Year In Review

I saved this questionnaire to fill out and totally forgot where I got it from. But here it is!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Is it sad that I cannot think of one single thing? Obviously on my list of New Years Resolutions for 2009!!

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t make any last year, but a friend made one for me. It was to stay away from The Ex and not go back! It wasn’t really that hard considering I had no interest in him, and had just met J, but she made it anyways! I made one in the last question but maybe I’ll make a list.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My old dance teacher did, and a girl from that dance class is due to pop any day now. But nobody close to me, no. An old friend of mine is pregnant, but I don’t get to see her that often (lives in a different province).

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately, nobody did.

5. What places did you visit?
I went to Vancouver in February for a Reading Break trip, and twice in August (once for a wedding). I went to Edmonton twice. I went once in May for a Wedding, and again in September for my birthday. I was supposed to go to Mexico, but I guess it doesn’t count if I didn’t actually get to go!

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Money. A lasting relationship. A tropical vacation

7. What day from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
My friend’s weddings for obvious reasons, a couple of days with J, and the day in November when Barack Obama was elected President.

8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?
Saving enough money to pay a semester of school.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Failing to save enough money and pay off my credit card.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I slammed my finger in the door, badly bruising it. It is still growing out 5 months later. Happily, that is it except for the occasional cold.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new camera!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My friends, family on the most part.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Some of my friends and family members had their moments, my government’s behaviour, and my own on occasion.

14. Where did most of your money go?
What money? School, gas, dinners out, camera

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My friend’s weddings, Mexico (while the trip was on), seeing Reba and Kelly in concert

16. What songs will always remind you of 2008?
Womanizer – Britney Spears (big comeback!)
If I Were A Boy – Beyoncé (my relationship with J)
Mercy - Duffy

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Sadder
b) thinner or fatter? About the same, I think?
c) richer or poorer? Richer. Which is quite sad if you were to have a look at my bank account!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Camping, spent more time with friends, and just left the house more often.

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2008?
The morning was spent with my family and having a turkey lunch, and the afternoon/evening was spent at work.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes. However, we all know how that turned out.

22. What are your three favourite photos of 2008?
It’s hard to pick 3 favourites, so I’ll pick some from memorable events.

Kelly Clarkson, Reba McEntire, Melissa Peterman (aka Barbra Jean!)


Wedding in Edmonton

Wedding in Vancouver


23. What was your favourite TV program?
Jon and Kate plus 8! Those kids are so adorable. I actually didn’t watch a lot of TV this year.

24. What did you do for your birthday in 2008?
I went to Edmonton with my parents, and saw Reba and Kelly Clarkson in concert with my mom.

25. What was the best book you read?
I just realized that I read a lot of books this year. There was a lot of downtime at one of my jobs! I really liked Pillars of the Earth and the sequel World Without End by Ken Follett.
I got the Twilight series for Christmas, and those books are supposed to be good but I haven’t started them yet.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I rediscovered how awesome Pink is with her new album Funhouse. I also learned this year that I don’t dislike all metal music.

27. What did you want and get?
A new camera. A new job. A boyfriend.

28. What did you want and not get?
To keep that relationship (do you se a theme developing!), my own vehicle

29. What were your favourite three films this year?
The Dark Knight, Sex and the City, Marley and Me

30. Did you make some new friends this year?
I made some new work friends, but not everyday friends that I hang out with IRL.

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A better paying job or winning the lottery

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Wear things that fit. I wore a lot of jeans, sweatshirts and jackets.

33. What kept you sane?
Caffeine and sugar.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
The US Presidential Election. Although having our government shut down was unusual.

35. Who did you miss?
My Grannie. All my friends who moved away.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
There is a bunch of people at my new job. They’re really great.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
I have learned that you cannot control anything other then your own actions and reactions. Learning to accept that fact is for another year!

I want my strawberry.

I seem to be going through 3 different phases.

Phase 1: Being mad at J. In this phase I think of every thing that annoyed me about him, and every reason why I can't be with him.

Phase 2: Missing J. In this phase I think of all the good times, and how much I still care about him.

Phase 3: Indifferent. In this phase I don't even think about him. At all.

I don't spend more time in one or the other. They seem to just alternate days. It's kind of weird. I didn't go through this with The Ex. I just went from liking him, to realizing I didn't anymore. Sure there was anger and missing him, but it didn't switch on a daily basis. It was more a gradual slide from one thing to another.

I wasn't thinking about him at all today, until a co-worker asked if I had a "boy toy" to go to a movie with. Then phase 1 set in. Even when we were together, those last few months he wasn't around to do things like that with. I knew what I was getting into when he told me he was taking that job, but I guess I didn't realize how alone I would be. Especially since he hates using the phone, and they have no internet out there. I should have known what was going to happen. But I guess I have learned from the experience, and have figured out what else I want out of a relationship.

One of my friends refers to guys in terms of vanilla and chocolate. Vanilla boys are good boys, easy to figure out, and set in their ways. Chocolate boys are wild, full of surprises, and not good for you (but you want them anyways!). The ex was vanilla. In many ways he was a challenge, but overall pretty vanilla. J was chocolate. What I need is the mixture. The compromise. Something not as daring as chocolate, but not as simple as vanilla. What I need is the strawberry!

Looking for a strawberry. Do I sound crazy to anybody else?

Birthday Weekend

I've had a busy weekend!

For our birthdays (which are side by side), my mom and I went to Edmonton and saw Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson in concert. Awesome. We were in the 4th row, and those two ladies can SIIIIIIIIING! It was my mom's first concert, so that was exciting. She was so cute singing along to all the Kelly songs she knows.

Tonight I finally met J's family. None of them are like I pictured. I had a good time, and wanted to steal their dog. Hopefully they liked me too! (I've always had the suspicion that the ex's dad didn't like me. I'm pretty sure he thought I was a moron, just by the way he acted around me.)

I work tomorrow. I haven't worked in a week so it kind of sucks. I'm not in the mood for it! I start later, which probably means I don't get off until later. Boo. I'd rather work early then late. Oh well. At least I still have a job. I won't for long, because they have to lay me off for the winter season.

Why do I bother?

I am tired of it. I am tired of being the bottom priority on his totem pole. I am tired of him not calling when he says he's going to call. I am tired of being put on hold while he hangs out with other people. I just messaged him and told him not to bother calling me tonight. We were supposed to hang out. It's now 10 o'clock. When exactly does he think we're going to have the time to do that? I am so over it. I hate right now that I like him so much.

In other news, the ex text messaged me last night. He told me he got me something in Mexico (when he went in February) and asked if I would like to have it. That is correct. After burning everything I ever gave him and pretending I didn't exist for 6 months, he brought me home a present from Mexico. He said he wasn't sure how to bring it up after everything that happened. The present? Before he left (when we were still friends) I jokingly told him to bring me back the beach. Well, he did. Part of it anyways. I cried when he told me that. That would have meant so much back then. Back when I loved him and he was my boyfriend. Now he's my ex and I'm still mad at him. Why did he do that?

I think I'm just over emotional today, but pfffft. Why why why. Why do guys do this to me!?

EDIT: J finally messaged me (it's just past 11). He was calming his friend down because he was in a fight with his girlfriend. Ironic. I'm not answering the phone. How hard would it have been to call me?

Going Pink!

Last night was girls night. The theme: Pink. We dressed in pink and drank pink champagne/wine (some drank more then others!). Everybody brought some sort of appetizer/dessert. A couple of us provided pink cups and pink flamingo stir sticks. It was fun hanging out with the girls. I spend way too much time hanging around with just boys. Hopefully we can do something like that more often.

I guess I should write a little update about how camping went. I got out there after a couple wrong turns and a few phone calls to base camp. The road was definitely not the same as it was last year! Last year it was dirt with a few potholes. This year it was covered in gravel and large rocks. It completely confused me. The ex and I went for a canoe ride on the lake. We had something I will refer to as canoe confessional. It was kind of nice to tell him how I felt, and smooth some things over. I don't know that we'll ever be friends but at least we can hang out if the situation ever arises again.

The day after camping, I went floating with J and his friend C. It was super hot out (record breaking in fact) and it was really nice to just sit in my dingy and float down the river. It was way cooler on the water then up on land. And of course my tan is coming along nicely! (the important things)

I have a job for a couple weeks (or until I get a different one). One of the guys from my old job phoned me and has work for me while another person is on vacation. It's not full time and they probably won't pay me that well, but I will take what I can get! I really don't want to go back, but I know once I'm there it will be fine. A little awkward but fine.

Awkward Situation

Well the long weekend is coming up (is it technically still a long weekend if most people have to work Monday?) and I have plans to go camping. I'm excited (it's for a friend's birthday) but I am kind of apprehensive at the same time. My ex is going to be there, and we haven't seen each other for about 6-7 months. Things didn't end well, and we didn't speak for most of that time. To make a long story short, he dumped me and I didn't want him back. Big time drama. We've spoken a couple times online in the last few weeks, but it's still going to be weird seeing him.

And to avoid an even more awkward situation I've decided not to bring J. I don't know how the ex would handle seeing me with my new boyfriend (ex = drama queen). J is going to think I'm nuts and just being ridiculous. Part of me thinks I am being overly cautious and that I shouldn't worry about it. But knowing my ex, it is bound to cause some serious drama. Maybe we can all peacefully co-exist, but I don't think my friend's birthday is the best time to test that out.

This sucks.