This past Friday, my baby Social Media Atlantic Canada was born.

Finally, it’s been done. I remember back in October, when I had just begun planning everything, I was so freaking discouraged. I started a business plan, and it was completely unnecessary. I put the entire thing on hold until I felt ready to get out there again…it’s embarrassing how long it took me to find balance.

In actuality though, I’ve been working at SMAC for awhile now, and last week pulled off my very first webinar for Hospitality Newfoundland about Facebook Page Marketing. I literally hadn’t done anything like that since high school, but the feedback was overwhelmingly positive and everyone I met was amazing. In fact, I now have a two-day gig lined up in Burin for July.

What I’m finding, however, is there’s more need for consultation services rather than total management. So now I’ve taken on the task of developing training materials to help people who literally don’t know how to use Facebook and Twitter, and it’s quite a job. Mostly because I’m doing a lot of side work to actually survive. I’m hoping someday soon I can put all my focus on the things I love, and not have to worry about if I can afford to eat. This is all still very much a work in progress, and learning biz along the way leaves a lot of room for trial and error.

I didn’t get Greece. I didn’t even get an interview, and I wasn’t going to announce anything because I was hoping people would just forget about it. I felt devastated for a few days, and then decided this was probably the best possible thing to happen. As it turns out, Newfoundland and Labrador suddenly knows I exist, and I’ve been given some opportunities (which I can’t really talk about yet) that might change the tide for me drastically. I find myself falling hopelessly in love with this city all over again, even after I announced my desire to leave. I can’t decide whether I’m fickle or spontaneous…not being able to decide being the irony there.

Cailin and I have also secured our itinerary for our Cross-Canada trip, like so:

May 18: Halifax…oh how I’ve missed you
May 27: Train to Montreal
May 30: Ottawa, two nights
June 1: Toronto, Cailin’s birthday
June 2: Sault Ste Marie
June 3: Thunder Bay
June 4: Winnipeg
June 5: Regina
June 6-8: Banff, camping
June 8: Kamloops
June 9: Vancouver

I’m hopefully extending my stay in BC with a week-long tour through interior BC, and the Rockies. Then I fly to Ottawa until July 3rd to spend time with family and celebrate Canada Day on Parliament Hill. Can I just say…wow? Seriously. Wow. I actually cannot believe how well everything turned out. I was so upset about not having more time to see the Rockies especially, and here I am preparing for the full monty…I hope. Delta is helping us out with accommodations in some places, and the rest we’re crashing on couches or winging it.

Oh yes, there will be t-shirts.

Then I’m back in time for an amazing summer in Newfoundland, filled with concerts, festivals, and a bit of travel. And hopefully by then I’ll have secured a name for myself, and will never have to return to the office. Here’s to new beginnings!