Keeping the Faith

It's been awhile since I put a pen to the paper for this blog, because life threw a monkey wrench at me and I took a break, but I'm back! A few days before Christmas I was issued one of those pesky little pink slips. Looking back now, even though I'm still hustling like crazy for some steady work, losing a job doesn't seem like such a big deal now, although at times the stress can feel monumental.

I've self proclaimed myself as the "busiest unemployed person I know" spending a whole lotta time and energy throwing a lot of "you know what" on the wall to see what sticks and praying it sticks soon. I've also been writing, running and whatevering it takes to keep me from the fetal position. Well, until I find myself gainfully employed again, I'm taking it a day at a time, with all efforts focused on taking it all in, enjoying the journey.

Along the way, I've been enlightened by a few things and learned a bit too. The top things on my long, long list of things I've learned, goes something like this:

1 - It's just a job, I have my health - and there are people out there with much steeper mountains to climb

2 - This has been a great "weeding" process for lots of things in my life

3 - This has been a great way for me to make new friends and get closer to old ones

4 - My family is absolutely nuts (me being the lead nut) but absolutely supportive and amazing, and we Vintons will proudly and always remain nuts

5 - Listen to any and all advice; you don't have to follow all of it though

6 - If you're single, go ahead and date - if someone can tough this out with you, then they're cool, if not, well than, who needs 'em?

7 - If someone offers you money to do a job when you're out of work, as long as it's not illegal, put your pride aside and just do it...it's not forever...and remember to return the favor when you're once again rolling in the dough

8 - Listening to good music is a great elixir

9 - It was refreshing and uplifting to clean out my closets metaphorically, and for real

10 - Keep the faith

I guess some of the most fun I've had so far was covering the Tribeca Film Festival. (Coverage can be found at http://www.filmmonthly.com/.) I was far from the perfect journalist, but found msyelf right at home at the red carpet events; ran into Johnny Knoxville (Exec Producer of The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia) in the press lounge more times than I can count; ate lots of popcorn during the screenings; and most importantly met some great writers, with my fave being a Scot - - good news is I now I have an excuse to cross the Pond when I get back on my feet! Better yet, I'll be doing a follow-up exclusive with a young director Alexis Spraic and producer, Sasha Alpert of Shadow Billionaire. All and all, an amazing experience!

So what's next? I'll keep pounding the pavement and start writing a bit more and in fact, I'll be re-launching this blog as http://www.annievinton.com/. Ahh yes, and a new twist - it's not gonna be all about me and my running shenanigans, although they'll pop up from time-to-time. It's a simple concept, but one that hit me one day sitting at a Starbucks when I met one-time strangers and now friends, the wonderful Aussie Robyne and her boyfriend Ray: we all have a story to tell, every single one of us. And I wanna start telling them - from people close to me to a "stranger" I meet on the subway or in a coffee shop.

So, I'll get that site up and "running" soon, but until then, keep an eye out for some "diddies" posted right here and for all of you, whatever your challenges may be now - keep the faith!

And, last but not least and most importantly, Happy Mother's Day (dad, print this out for mom, since she still is baffled by the invention of the computer) to all of the wonderful women in my life who have the toughest 24 hour job out there!