Opinion: Modern Media Trust
Teach kids about online personas/'influencers', paid promotions, corporate endorsements & trusted sources as soon as they can comprehend those terms.
Integrity in media shouldn't be for sale but at times: it is. Public personalities have a responsibility to be truthful and ethically responsible in their messaging but at times, even they are sold (their accounts or air time) for branded content/sponsored messages.
It is up to you, the follower, 'liker', listener, viewer to educate the younger generations about CORE values, messages and the humans behind them. Spot the difference between a truth and an opinion that's been paid for.
There is integrity in media. A lot of people put their lives on the line because they are passionate about their work and getting the truth out there. Please resist the urge to paint journalists, broadcasters, public figures with the same brush.
Modern media is changing and it's NOT black and white. Use your judgement.
The Lake
Looking forward to spring, summer, fall… Can’t wait to get back up to the cottage. I’ve been going through hundreds of photos on my iPhone, all from the lake and the valley, while I work on updating my website.
This season will be the first where I’m fully responsible for everything; financial, physical, everything. We’re officially cottage owners! While I’m obviously feeing very lucky and excited to be able to keep this place in my family and eventually pass it down to my kids, Family Cottages are a whooooooooooole thing.
No. 1: Bills
Mortgage, hydro, taxes, renos/maintenance/upkeep, wood, propane, etc.
No. 2: Guests
To offset the cost of taking it on, we will be renting out the complete cabin during stretches we (ourselves) can’t be up there. Since my husband and I work full time, we can’t be up there as frequently as we’d like.
No. 3: Finding a Balance
It’s a new way forward, us being owners and… landlords? Renters? Hosts? Hosts. I think hosts best reflects what we’re hoping to do. We’d love to be able to turn this place over to close friends and family without charging money but it’s just not a possibility at this time. Likely won’t be a possibility for a very long time.
It’s hard for me personally to say ‘no’ to people. I just have to keep telling myself ‘this isn’t a hotel’. It’s not a business. It’s also not a free for all (unless explicitly stated otherwise by me). Finding that balance means success in securing a positive future for this very special place. Ultimately, if I do find that balance, we get to keep the cottage for generations to come.
No. 4: Learning
Our kids are getting older. Life is getting easier. Certainly not out of the woods in terms of this new ‘hosting’ role; Ryan’s been a landlord (by proxy, me too I suppose) for three years now and, well, I’ve been a renter from age eighteen up to twenty seven (?). I still always overthink things; ‘Did I say yes to the right people? ‘No’ to the wrong ones?’ And every time someone asks to bring a pet, I hate that I have to say no. I’m super allergic to animals and we stay up there as often as possible.
With AirBnB, some of those questions answered themselves.
Then there’s their whole rating system (which is flawed). Did you know that giving a host anything less than 5 stars actually damages their listing/reputation? I received 4 stars once because, ‘the place was more beautiful than pictures implied’. A 5 star review on AirBnB simply means, “this place was what it claimed to be”. Nothing more and nothing less.
I’ve had guests give a glowing review and say they ‘intend to book again’ turn around and give me a 4 overall. Guests give me less than 5 stars for accuracy because they couldn’t find the place even though I provide detailed directions including a full ‘driver POV’ video to thoroughly navigate the dirt road from the highway to the front door.
Then there was that one group who trashed my place, pissed off my neighbours, smoked inside, left chocolate to melt into my kayak cushions, left broken glass in the kayaks (a fun find), left used tissues around the living room and kitchen areas among other things like four full sized garbage bags tied off and left out by the BBQ (after a three night stay). That guest left me a bad review because I asked for their damage deposit (which I did receive but it was like pulling teeth).
It’s not all bad. In fact, I consider myself immeasurably blessed. There are wonderful people and families out there who get to share in the magic of the lake. When I can’t be up there with my own family, it’s such a marvelous place that deserves to be inhabited by good people who treat it right and appreciate the nature that surrounds. We’re very lucky to have had predominantly great guests (I don’t think renters is the right word).
Moving forward, I’d personally like to ‘know’ the people I’m hosting and have them know me. Don’t get me wrong, we can be strangers (and stay strangers)! I’m simply hoping to promote interest in my cottage through my social media sites and through my website: WindmillCottage.ca.
It’s a bit more personal for people to say, ‘I stayed at Amy’s place!’ or maybe I just hope it instills a sense of kinship to those who do decide to rent; you’re not just renting ‘a cottage’ from a soulless app on your phone or tablet with a 4.88 star review… You’re not lining the wallet of an anonymous income property owner. You’re renting from me, Amy. A 34 year old radio DJ and mother or two who’s been coming up here since 1986 (when I was born) & plans on spending another thirty or more here.
See you at the lake!
Happy New Year
Welcome to 2021!
