Year In Review (2011)

A little late getting around to posting this, but here it is. Thinking I may need to get back into blogging. It's been awhile!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Travel alone to the Island.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No. I vowed to go to the gym at least twice a week and that only lasted until Reading Break. This year my resolutions are to go to Yoga and to keep up with my flashcards!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! I had two different friends each give birth to a beautiful boy

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thank goodness.

5. What places did you visit?

Edmonton, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Kamloops

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

I would like to feel comfortable in my own apartment. So far so good!

7. What day from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

The days my friends had their babies, the day I found out one of my besties is pregnant and was getting married, and also the day two of my highschool friends got married.

8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?

Passing practicum and moving on to my final year in school

9. What was your biggest failure?

Failing to hold on to certain friendships. It’s always sad to lose certain people in your life even if it is probably for the best.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing major

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Some used furniture for my new place. Couches, coffee tables, etc.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

My good friends. They’re always there when I need them.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

My old room mate. I also lost a good friend this year due to “time constraints”. Note the quotes.

14. Where did most of your money go?

School, living expenses, and my trip to the Island

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Moving to my new place in December, my friends having babies, finding out one of my best friends is pregnant and finally got married

16. What songs will always remind you of 2011?

Adele – Rolling in the Deep

Lady Gaga – Born This Way

Katy Perry – Last Friday Night

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? About the same. Trying not to get fatter haha
c) richer or poorer? Still broke.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Camping, catching up with people I’ve sort of lost touch with

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2011?

My family (minus Adam again) went down to Vancouver to spend it with my cousins. We put the fireplace channel on the 70” TV (on loan) in the living room and spent the morning exchanging gifts and eating a big breakfast. After Christmas dinner we had our traditional Walnut Boat Race while we ate Christmas pudding and I won.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Once again I was single the whole year, but two wonderful little boys stole pieces of my heart

22. What are your three favourite photos of 2011?


Melanie and Steve
(November 12, 2011)

Gabriel & Amanda
(September 2011)

William & Sarah
(October 2011)

23. What was your favourite TV program?

This year I was back into reality TV big time! I watched Survivor, Big Brother, Jersey Shore, and Teen Mom.

24. What did you do for your birthday in 2011?

I went out with a couple friends to the bar on the Saturday before. On my actual birthday I drove back to Kamloops with my friend so I could get my eyes checked and then we had dinner with my family at the Mongolian Grill.

25. What was the best book you read?

Once again I was slacking in the book department this year. I re-read the Harry Potter series which I always enjoy.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Adele was a favourite of mine this year, as well as Lady Antebellum. Neither of them are new artists but I didn’t listen to them before this year.

27. What did you want and get?

I wanted to do both of my practicum placements in Kamloops, and I did.

28. What did you want and not get?

A free trip to some beach destination!

29. What were your favourite three films this year?

Crazy Stupid Love, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Help

30. Did you make some new friends this year?

Yes, through school and also through some people I met last fall.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Better living situation. I moved so hopefully that will make this year more enjoyable!

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Mostly jeans and sweaters. Comfy and warm.

33. What kept you sane?

Caffeine. My friends in the program who understand my stress levels.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The occupy movement was a big thing this year. I can’t say that I paid much attention, but it was definitely a topic of conversation everywhere.

35. Who did you miss?

I miss my friends who live in different cities then I do. I don’t get to see them enough!

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I met a boy in December who is both ridiculously good looking and incredibly nice.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Happiness isn’t something to search for or strive towards. It’s all around us if we choose to accept it. Stop looking for it and realize that the things and people we take for granted are usually the things and people that make us happy. We just need to stop being miserable long enough to recognize it.

2009 in Review

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

I never seem to have an answer to this question. Nothing important enough to write down.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I never got around to making any last year. I think this year mine will be to learn to let go of things I can not control, paying off my credit card, to take more chances, and to go on a nice trip somewhere.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My oldest friend in the world had a little baby girl this last March. My friend’s brother and his girlfriend also had a baby girl in June.
4. Did anyone close to you die?

Fortunately nobody close to me, but my brother had some friends pass away.

5. What places did you visit?

I made a couple of trips to Kelowna, for shopping or to visit my Aunt. I honestly don’t remember going to Vancouver this year, which is strange for me. I’ve been to Vancouver every year since we moved out here.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

A better paying job!
7. What day from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Christmas, because it was the day I got my first car! (1999 Honda Civic sedan)

8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?

Getting an A+ in chemistry, and an A in biology!!

9. What was your biggest failure?

I didn't really have any big fails this year, that I can think of.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing major. In fact I think this is the healthiest I’ve been in years! Surprising since there is the big sw.ine flu scare.
11. What was the best thing you bought?

I didn't really make any big purchases this year, aside from school (books, parking pass, etc)

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

My good friends and family
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Some of my extended family, some people who I used to be close to but am no longer, and sometimes my own!

14. Where did most of your money go?

School, nights out with friends
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Getting my car for Christmas. I have never been so surprised in my life!

16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?

Lady GaGa – Bad Romance
Cascada - Evacuate the Dance Floor
Black Eyed Peas - I Gotta Feeling

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? happier
b) thinner or fatter? I think about the same
c) richer or poorer? Probably about the same. Broke is broke, no?

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Road trips, camping
20. How did you spend Christmas in 2009?

Very similar to last year. I had to work at 3, so we opened presents and stockings in the morning, had a turkey lunch, and I drove my new car to work!

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

Nope. I didn’t even date anybody this year!

22. What are your three favourite photos of 2009?


1: my new car!
photo 2: me and my friend's niece at A&L's wedding
photo 3: bringing in the new year with the girls





















23. What was your favourite TV program?

Say Yes to the Dress, Cake Boss, Greys Anatomy (on DVD)

24. What did you do for your birthday in 2009?

The night before I went out, but ended up coming home early after my friend and her boyfriend got in a fight. My actual birthday was spent mostly lying around watching movies.

25. What was the best book you read?

The Time Traveller's Wife

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Loving Lady GaGa right now.

27. What did you want and get?

A car!

28. What did you want and not get?

My sanity back! peace in the extended family

29. What were your favourite three films this year?

The Hangover, Star Trek, Avatar

30. Did you make some new friends this year?

Yes I did. In fact the person I’ve seen the most lately I only met a couple of months ago.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Having more money so I can afford to do the things I want

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Jeans, sweaters, tall boots

33. What kept you sane?

Caffeine.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Nothing in particular. In fact I can’t think of anything that happened right now.

35. Who did you miss?

Some of my old friends that I don’t see anymore.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

My new friends I guess, since they’re the only ones I’ve really met.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

Watch what you say: Some things can not be taken back

So this is Christmas?

This year's Christmas started off the same as any other Christmas. My younger brother and I woke up around 8, persuaded our mom to go wake our older brothers (it's taking your life into your hands when you try to wake them up before noon) and then opened stockings. After stockings came a quick breakfast before tree presents. We spent the rest of the morning watching P.lanet Earth, before having Christmas lunch. Usually we have our big meal for supper, but this year I was going to be working. My mom decided she liked having it at lunch and we might do it every year. I just have to say I loooove me some turkey and mashed potatoes!

Work was about how I expected. Something happened that was beyond our control, and of course people had a lot to say about it. One man told me that I ruined his family's Christmas. People can be real assholes. Not once do they think that we're away from our families, working on Christmas. Or maybe they just don't care. It's sad when you see the worst side of people on a day that is supposed to be full of joy and caring. Not everybody was horrible. One man even thanked me and helped to restore my faith in humanity. But overall, people were pretty nasty.

Merry Christmas indeed.

New camera, new year

Yesterday I went out and bought myself a new camera.

I found out this morning that my parents were planning on getting me one for Christmas. Oops. I guess that's why you're not supposed to buy yourself things before the holidays. I feel bad, but I needed to do a little shopping therapy. And I really love my new camera! :)

I have heard of a couple of people doing a 365 picture project. I was thinking of starting one in January and take one picture each day of 2009. I think it would be cool to see a whole year of my life in pictures. And since it's so close to a new year I thought I would start it then. So much can happen in a year. It'll be fun to see it!

Speaking of things that can happen in one year...
I found out my work Christmas party is on the 15th. That's the exact day my Christmas party was on last year. AKA the day I met J. It really bums me out, but I'm determined to have fun that night and not dwell on the coulda-woulda-beens. Well, try not too. The people I work with are great and should help keep my mind off of it.

I'm off to drag out the Christmas decorations, and bust out my chocolate Christmas countdown. Too bad the chocolates are teeny tiny. I could use some serious chocolate therapy now that I've exhausted my bank account on top of everything else!

Holiday Spirit?

I've decided to decorate my blog and get into the holiday spirit, even though I haven't had much to be cheery about lately.

My family is no longer going to Mexico after Christmas, due to family reasons. An uncle of mine has been diagnosed with cancer, and my Aunt Crazy has gone off and outdone herself. I'm pretty bummed, but I totally understand why we're not going. I just hope my uncle is okay. As for my aunt, well ... that's a long story.

I haven't heard from J in over two weeks. He left for work without a word to me, and I haven't heard from him since. He was supposed to come home 2 days ago. I haven't tried calling him. I guess I should try doing that today. I don't really know what I'm going to say to him. I'm not even really sure what happened to make him go AWOL. I am so mad/hurt, yet indifferent at the same time. I'm tired of his excuses and empty promises.

Work on the other hand has been good. I've been told by most of the managers that I am awesome, and they're really happy with me. Yay! The Christmas party is in a couple of weeks, and I'm looking forward to it. The people are all really great (well most of them), so it should be fun hanging out with them outside of work.


ETA: J and I just broke up. He referred to it as more of a break, but I can't see us working things out in the near future. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I knew it was coming, but I'm still kind of surprised. I know I'm going to miss him, no matter how mad he used to make me. We had a lot of fun.