2010 Review

I'm going to do a recap....I just think 2010 was the best year of my life and I want to share it! lol

January - Started off with a 5k with Jill!! It was rainy and gross and cold, but great!!! It felt really good to be able to run that far, and we got free jackets! January also was when I started in graphics at Global!!! yaaaay! A real job!

February - OLYMPICS! Wow...just wow...Having my dad stay with us for a month and experiencing the greatest event ever was just wow....I'm so happy I was here for that. However some sadness as my grandfather died. That was sad.

March/April - Good times. We got to see the Senators in Vancouver! We went to the practice and met the players afterwards...it was great!

Kept up with the running and working!

I also got a chance to go home and surprise my grandmother! She had no idea I was coming and I didn't know it would be the last time I would see her. I spent the whole week with her and it was lovely. I will be glad for it forever...she passed in April.

May - My sister got married!!! YAAAY! My wee little sister walked down the aisle! She was so beautiful and it was so much fun! My hockey work came to a sudden end though...some day.

June - I quit my retail side job! That felt good...and so far it doesn't look like I'll have to ever work with people againnnn! (meaning I hate customer service jobs)

July - My bachelorette party!! It was so great to see everyone and be cared about! and Lisa got married! That was super fun too! AND Casey and Amy got married! We got to camp that weekend....I love camping.

September - Enter the countdown! Things started to get a little nerve wracking...but exciting! We said goodbye to the Enterprise...but really haven't missed not having a car at all!

October - THE BIG DAY. The most amazing day of my life. Just wow...Thank you EVERYONE for everything..it was great...AND my most amazing honeymoon in Mexico. I'd never really travelled before so it was so great to experience something new..and we were on SUCH a wedding and lovely dovey high. I was so happy to just BE with David. Teehee!

November - A new job!!! I moved from Graphics to Editing and man, do I ever love it. It's early...and that hurts somedays.. but overall...I'm thrilled!

December - here we are. a great year gone by...I'm so excited for what the future brings!

Done

So I've pretty much abandoned the Reverb 2010 thing...it's definitely not as cool as last year's best of 2010.....it was actually pretty lame...and instead of being excited to write and reflect, it felt like a chore....and just not even remotely fun....so I'm done...I'm also not sure anyone reads this....

5 minutes

5 Minutes - Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010.

Ready GO

My wedding - Pretty self explanatory...the best day of my life

My last week my with Grandma - I'll never see her again...and being able to spend a week with her before she died...I'll always treasure that

The Olympics - Oh man....oh man...what a party...Gold medal hockey? The best..It was so fun being able to celebrate with my dad in town too. I'd do it all over again in a second!

Kallie's wedding - My little sister got married!!! It was quite a party...even though I already have little memory of it

Visit to Kelowna - It was super fun to see where Lyndsay lives! and to travel up to the Okanagan! I wish I could travel more around BC

Ziplining - Such an adrenaline rush!!!! I want to do this again for sure..

MEXICO! - I'd never been on a trip like that...all inclusive....every hour of the day with my new husband...the ocean, exploring...all the food and booze we want! Augh...I could live in that memory

Sens game - We got into the practice and met players after...so awesome...probably won't get to the practice this year....but YAY

DONE.

That was a really good one. And sort of scary...I'd be so upset if poof....2010 was gone from my head..this was the most exciting year of my life!

Appreciate

Appreciate - What’s the one thing you have come to appreciate most in the past year? How do you express gratitude for it?

I think that would be my whole situation in general. I'm lucky and blessed to just live where I do. I have a roof over my head, food every day, water, a job, friends and family. I can live in peace and without fear. I am so fortunate to be able to do that.

There are SO many places in the world where women are oppressed, freedom of speech stymied. No food or water for children, wars and violence are everywhere

15 minutes from my home is the poorest and probably most drugged out and mental ill people in Canada. 15 MINUTES!

I'm lucky that I've had the life I do. I'm so grateful for it and I express this by trying to give back as often as I can. It's not mine to sit upon and gloat, and just be thankful. It's one thing to have it all...it's another to want everyone to have it too.