If you’re reading this, you survived 2020. Congratulations! May this year be better in every way for everyone.
Globally, this past 365 was a nightmare.
Personally, this past 365 was pretty alright. Bought the cottage, got married, earned my full moto-license, started working at a new station (dream job). It wasn’t without its difficulties, though.
We had to learn how to work from home with two young kids who need constant stimulation; enter iPads, LeapFrog Academy, Nintendo, YouTube, Netflix, Minecraft, et al. Lesson learned: teach your offspring to not rely on you as their number one source of entertainment once they’ve grown out of the age where they need you to be.
Enter anxiety; personal health vs. pandemic + anti-masker/anti-vaxxer attitudes; gym closures & a complete shake-up from the daily routine. Car trouble. Daycare hiccups. Personal finances. Missing friends & regular social interactions.
As this pandemic carries into the new year and lockdowns keep us locked up, we have to try and remember that everyone is going through a lot right now.
Be kind.
UPDATE: the 2020 Christmas Mission
Help Santa deliver to children who may not have a fixed address by donating a NEW, UNWRAPPED gift to the Christmas Mission.
UPDATE on November 26th: Reps from the Mission, my coworkers and I have all been talking, trying to see if we can make Project: Christmas Mission work this year but it isn’t an option with new COVID-19 restrictions. The Ottawa Mission is even doing dinner service differently. Like Thanksgiving, the dining room will not be used.
“Because of our new food truck service, which will serve Christmas meals the week leading up to Christmas in addition to our Christmas meals for shelter guests and vulnerable community members, we anticipate that we will serve 3,500-4,000 Christmas meals from December 13 – 20.
Frozen turkey donations can be dropped off between 7 am – 5 pm at the garage entrance to The Ottawa Mission at the corner of Waller and Besserer. Please ring the bell and a staffperson will arrive to receive your donation.”
- Aileen Leo, Director of Communications at the Ottawa Mission
If you would like to donate online to the Mission, CLICK HERE.
Do you want to buy a toy for a little one in need?
I definitely have some options!
You can donate to the Salvation Army’s Toy Mountain 2020 fund by CLICKING HERE.
You can also give to CHEO’s Child Life Fund through my annual Birthday Wish campaign by CLICKING HERE. 100% of funds go towards buying games, toys, books, crafting kits, movies & other forms of entertainment (for patients aged 0-18) who may be spending the holidays in hospital.
If you have any questions about how to help this holiday season, please feel free to message me. Thank you for considering others! It just feels better to extend your hands to help lift others up, than it does to hold them down.
Same person (me) but a different radio station now (CHEZ 106) & a new way of approaching my Christmas Mission… I haven’t strategized anything just yet. Essentially, I ask for NEW toy donations for children of all ages to be given to the Ottawa Mission. Children experiencing homelessness can be sure to get something - even if Santa couldn’t find their address! There is a ‘gift room’ at the Mission where clients can ‘shop’ for their loved ones.
Gifts aren’t what Christmas is all about. Or birthdays. Or whatever. It’s not material things that mean the most to us… but over the holidays, it’s a simple gestures for some to provide a token of ‘brighter days’ to a child.
That’s what the Christmas Mission is all about. I’ve been doing this for a few years now and it’s been a success because of your generosity.
This year, I am not able to accept in person donations. Parcels cannot be directed to our radio station either as we do not have an open reception area. I’m not sure how to go about collecting toys but I hope to sort out the fine details over the next few weeks.
Please, stay tuned! And if you have a great idea, get in touch.
It's Turkey Drop Time!
Help make sure everyone has a hot meal to be thankful for this weekend by donating to the Ottawa Mission. I’ve made it super simple for anyone wishing to donate in a Pay What You Can kinda way. Text TURKEY to 762-555 or read more…
October 13th Update: We did it! As of this update (at 14:39), $3,282.00 has been donated to the Ottawa Mission to help ensure everyone gets a warm, nutritious meal. This ‘Turkey Drop’ will continue to give beyond Thanksgiving. I hope the feeling you got when you gave is as long-lasting.
Thank you for helping me surpass my goal in these uncertain times.
Here’s an old picture of me (five months pregnant) serving friendly faces at the Mission’s 2016 turkey dinner service. Things are being done differently this year; meals will be individually prepped and handed out in take-away boxes.
Since we can’t physically accept donations towards the dinner this year, our Turkey Drop at the station was forced to get a lil creative… I’ve been given the chance to raise $2,500 (approx. 60 bigass birds) & I need your help to make it happen.
Drop a Virtual Bird or PWYC to the Amy Volume Turkey Drop by texting TURKEY to 762-555.
You’ll be sent a link to my fundraising site which I will also conveniently post here: Amy Volume’s Virtual Turkey Drop.