Life in the east

Every once in a while, life goes unexpectedly. I'm still spinning on the tangent that I've been thrown on since mid-summer, and I'm not sure where it's leading me. I dealt, and am still dealing, with some very serious issues that greatly affected how I live my life. I ended up stepping aside, at least mentally, from this industry, and have probably caused some damage to a potential career as a result. I need to start repairing that, a little bit at a time. Onwards.

Somehow, I ended up here, working at a weekly newspaper called The Casket in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. I've been here almost a month, working as their photo/video guru, plus the ten or so stories I write each week. Everyone's been very welcoming, both at the office and in public. When I went to switch over my driver's licence, I got a hearty welcome and a dinner invitation from the service person. When I went to do that in another province, the woman told me that I was too close to her counter and then told me my last name was too hard to type and I should change it so English people could read it. The differences are pretty stark.

Because I know words are boring, here are a few photos from my first month on the job.

Marlene Morell, co-director of the Antigonish branch of Ca-r-ma, holds five three-week-old foster kittens under her care at her home on Friday, Oct. 5. Ca-r-ma is trying to raise funds for their trap, neuter, release program. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Mark Chisholm, 12, is the fifth of six children in his family to deliver the Casket each week. Pictured here Tuesday, Oct. 2 while loading his weekly delivery into his family’s vehicle, Mark has been delivering the paper for five years, and his family has been involved with deliveries for 13 years. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Ella MacDonnell (left) and Lauryn Burke take part in a Terry Fox run with Children’s Place Day Care at Antigonish’s Columbus Field Thursday, Oct. 4. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Jessica Buteau was dressed for the occasion as she helped Ca-r-ma Antigonish with their annual fundraiser, Alley Cat Cosmic Bowling. The dedicated bowlers raised around $4000 for the organization that helps trap, neuter, and release feral cats. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Salmon fly fishing tourist Paul Chain, from New York, casts his line into the rising sun in the West River outside Antigonish Thursday, Oct. 11. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Ryan DeGruchy (bottom) and David Bond of the Dr. J.H. Gillis Royals pile a tackle on Cameron Davidson of the Horton Griffins during second period Friday night football in Antigonish. The Royals lost 27-8. (Rachel Psutka photo)    

Cameron Davidson (second right) of the Horton Griffins is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Dr. J.H. Gillis Royals Friday night in Antigonish. The Royals lost 27-8. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Brennen Wray of the St. F.X. X-Men heads to the penalty box after a brief fight in front of the Saint Mary’s Huskies goal during home opener action Saturday, Oct. 13 in Antigonish. The X-Men won 5-3. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Alexandre Arseneau of the U de Moncton Aigles Bleus leaps for a header during first half action against the St. F.X. X-Men Sunday, Oct. 14. The X-Men won 3-0. (Rachel Psutka photo)

A singles rower waits to race Saturday, Oct. 13 at Lochaber Lake at the first ever regatta hosted by the St. F.X. Rowing team. Since the regatta, the rowing community and Lochaber have seen a half million dollar investment by the federal government into developing the lake as the only course east of Quebec for international-level rowing. (Rachel Psutka photo)

District 6 Strait Regional School Board candidate Carmel Beaton looks on as incumbent Brian Murray answers a question at a forum at St. Andrew Junior School Tuesday, Oct. 9. Murray was re-elected to the school board seat as a result of Saturday's voting. (Rachel Psutka photo) 

Grade 4 students Taleah Kennedy (left), Sophie Delorey, Effie Maggie Burke, and Catherine MacDonald take full advantage of the nature trail behind St. Andrews Consolidated School during a morning recess break Thursday, Oct. 11. (Rachel Psutka photo) 

Town of Antigonish Deputy Mayor Diane Roberts inspects the 1st Battalion of the Nova Scotia Highlanders in front of Antigonish Town Hall Sunday, Oct. 14, as part of the commemorations of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. Accompanied by pipes and drums, the battalion marched down Main Street to recognize the gallantry of thousands of early Canadians who fought to defend their homeland during the war. (Rachel Psutka photo) 

X-Women Keirsten Wilson (left) and Melissa Landry take a tumble during pre-season action against the Acadia Axewomen Saturday, Oct. 13 at St. F.X. (Rachel Psutka photo)

X-Women Erin Sigalet (centre) and Aneta Nejmanova go up for a block against the spike of Jazmin Logue-Prest of the Acadia Axewomen during pre-season action Saturday, Oct. 13 at St. F.X. (Rachel Psutka photo) 

Grade primary students at St. Andrews Consolidated School have mixed reactions to meeting a real-life firefighter during a visit from St. Andrews Volunteer Fire Department as part of Fire Prevention Week Thursday, Oct. 11. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Rachel Dragan (right) of the X-Women watches her shot deflect off the post of the Saint Mary’s Huskies during first half action Saturday in Antigonish. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Dominique Comtois of the X-Men waits for medical treatment in the endzone during play on Saturday, Oct. 20. The X-Men lost 29-16 to the visiting Mount Allison Mounties. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Hayden Peters (right) of the X-Men avoids a couple of Mounties during play Saturday. The X-Men lost 29-16 to the visiting Mount Allison Mounties. (Rachel Psutka photo)

The Mounties celebrate a last minute touchdown following an interception during play against the X-Men Saturday. The X-Men lost 29-16 to the visiting Mount Allison Mounties. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Matthew Lavallee (centre), is joined by his daughters Meadow (left) and Madison to sing traditional songs as the public joins in for a circle dance at the Mi’kmaq History Month celebration held Monday, Oct. 29 at StFX. Sponsored by the Office of the Aboriginal Student Advisor and the Aboriginal Students at X Society, the event was attended by over 100 students and members of the general public and offered food, traditional dancing, and a film in celebration of the culture and history of the First Nations people in the Antigonish area. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Heather MacGillivray, Kristina Richard, Carol Ann Boyle and Mary Eileen Garvie show off their red shoelaces in support of Be a Fan Day, honouring Special Olympians, Thursday, Oct. 25 at the CACL workshop in Antigonish. (Rachel Psutka photo)

Mary Coyle, former director of the Coady Institute and current senior advisor, received an award for her work with women’s rights around the world from the Adsum for Women & Children’s 23rd Annual Successful Canadian Women’s Dinner Tuesday, Oct. 23. (Rachel Psutka photo)

And finally, because I did mention that I am a video guru, here's the only multimedia piece I've produced so far: