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Welcome.

No Bread Today started out as my "sanity journal," so I could keep a level head and a sense of humour throughout a personal financial crisis. Facing illness, unemployment, poverty (I ran out of money), and the terror of homelessness, I reached out for emotional support by blogging, and support came. No Bread Today has now evolved into something far beyond me. It is a haven and a resource for others in the same or similar circumstances. I will keep writing my own experiences with a chuckle, so enjoy the posts, but I have also added links to emergency resources and a list of places where you can get free meals and inexpensive groceries for low income residents on the Lower Mainland. As I uncover more resources, I'll keep listing them here (scroll down to page bottom to view) and on twitter. With the ecomony being what it is, sadly, there are many of us struggling. Hopefully, No Bread Today will a give you a hand-up. If anyone can add to these lists, please do. If you appreciate what you read here, please share this blog with others, because someone always knows someone, who knows SOMETHING that can make all the difference.

With profound gratitude to those who have been so amazingly supportive so far, and who have given so much of themselves - not out of guilt or any self-serving interest, but purely out of love, compassion and generosity. You are my inspiration. My intentions remain: I am not seeking financial assistance of any kind from this blog. I simply hope this becomes a story of triumph, for all who share it. I hope you laugh as hard as I do. I hope No Bread Today is as inspirational and empowering for you, as it is for me. I hope people will relate, inform, and chime in. I hope I can help you, in return. If this welcome message is the only thing you read, I ask only that if you are able, please donate to your local food bank. People are hurting right now and they need you. Thanks! ~ Jo Bless.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

I think I just made a "rainbow connection."

"The lovers, the dreamers, and me ... " Ok, I'll stop singing, for now.

Great news, world!! I have a second meeting lined up next week with a marvelous global organization - which just so happens to be my late mother's favorite "cause" - so there's freelance work possibilities, as well as a permanent high-falootin' Communications Specialist position that I am in the running for.

I made it through to the last round of interviews next week - only three of us left competing for the position. After two written exams for the role, I sure hope I land the full time gig. I've already put a lot into it, but whatever comes, it's a honour to work with the organization in ANY capacity. Of course, as a professional, I don't use words in the "real world" like high-falootin', that's what's so fun about a personal blog, and an anonymously written one at that. It's my verbal "sweatpants." God forbid I ever let my employers or colleagues know about it or read it ... but then, they wouldn't recognize me anyway, my style is so completely different in the professional sphere, and my novel is an even greater departure than that. I wear many hats, maybe berets, a few different chapeaus, whatever headgear writers wear.

I'd just like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to all my friends, readers and twitter followers - your kindness and support has helped - a LOT. My hands are now pain-free, I'm psyched to get back to my career in communications, and my novel is progressing quickly now, so if I can complete it by the end of the summer as planned, my life will be tickety-boo.

Ahhhh ... what a relief. After all I've gone through these past six months (and I have had to walk through fire, so-to-speak), battling RA and off work on medical leave, I am in a good place at last. So take heart, if you're going through a rough patch, remember, "This too shall pass." And if it doesn't, find a way to overcome and fly above the crap. Drop me a line, because it's all about helping each other to figure out how.