Action

Action - When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step?

Well...I really really want to try a complex knitting/crochet pattern. I've been searching for a good pattern but I haven't found anything yet that is workable...

I want to make

A touque
An infinity scarf
A Vest
A Sweater
A blanket


Obviously not at once, but those are my needle goals. I'm pretty sure the touque won't be so bad once I get going. I have a pattern for the scarf...It's the vest and sweater that will hold me back...So I guess my next step is to start the other projects and keep my eyes out for a pattern!

Body

Body Integration - This year, when did you feel the most integrated with your body? Did you have a moment where there wasn’t mind and body, but simply a cohesive YOU, alive and present?

WHAT? What does that even MEAN....I have no comment on this one...Just wanted to post how ridiculous this is..HOW are we supposed to remember things like THAT...What happened to the good prompts?

11 things

11 Things - What are 11 things your life doesn’t need in 2011? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these 11 things change your life?

Hmm. Another toughy....

1. My life doesn't need SQUISHED. I feel like our apartment is just too small. We desperately need more space. So we need to find a new place to live...getting rid of this will help me to breath more..we'll have more space..and our things will have homes. I'll just feel more at peace in my home if it's not all crammed into 400 sq ft.

2. My life doesn't need my extra weight! I super slacked off exercising in the last few months of 2010. So in 2011 I want to get back on the train I was on at the beginning of 2010! I'll feel better and fitter :D

3. My life doesn't need financial worry! However we've been meeting with our financial planner and in 2011 we will have a long term plan established. Which will be awesome for the future and for the kids

4. My life doesn't need the absence of God. He's not absent, but I really need to dedicate more time. Now that my work has settled down I hope to get to church more often and read the bible way more.

5. Muffins! I eat too many muffins at work I think...I should cut back on them...that would help with number 2.

ELEVEN things?! really? who has 11 whole things!

6. Dramz. Not that my life is full of it. I'd just like things with David to be less dramatic sometimes.

7. Wasted time. I try not to waste my time, I keep my hands busy working on projects. But I'd like to spend more time outside, or with friends, or reading, or SOMETHING other than sitting on the couch. Challenge my brain

8. Wasted items. It's no good owning things you don't use. I'd like to use my things more. The Wii, gameboy...things I have and use occasionally I should sit down and use more...so that I won't feel bad (like the portable DVD player I just found that is dead now...)

9.

I'm leaving off here...if I think of anything new I'll update this.

Wisdom

Wisdom Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?

Hmm...This is tough! Well I thought it was...but it just hit me that it's not at all.

The wisest thing I did this year was sneak home for a week in March to visit my grandmother. She was ill and it wasn't looking good. So I headed out a couple weeks after the Olympics finished to visit. I ended up spending the week with her, helping her around the house, running around town, I even got to go to church with her. It was hard seeing her so slow and tired. But seeing her face when I walked into the room is something I'll never forget. She had NO idea I was coming. She was just so happy. She was also thrilled that I had moved on to crocheting and was making so many more knitting projects. She was so happy that I'd come sooooo far from when she taught me the simple knit stitch back in 2000.

She died a couple weeks after I got back. Needless to say, I will never live with the regret that I didn't get to see her again. Best decision I made this year.

Party

Party. What social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010? Describe the people, music, food, drink, clothes, shenanigans.


Well I think saying my own wedding reception is bias....even though it was an AMAZING party...everyone had fun...so much dancing and socializing...I won't say that...even though it rocked...best wedding reception ever!!!


I WILL say winning the Olympic Gold medal in men's hockey. The Olympics themselves were sock rockin, but for the Gold medal match we had some friends over, all squished watching our plain ol tv

It was really cool having people to share the event with...since we all know it wasn't easy going.

The 30 second mark. From February 2010

And then...30 seconds before it was all ours....

I am a video. Click me

And thus we entered the MOST stressfull overtime EVER

From February 2010

However, Sidney saved the day....and we most definitely won.

