talking and answering questions for a good hour, and my wife and all my dear friends who came to wish me well said they were all impressed with my poise and my answers, so I will take them at their word.
The biggest surprise was that I felt like this huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders - I guess it's just a matter of taking on a little at a time until there's this huge mass, and getting through the defense make that lift off.
It's also a strange feeling to be done. I mean, it's not really the end - I have a very long list of books I want to read, movies I want to see, and music I want to listen to, all of which were somehow related either directly or tangentially to work I've done in the program.
I never expected this program to be so life-changing, but it was definitely one hell of a ride. I met my challenges of taking courses in subject areas I had no expertise in, and taking chances with the work I did, and on the whole I'm very happy with how things worked out. I've also made some deep personal friendships, much to my delight.
I know I will miss the classroom, but on the other hand, what made courses in the program so special were the people I took the courses with. The program has a cohort model where only 20 people a year get in, and after spending a year together you then meet again as each takes their own personal journey in the program. That is of course the joy of the program, and even if I were to continue taking courses (I'll audit a few now and again I'm sure), I wouldn't be taking courses with the people I've become connected with and close to.
Thank you GLS - I'm not the same person I was when I started, and I'm not finished yet.
In typically enigmatic fashion, the question has many layers, and by the end of the book, Mark concludes with the thought that you to eat bitter means you can taste sweet.
I successfully defended my MA thesis yesterday, but will be attending convocation this fall as the deadline for the SFU library to get everything submitted is the 10th, and even had I received the list of revisions from my defense committee yesterday, there just simply isn't enough time to get everything in order, edited, approved, signed off, and all necessary copies to the library between now and then. Which is a long way of saying I'm drained and tired and want to go on my big trip to Europe at the end of the month and work on the edits at my leisure this summer. Besides, as I'm not eligible for the employee transit pass at my new job until the fall, it'll be nice to have a UPass for the summer, not to mention access to the library.
My defense is a blur. I know that I was talking and answering questions for a good hour, and my wife and all my dear friends who came to wish me well said they were all impressed with my poise and my answers, so I will take them at their word.
The biggest surprise was that I felt like this huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders - I guess it's just a matter of taking on a little at a time until there's this huge mass, and getting through the defense make that lift off.
It's also a strange feeling to be done. I mean, it's not really the end - I have a very long list of books I want to read, movies I want to see, and music I want to listen to, all of which were somehow related either directly or tangentially to work I've done in the program.
I never expected this program to be so life-changing, but it was definitely one hell of a ride. I met my challenges of taking courses in subject areas I had no expertise in, and taking chances with the work I did, and on the whole I'm very happy with how things worked out. I've also made some deep personal friendships, much to my delight.
I know I will miss the classroom, but on the other hand, what made courses in the program so special were the people I took the courses with. The program has a cohort model where only 20 people a year get in, and after spending a year together you then meet again as each takes their own personal journey in the program. That is of course the joy of the program, and even if I were to continue taking courses (I'll audit a few now and again I'm sure), I wouldn't be taking courses with the people I've become connected with and close to.
Thank you GLS - I'm not the same person I was when I started, and I'm not finished yet.
09 March 2008
Ten Things
Ten things I love about my new job...
... it's close to home! Only 3.6km. The bus takes 5 minutes.
... the benefits are awesome.
... I have the best boss ever.
... and his boss, has vision.
... my colleagues are very happy smart upbeat people.
... I feel good about what I do (somehow, I sleep better at night knowing that I'm doing something that's of net benefit to society and not just something to make some anonymous shareholders happy).
... no more cubicles!
... I don't work on an artificial calendar anymore (no more "it's quarter end!" pushes).
... my office is close to numerous lunch and coffee possibilities.
... the work is both challenging and interesting.
... it's close to home! Only 3.6km. The bus takes 5 minutes.
... the benefits are awesome.
... I have the best boss ever.
... and his boss, has vision.
... my colleagues are very happy smart upbeat people.
... I feel good about what I do (somehow, I sleep better at night knowing that I'm doing something that's of net benefit to society and not just something to make some anonymous shareholders happy).
... no more cubicles!
... I don't work on an artificial calendar anymore (no more "it's quarter end!" pushes).
... my office is close to numerous lunch and coffee possibilities.
... the work is both challenging and interesting.
27 January 2008
An Italian Girl in Algiers
Last night my wife and I went to the opening night of An Italian Girl in Algiers at the Vancouver Opera.
The show was brilliantly funny, very well staged, and the singers and the orchestra really outdid themselves. In particular, the sweet voice of tenor John Tessier and the amazing range of mezzo-soprano Sandra Piques Eddy in the lead role were a real delight to hear.
Of course, I forgot to bring my Christmas present, namely opera glasses. They're now safely stowed in my suit jacket pocket for the next production, Fidelio.
The show was brilliantly funny, very well staged, and the singers and the orchestra really outdid themselves. In particular, the sweet voice of tenor John Tessier and the amazing range of mezzo-soprano Sandra Piques Eddy in the lead role were a real delight to hear.
Of course, I forgot to bring my Christmas present, namely opera glasses. They're now safely stowed in my suit jacket pocket for the next production, Fidelio.
Generosity
A measure of friendship is how people treat you when you're down and out. I am happy to say that I'm extremely blessed by very good friends indeed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
