The Year That Was 30

So 30 was kind of awesome and I feel totally unphased by 31.

Thirty brought me travels to Europe - Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Berlin & Amsterdam. Of them, Amsterdam was my favorite, Rome had the best food, and Berlin the best beer, but the Venetian men were the hottest. Hands down.


Thirty brought me closer to my parents - our trip to Italy made us appreciate how special this family of three is and how important it is for us to fight for each other, rather than with each other. While it didn't help my co-dependence, it did make me a better daughter.


Thirty brought me the biggest test of my professional life. From leaving the job I loved so much, to hastily taking a job I knew wasn't right, and finally finding my way back to where I want to be. Thank goodness Reputations wanted me back as much as I wanted to go back. I am so happy to work in an environment that encourages my wackiness and believes in my talent.

Thirty brought many men into my life, but only one stuck, and well, he's pretty fucking awesome. We'll see how long it lasts, but I really hope it lasts a while -- he's got some serious potential. I was starting to believe that smart, funny, kind, normal, straight men were a pipe dream; ladies, I'm here to tell you, they're not. And some even live in Vancouver! For the first time in my life, I'm starting a new year with a boy by my side. It's kind of awesome.

Thirty brought me talkfoolery. I love that I have a weekly outlet for my thoughts, ones that are sometimes too questionable to share elsewhere (Have you checked us out yet? No! Well you should, we're all kinds of awesome)

So yeah, 30 was definitely a good year.

What have you been up to?

Holy shit, I last wrote a real post in February.

My bad. But in my defense, well, there is no defense. I suck. Big time.

So hear, to catch you up, is a catch-up post. YAY!

First, like I've mentioned before I'm now a co-host of a wicked-awesome podcast.
talk•fool•ery is easily my favorite creative outlet. I think we're finding our groove - I'm 'nervous giggling' a whole lot less - and I'm super thankful that Corey asked me to be his co-host. If you haven't done so already, you should totally check it out. As one review says, 'Good podcast for mindless indulgence."

Yes!

Second, I've been traveling a bunch. I've been to Edmonton to entertain my niece & nephew, back to Edmonton for a surprise for ma, San Fran to visit Eve to spend some time with her and her adorable daughter Dixie Mae. I have to admit, I fell in love with Dixie. We had a blast together, and she made me wish my friends with babies lived a whole lot closer.

I also went to Saint John, New Brunswick for the CPRS Conference. I was there as an attendee and to fetch an award my company won. Saint John was lovely, I ate a ton of lobster, drank a lot of beer and was hit on by a 65 year old man. A man who thought he had a shot at me! WHAT!?

The fundraiser was a rocking success, and a million thanks to anyone who helped in any way, shape or form. What a way to warm my cynical heart.

That's about it.

In four days it will be this blog's five year anniversary. What shall I write ...

Editor's Note: While I was en route home, my amazing friend Harp got her ass out of bed at 5:30 in the morning to visit me at the airport and have breakfast with me. It was fantastic and lovely and she is a wonderful source of light and inspiration in my life. 

Twenty Eleven

2010 was magical, there is no doubt about that. The Olympics, Paris, Switzerland, Hawaii, Vegas, weddings, it was all decently documented here, so I’ll try to not bore everyone with the details again.

But this year is about to come to a close. With two short days left in the year it is time to look ahead. Looking ahead though, frightens the shit out of me.

Almost 30, still single, and feeling a wee unsatisfied, I don’t know what I want from 2011.
And yes, I know I said I was ok with 30, but I may have been a big fat liar. There is so much shit that I want to do with my life, and I feel like I’m running out of time. I mean eventually, I want to settle down, find a boy to spend my life with, but I don't want to rush anything, and well need to hurry the fuck up. Time's running out!

That being said, I think from 2011, I want adventure. I want to feel like I took some chances on me, and maybe one or two will work, but if not, I want to look back on the year ahead thinking I grabbed it by the balls and made 2011 my bitch.

Also, I would like a new liver. This one won’t cut it for much longer.

I can't believe

The first six months of 2010 are now a memory - and what a glorious memory they are.

2010 started with a rad Justin Timberlake, Euro-chic birthday surprise; then the Games; followed by Paris and the most swoon-worthy Swiss boy; Hawaii with the family; and Vegas for a friend's stagette.

Like Whoa.

It feels like yesterday that Vancouver, its residents and the world were getting ready for the Olympics. Here we are, three months later and I'm still feeling the Olympic hangover. Why? The Olympics showed me the potential of this city and its people. It showed me that the Vancouver I see every day is one millionth of how awesome it could be.