From February 2010

When we won was the most amazing thing I have ever heard....

(Advance to the 1:15 mark)

The City of Vancouver EXPLODED! Cheers we everywhere!!! We were screaming, everyone outside was screaming. It was AMAZING to know that the WHOLE country was going just as crazy as we were!!! (I even lost my voice for the following few days)

We stayed for the medal hand out and then rushed to ground zero, Robson and Granville.

It. was. INSANE.

I have never been in such a crowd. We arrived shortly before the CRUSH. We had space for a little while...but decided to head up to the Future Shop and cut right across the middle. We had to link arms and FIGHT to stay together. We were safe on the third floor looking down to the madness. People climbing on street lamps and buildings. Cheering everywhere!!! High fives, flags.... Everyone was just so happy and having a blast. We escaped out an alley and took the back roads home. But it was an experience I'll never forget.

The whole Olympic Party was AMAZING, and I'm still quite sad it won't be happening again....but I have amazing memories like this! :D

Please forgive the horrible photo alignment....Blogspot is HORRIBLE for photo posting...I love the Picasa connection...but it's just AWFUL..I might have to switch to WordPress....

Beautifully Different

Beautifully Different. Think about what makes you different and what you do that lights people up. Reflect on all the things that make you different – you’ll find they’re what make you beautiful.

Ouuuu. Some self reflection...this one's good.

What makes me different....I am weird.. Plain and simple. But that gives me a lot of my adventure. I'm not afraid to try something new or act silly.

I feel like I stopped keeping track of how old I am around 21. I still act like I am 21 (mostly...I've learned a lot since then) but I DEFINITELY don't act like an adult or someone my age. I forget a lot that I'm the age I am. I got stuck at 21 and probably won't move past that. I've never been MY age I suppose...in my teens I liked things 8 year old like...in my 20's...I like things 8 year olds like...(Pokemon is FUN!)

I say it like it is. If someone is wearing UGLY ass shoes I will make sure everyone I'm with knows what I think about them...though I'll say it in such a humourous fashion that it just makes everyone laughs. I'm pretty good about making people laugh. Strangely, it's usually unintentionally by saying something that I don't mean to be funny. But I'll take it.

I like to THINK I'm a good listener, but I feel I might not come off that way to the people talking because my eyes wander and I look around, but I AM listening. I just feel weird staring at someone while they talk...and I notice other things ;)

I think what lights people up about me is my humour, my honesty (hilarious honesty), and my childlike nature to just want to have fun. It doesn't get more complicated than that. If you don't like something, don't do it!

Community

Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011?

Well we were really starting to get plugged into the church we discovered at the beginning of 2010. We spent the fall of 2009 in a super lameo church...really mega church and not very welcoming or..sane...so we left that in November and spent December hopping and in January found 10th at Kits! And we loved it..and started getting really involved and helping out in different area and meeting people! It was great....aaannnnnd then David starting working Sunday mornings and that was the end of that :(

So we spent the summer churchless for the most part. In the fall we started sporadically going to The 10th Third Service, which is at night after David is done work. So far it's ok. I don't really see a way to connect with the people there..YET! We don't go regularly b/c I used to work occasional Sunday nights. However, that's over, and unless I have a hockey game to work we should be able to make it happen more often.

So for 2011, I would really like to get connected with this community. The church we had in Victoria was really awesome for friends and support and starting to get involved with the Kits service was great and really awesome for our spiritual life and now it's just kinda flim flam and it's really important that we turn that around. Might even have to join...a small group! (DUN dun dun Dun DUN duuuuuunnnlllalalalalala)

Make

Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it?

Well I'm always making stuff! I have several projects on the go at one time. I recently finished two Christmas presents! I won't mention exactly what they are b/c those people could read this! I make most of my Christmas gifts now a days...being a knitter/crocheter it's pretty easy! I'm just about to finish up some picture frames for my goddaughter and her sister. Cute ones with photos of us! Then after that I'll start my final Christmas gift! I wish I could show you! But I won't wreck Christmas for anyone!

There is DEFINITELY something...ok a few things I want to make. I want to try a vest, and a touque. I have to learn how to use circular needles and I plan to do that in 2011. 2010 was the year of the DPN and so next year I'll try a touque!! I want to try the vest, but I have yet to find a pattern that I like..All I know is next year I really want to try more complicated and larger projects! So hopefully I can make that happen in 2011. I owe a friend of mine a pair of Gryffindor mittens. I think I'll have to get on that first. I never completed my first pair of learning mittens...so it will be interesting!!

To see my projects, follow the Ravelry link to the right!

Let Go

Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why?


Well. There were some old friends from university I tried to get back in touch with...I never figured out why they stopped talking to me. I graduated and went to a different school but real friends should overcome a little distance. Like I said, I tried to reconnect with them, but they didn't...and so they have to be let go. I can't spend forever wanting to know how they are when they clearly don't care about me.

Frankly I don't care what their reasons are. I'm sure they are petty and lame...I'm awesome. Seriously. I'm just awesome. I'm a good friend, and I really don't need people in my life who aren't the same back. I'm doing so awesome that those people would be LUCKY to still be my friend...too little too late!

Wonder

Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year?


Hmm.. well David and I went on a lot of adventures. We really explored Vancouver thanks to his Tourism Passport (big post here) and I think that was amazing. We even called them adventures. It was so great to see Vancouver through the eyes of a tourist....B.C. in general really. We found time to make it up to the Okanagan and that was amazing...we have yet to get to Whistler but that is hopefully soon. I think looking at the world as a work of art really help create a sense of wonder...it's AMAZING what you see out here...just beautiful...

Having fun I suppose is another way....just being happy and trying new things is a great way to have a sense of wonder...you never know what is going to happen when you try something new! :D

Alive

Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors)

Now THIS is a prompt....not like yesterday's bizarro excuse.

Hmm...this year was SO eventful. I think I'd have to go with ziplining.

After the Olympics were over, the Robson Square zipline stayed up for the Paralympics, so the line was down to about 2 hours instead of 8. And it was soooo worth it. David and I went together, which surprised me since he is afraid of heights. It was fine being in line, but the closer I got to the beginning the more I began to realized holy crap...I have to do this..We did get the chance to watch someone do the walk of shame. They got all the way to the top and couldn't do it and had to come back down...laaame. Pretty soon it was time...the walk up the stairs was realllly scary b/c they were metal stairs with gaps...so you could see all the way to the bottom as you climbed. Then you had to wait at the top while the people in front of you go. Then finally it was time to step up....I've attached a video of the event

The WORST part of being up there was the 4 stairs that go to NOWHERE. It's hard for your brain to say oh ok...let's walk down these stairs that go nowhere....but as you walk down you feel the zipline catch and pull you up so that wasn't so bad. And then I went...I went without David b/c if I didn't go at that exact moment I wasn't going to go at all!! And then it all went sooo far..I screamed a lot. When I got to the end I was shaking SO much..all the adrenaline!

It was one of the best experiences this year...and I'm totally going to go again!

Writing

Writing.
What do you do each day that doesn’t contribute to your writing — and can you eliminate it?

Uh....well I don't write....soo....everything I do? I'm not a writer and I've never claimed to be...I have no plans to eliminate this...this prompt is really lame...

One word

December 1 - One Word.
Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?(Author: Gwen Bell)


I sum up 2010 with the word marriage.

My sister got married in May, my sister-in-law in July, and me in October!

The beginning of the year was all the planning and excitement and everyone else's wedding, the middle of year was the countdown to mine, and allllll the fun that comes along with that. The fall was the WEDDING !:D! and now we end the year as newlyweds...trying to figure out this whole marriage thing!!!

2010 was definitely the year of the wedding....SO many of my friends got married in 2010 as well...one was even on the same day as me!! And then a lot of other friends got engaged...which is so great! We're all growing up!!


One year from today I want 2011 to be happy. David and I are finally in regular jobs, the whole marriage thing should be an old hat...things should be just good this time next year