I skipped the immediate Olympic hangover by fleeing to Europe. I left for a couple of reasons - partly for a vacation and partly to see about a boy. And what a vacation (and boy) it was. You've read the details, so I won't bore you. Again.

A month after Paris was Hawaii with the cutest kidlettes ever. I confess, they make kids look like a more appealing option than before.

After Hawaii was Vegas. As it wasn't my trip, what happens in Vegas will stay in Vegas, this time. You can read Sarin's thoughts on the trip if you'd like.

But now I am bored. I'm not sure how the next six months will shape up, but they better step it up. And soon.

54 days later

I haven't written anything in two months. I don't know why, but I haven't. My life has been busy, but it has also felt somewhat ... uneventful since the amazing trip to Europe.

Um, can we talk about how I still can't believe those ten perfect days were mine? That those aren't fake memories, but real ones? That the boy wasn't a figment of my imagination? Whoa.

I digress.

So what have I done in the past two months? Well ...

I've celebrated a great birthday with my boyfriend, been to Vegas for a stagette, moved offices, lost a beloved co-worker to a baby, saw some music, and continued my attempts to win over the Swiss boy.

So that's been my two months. It doesn't seem like a lot, but trust me it's been awesome.

There's the update. Hopefully I don't get lazy again, because let's not lie, that's what this lack of posts can be chalked up to.

According to the critics

Last year, I did a month-by-month recount. To be totally honest with you, I don't think that is possible this year.

Not because this year wasn't good, but just because it wasn't as monumental as last year. So this year will be a random best-of.

So here it goes, probably a little disjointed, but so am I.

Best activity: Hands down, rock climbing

I love climbing. I never thought I would like it as much as I do, but here
I am, blogging about it.

Geek.

There is something so satisfying about finishing a hard route, or moving
up to the next difficulty. The best part about it? It is the only time in my
day that I am quiet - my head is concentrating on only one thing and my
whole body is pursuing that one thing.

It is incredible.

And, the boys are pretty cute.

Worst activity: Sailing

I came up with this plan this year - to eventually retire on a boat. So, I signed up for sailing lessons and was ready to fall in love with sailing.

That didn't happen.

Maybe it was because there was no wind and it was more tedious than exciting, I just didn't dig it.

Plus, those sails are really heavy.

See, I am not that granola.

Favorite big-ticket purchase: moving my shit to Vancouver

Sure, it wasn't really a purchase, but it was fucking expensive.

I was totally in denial. I didn't REALLY need my furniture out here, really, what was the big deal??

I can't believe I ever thought that way. It was a HUGE deal. The second I got my couch and my bed and my everything, Vancouver started to feel like home. I started to feel like me and life started to improve.

Seriously. I wouldn't have believed it either.

Favorite new shoes: Tie - climbing shoes and black Kenneth Cole Mary Janes

The climbing shoes are ugly, they stink and they hurt my feet a lot of times, but I love them. I took them to China with me and looked at them longingly because I couldn't use them. I just got them re-soled and they are like new! Yay!

The Kenneth Coles, well, they are fucking hot. I get compliments on them all the time and they make my legs look fucking awesome.

I forgot them in Beijing and now have to pay $50 to get them back. THIS is the problem with traveling.

Favorite thing about Vancouver: Walking home from work and the water taxi

During the summer, I discovered the water taxi. It is awesome.

On nice days, when I have my flats with me, I walk home from work and take the water taxi to get across the bay.

When I get to English Bay, I sit on a log, look west to the mountains, ships and Stanley Park and smoke. Ahh.

It is the perfect way to end a day.

The water taxi brings me to Kits beach and the perfect walk home.

It makes me happy like a mo-fo.

Love of the year: Sia
When I lived with P3, I didn't really get it. Sia was his and that was that.

Then, just before my birthday, she had a seizure and I have never been more scared. Not even when I was in hospital.

She couldn't walk and you could see the fear in her eyes. It was devastating.

That is when I finally got it - she is everything a person could ask for and more. And I would be lost without her.

When I couldn't walk, I credit Sia with getting me out there and walking. When I was going through a rough break up, Sia came and sat with me while I cried. Now, all I need is a little Sia love and my day is better and my world is happy.

She is the best thing in the fucking world.

And the love she gives is unconditional. Her happiness to see you is not faked and everything about her is perfect. She is a little damaged, which makes her all the more special. She doesn't like everyone and it takes her a while to really warm up to someone. But now, I am pretty sure, she loves me as much as she loves P3 - he gets jelly, it is both funny and a little sad *for him, not me, I get nothing but joy out of it*.

She is lovely. She is the loveliest brown color. She is my puppy love. She is Sia.